Aerosol Generating Apparatus with Supercritical Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol generating devices require separate perfume manufacturing and flavoring processes, leading to increased energy consumption and carbon emissions, and lack direct extraction and transfer of natural flavors from raw materials.

Innovation Solution

An aerosol generating apparatus incorporating a supercritical extraction unit that extracts nicotine, tobacco flavor, and perfume from tobacco and aromatic plants using a supercritical fluid, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing processes and directly transferring these components with an aerosol.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If separate perfume manufacturing and flavoring processes are used, then the desired extraction components can be obtained, but energy consumption and carbon emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the perfume manufacturing process and flavoring process into a single integrated supercritical extraction system. The supercritical extraction unit simultaneously extracts both perfume components and flavor components from raw materials in one operation, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and flavoring processes, thereby reducing energy consumption and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The supercritical extraction unit serves multiple functions: it acts as both the perfume manufacturing unit and the flavoring unit. By using supercritical fluid to extract components that serve dual purposes as both perfume and flavoring agents, the system achieves multi-functionality and reduces the number of separate processes required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If separate perfume manufacturing and flavoring processes are used, then the desired extraction components can be obtained, but carbon emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon emissionsVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the traditional multi-step process that generates harmful emissions into a single eco-friendly supercritical extraction process. By using supercritical carbon dioxide or other environmentally benign fluids as the extraction medium, the system eliminates harmful emissions while maintaining manufacturing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional extraction methods are used, then manufacturing processes are complex, but direct extraction and transfer of natural flavors is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing process simplificationVSAvoidflavor authenticity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines extraction and transfer functions into a single integrated system. The supercritical extraction unit directly extracts natural flavors from raw materials and transfers them to the aerosol generation system without intermediate processing steps, simplifying the manufacturing process while preserving flavor authenticity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses supercritical fluid extraction to selectively extract desired components (nicotine, tobacco flavor, perfume) from raw materials. The supercritical fluid penetrates the raw material matrix and dissolves the target components, which are then separated and transferred directly to the aerosol system, achieving both process simplification and flavor authenticity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 apparatus simplifies manufacturing, reduces carbon emissions by minimizing energy use, and provides fresh, natural flavors by directly extracting and transferring extraction components from raw materials.

Implementation Method 1

a supercritical extraction unit that includes at least one of tobacco and aromatic plant as a raw material and extracts an extraction component from the raw material by a supercritical fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSupercritical fluid extraction: Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Implementation Method 2

a heating unit that heats at least one of the supercritical extraction unit and the collection unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS12408694B2Aerosol generating apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 KT&G CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is an aerosol generating apparatus, including: a supercritical extraction unit that includes at least one of tobacco and aromatic plant as a raw material, and extracts an extraction component from the raw material by a supercritical fluid; a collection unit that collects the extraction component discharged from the supercritical extraction unit as a collection material; an inlet part that is disposed between the supercritical extraction unit and the collection unit and serves as a path through which the extraction component is introduced from the supercritical extraction unit into the collection unit; a heating unit that heats at least one of the supercritical extraction unit and the collection unit, and a body part in which the supercritical extraction unit, the collection unit, the inlet part, and the heating unit are disposed.