Aerosol Device Air Inlet Segmentation for Uniform Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generating devices face challenges in achieving even heating of solid substrates, leading to either underheating or overheating, which affects user experience and can result in the formation of harmful chemicals.
Innovation Solution
The aerosol generating device incorporates a heating chamber with a plurality of contact walls and a heating element, along with an airflow gradient created by strategically arranging inlet holes on the bottom and lateral walls, ensuring that air enters the periphery region of the substrate, promoting even heat distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air inlet is arranged at the bottom center of the heating chamber, then the device structure is simple, but the substrate experiences uneven heating with cool zones forming at the inlet region
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet arrangement is segmented into multiple regions: a first air inlet at the bottom center and a second air inlet at the bottom periphery. This segmentation allows different air flow paths to serve different functional zones of the substrate, with the first inlet serving the central region and the second inlet serving the periphery region, thereby achieving uniform heating across the entire substrate surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different air inlet configurations are applied to different local regions of the substrate. The first air inlet is positioned to serve the central region where the heating element is located, while the second air inlet is positioned to serve the periphery region. This local differentiation ensures that each region receives appropriate air flow for optimal heating, preventing cool zones at the inlet region while maintaining simplicity in overall device structure.
2Productivity
If heating power is increased to prevent underheating, then aerosol quantity increases, but harmful chemicals may form due to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The dual air inlet system creates a feedback mechanism for temperature control. The second air inlet at the periphery provides additional cooling air to prevent overheating at the edges, while the first air inlet maintains adequate oxygen supply for aerosol generation at the center. This balanced air distribution allows the system to operate at optimal temperature ranges that maximize aerosol production while minimizing harmful chemical formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the air flow distribution parameters by introducing a second air inlet at the periphery with a specific cross-sectional area ratio (0.1-0.5 times the first air inlet area). This parameter adjustment optimizes the air-to-substrate contact in different regions, enabling efficient heat transfer and aerosol generation while preventing localized overheating that would produce harmful chemicals.
3Device complexity
If a single central air inlet is used, then the device structure is simple, but the substrate periphery region experiences insufficient heating
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet system is segmented into two distinct inlets: a first air inlet at the bottom center and a second air inlet at the bottom periphery. This segmentation enables differentiated air supply to different substrate regions, with the second inlet specifically addressing the periphery heating requirement while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The air inlet configuration employs asymmetric positioning with the first inlet at the center and the second inlet at the periphery. This asymmetric arrangement matches the thermal requirements of different substrate regions, providing enhanced air flow to the periphery area that would otherwise be underserved by a single central inlet, thereby improving periphery heating efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively reduces the cooling effect in the central region of the substrate, allowing for more uniform heating, which enhances user experience by preventing underheating or overheating, thus minimizing the formation of harmful chemicals.
Implementation Method 1
heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases aerosol
Implementation Method 2
heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases aerosol
Implementation Method 3
heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases aerosol
Implementation Method 4
airflow gradient extending from the centre of the bottom wall until the common border
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention concerns an aerosol generating device configured to operate with a consumable article comprising a substrate portion (14). The device comprises a heating chamber (25) extending along a chamber axis (X), configured to receive at least the substrate portion (14) and comprising a plurality of contact walls (40, 41) designed to be in contact with an external surface of the substrate portion (14). The plurality of contact walls (40, 41) comprises a bottom wall (40) and at least one lateral wall (41). The heating chamber (25) further comprises an inlet portion (50) comprising an inlet hole (52A, 52B) of an airflow path extending through the substrate portion (14). Said inlet portion (50) extends on the bottom wall (40) and/or on the or at least one lateral wall (41) to create an airflow gradient at least at a region of the heating chamber (35) adjacent to this inlet portion.