Aerosol Film Sequential Heating for Consistent Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating systems experience inconsistent aerosol delivery due to variations in the amount of aerosol-generating substrate heated and composition, leading to unpredictable amounts of aerosol per puff.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating film made of a cellulose-based film-forming agent, a non-cellulose-based thickening agent, and a polyhydric alcohol, heated by a controlled heater assembly that activates sequentially in response to user inhalations, ensuring consistent aerosol delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a physically separate aerosol-generating substrate is heated by a heat source, then aerosol can be generated, but the amount of aerosol per puff becomes inconsistent due to variations in substrate amount and composition
Solution Approach 1:
The aerosol-generating substrate is divided into multiple discrete, equally sized portions (e.g., 7-10 individual portions) arranged in a circular array. Each portion contains identical amounts of aerosol-forming material, ensuring that heating any single portion delivers a consistent, predetermined amount of aerosol per puff, eliminating variability in aerosol delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
Each discrete portion of the aerosol-generating substrate is designed with uniform local properties - identical composition, mass, and geometric dimensions. This ensures that every portion generates the same amount of aerosol when heated, providing consistent aerosol delivery across multiple puffs.
2Ease of operation
If sequential heating of different substrate portions is implemented, then individual puffs can be provided, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater assembly is configured to sequentially activate different heating zones in a periodic manner corresponding to user puffs. The control system cycles through predefined heating zones (e.g., heating portions 1-6 in sequence), providing individual puffs while using simple, repeatable activation patterns that minimize control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically cycles through heating zones based on detection of user inhalation or predefined timing, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The control circuitry autonomously manages the sequential heating sequence, reducing operational complexity while maintaining individual puff delivery.
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
The system provides precise and reliable aerosol delivery by maintaining the composition and shape of the aerosol-generating film, ensuring consistent aerosol generation and delivery over successive puffs, with the cellulose-based film-forming agent and non-cellulose-based thickening agent enhancing physical stability and precision.
Implementation Method 1
heating the aerosol-generating film to generate an inhalable aerosol
Implementation Method 2
a non-cellulose based thickening agent
Implementation Method 3
a cellulose based film-forming agent
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-generating film including a cellulose based film-forming agent, a non-cellulose based thickening agent, and a polyhydric alcohol; a heater assembly configured to heat the aerosol-generating film to generate an inhalable aerosol; a power supply; and control circuitry configured to: control a supply of power from the power supply to the heater assembly in response to a user inhalation, and activate the heater assembly to sequentially heat different portions of the aerosol-generating film in response to successive user inhalations, the cellulose based film-forming agent being a cellulose ether. An aerosol-generating article is also provided.