Dielectric Heater for Uniform Aerosol Substrate Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating systems face challenges with non-uniform heating of aerosol-forming substrates, leading to inefficiencies and maintenance issues, particularly in compact handheld designs.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol-generating system utilizing a capacitor with a first and second electrode to dielectrically heat the substrate, where the controller measures electrical properties to control heating, ensuring uniform heating and preventing hot spots without direct contact, allowing for flexible substrate design and composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional resistive heating elements are used to heat the aerosol-forming substrate, then heating can be achieved, but non-uniform heating occurs with hot spots near the heating element
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional resistive heating element (mechanical contact system) with a dielectric heating system using electrodes and an oscillating electric field. This substitution eliminates direct contact between the heating element and substrate, thereby eliminating hot spots and achieving uniform heating throughout the substrate volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs high-frequency oscillating electric fields (radio frequency or microwave frequencies) to dielectrically heat the substrate. The oscillating field causes rapid molecular vibration and rotation within the substrate material, generating heat uniformly throughout the entire substrate volume rather than at the surface contact point.
2Temperature
If multiple heating elements are used to distribute heat uniformly, then heating uniformity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple mechanical heating elements to distribute heat, the patent uses a single dielectric heating system with electrodes that generate an oscillating electric field penetrating the entire substrate volume. This single system achieves what would otherwise require multiple heating elements, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Productivity
If direct contact heating is used, then heating efficiency is high, but residue buildup on the heating element requires maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the direct contact heating element with a non-contact dielectric heating system using electrodes and oscillating electric fields. This substitution maintains heating efficiency by dielectrically heating the substrate throughout its volume while eliminating residue buildup on heating surfaces, thereby eliminating maintenance requirements.
4Weight of moving object
If a compact handheld design is implemented, then portability is improved, but heating control precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dielectric heating with electrodes and oscillating electric fields, which requires no physical contact or complex heating element assemblies. This simplifies the mechanical structure, allowing for a compact handheld design while maintaining precise heating control through electronic regulation of the electric field parameters (frequency, amplitude, duration).
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 achieves uniform heating of aerosol-forming substrates, reduces maintenance by avoiding residue buildup, and enables precise temperature control for optimal aerosol generation, all while maintaining a compact and efficient handheld form.
Implementation Method 1
The controller is configured to supply an alternating voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode for dielectrically heating the aerosol-forming substrate
Implementation Method 2
The controller is configured to measure an electrical property between the first electrode and the second electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-forming substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode; an aerosol-generating device including a power supply, and a controller configured to connect to the first electrode and the second electrode; and a capacitor including the first electrode, the second electrode, and at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate, the controller being configured to supply an alternating voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode for dielectrically heating the aerosol-forming substrate, measure or determine an electrical property between the first electrode and the second electrode, and control heating of the aerosol-forming substrate based on the measured or determined electrical property.