Capillary Aerosol Generator With Pulsed Heating for Fine Fragrance Mist
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air fresheners fail to efficiently generate aerosolized fragrance material with small particle sizes, resulting in short hang times and inefficient distribution of fragrance in the environment.
Innovation Solution
An air freshener system utilizing a capillary passage with a heater arranged along its length, where liquid fragrance material is supplied through capillary action and heated in timed cycles to achieve partial volatilization, driving the fragrance out via a restricted orifice, producing aerosolized particles of small size through a fluid shearing mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional air fresheners use mechanical pumping systems to generate aerosol, then aerosol generation is achieved, but device complexity and mechanical component failure risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pumping systems with a capillary-driven liquid delivery system combined with thermal volatilization. Liquid fragrance material is transported through capillary passages to a heating element, where thermal energy volatilizes the liquid and creates aerosol particles. This eliminates mechanical pumps, motors, and moving parts, significantly improving reliability while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The capillary passage system provides self-driven liquid transport without external mechanical assistance. The capillary forces automatically draw liquid fragrance material from the reservoir through the passage and onto the heating element, creating a self-regulating, maintenance-free liquid delivery mechanism that eliminates the need for mechanical pumping components.
2Duration of action of moving object
If conventional air fresheners generate large aerosol particles, then aerosol generation is achieved, but hang time and distribution efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a restricted orifice at the outlet of the capillary passage that creates localized high-velocity jet flow. This localized fluid dynamic condition shears the volatilized fragrance material into fine aerosol particles with diameters less than 5 microns. The small particle size enables extended hang time in the environment while maintaining efficient distribution, resolving the contradiction between particle size and fragrance delivery effectiveness.
3Productivity
If continuous heating is applied to generate aerosol, then aerosol generation is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or pulsed heating cycles rather than continuous heating. The heating element is activated in intervals to volatilize liquid fragrance material and generate aerosol bursts. Between heating cycles, the system allows cooling and refilling phases. This periodic operation maintains effective aerosol generation while significantly reducing average energy consumption compared to continuous heating, as the thermal mass and capillary refilling rate sustain aerosol production during the cycle.
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 effectively generates aerosolized fragrance with particle sizes less than 5 microns, enhancing hang time and distribution, while eliminating the need for mechanical pumping and reducing liquid consumption.
Implementation Method 1
liquid fragrance material is supplied to the inlet of the capillary passage, whereby liquid fragrance material is supplied to the passage only via capillary action
Implementation Method 2
a heater arranged along the capillary passage, where liquid fragrance material is supplied through capillary action and heated in timed cycles
Implementation Method 3
heating the passage is controlled... the liquid fragrance material in the capillary passage is at least partially volatilized
Implementation Method 4
producing aerosolized particles of small size through a fluid shearing mechanism... the fluid path between the liquid supply and heated section of the capillary passage contains a restriction smaller in cross-sectional area than the capillary passage cross-sectional area
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
An aerosol generator periodically forms aerosolized fragrance material by repeatedly supplying a liquid fragrance material to a capillary passage 40 via only capillary action and heating the capillary passage 40, such that the liquid fragrance material at least partially volatilizes and is driven out of an outlet 45 of the capillary passage 40. A wick 20 feeds the liquid fragrance material to an inlet of the capillary passage 40 by capillary action. An apparatus and method for generating such an aerosolized fragrance material, as well as the methods of heating, are disclosed.