Intermittent Emission Collection for ENDS Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for collecting emissions from Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are inadequate as they do not accurately represent real-life use conditions, leading to premature coil degradation and unrepresentative chemical profiles due to continuous drawing, which is impractical and results in increased decomposition of e-liquid constituents.
Innovation Solution
A collecting assembly with a spiral-shaped conduit and a receptacle configured to regulate temperature, using a pump assembly that draws emissions intermittently to mimic real-life puffing profiles, and a controller to manage valve configurations for efficient emission collection and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If emissions are drawn continuously from an ENDS, then a complete chemical constituent emissions profile can be obtained, but the heating element degrades prematurely and the chemical profile becomes unrepresentative of real-life use
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is configured to draw emissions intermittently rather than continuously, creating periodic activation cycles that mimic real-life puffing patterns. This periodic action allows the heating element to cool down between draws, preventing premature degradation while still collecting sufficient emissions data to establish a chemical constituent profile representative of actual use conditions
2Quantity of substance
If emissions are drawn continuously from an ENDS, then sufficient emissions volume is collected for analysis, but the temperature of the heating element increases causing decomposition of e-liquid constituents
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing intermittent drawing cycles with appropriate intervals, the system accumulates sufficient emissions volume over time while allowing the heating element temperature to return to operational ranges between cycles. This prevents thermal degradation of e-liquid constituents such as aldehydes, ketones, and acrolein that would otherwise occur under continuous high-temperature operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the heating element to cool down preliminarily between drawing cycles, ensuring it returns to appropriate operating temperature ranges before the next emission collection period. This preliminary cooling action prevents temperature-related decomposition of chemical constituents while still achieving adequate emissions volume for analysis
3Measurement precision
If emissions are drawn continuously from an ENDS, then a chemical profile can be established, but the collected emissions do not represent real-life use conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The intermittent drawing operation replicates the periodic nature of real-life puffing behavior, where users take discrete puffs separated by intervals of non-use. This periodic collection method produces a chemical constituent profile that accurately reflects the emissions exposure conditions users actually experience, rather than the altered conditions of continuous drawing
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the ENDS device to return to its natural operational state between drawing cycles, maintaining its own temperature and emission characteristics as they would occur during actual use. This self-regulating approach ensures the collected emissions data inherently represents real-life use conditions without requiring external intervention to maintain authenticity
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 solution effectively collects emissions that closely represent real-life use conditions, reducing coil degradation and improving the sensitivity of subsequent analysis by maintaining a representative chemical profile of ENDS emissions.
Implementation Method 1
a pump assembly (12) including a pump (120) in fluid communication with the inlet (10)... a partial vacuum created by the pump (120) within the fluid line (121) has the effect of drawing emissions from the device (2)
Implementation Method 2
a condensing device (210) including an inlet (211), an outlet (212) and a spiral-shaped conduit (213) extending between the inlet and the outlet
Implementation Method 3
The inner surface of the base (222) defines a cone shape... a device configured to regulate the temperature of the receptacle (220)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An apparatus (1) for collecting emissions from a device (2), the apparatus (1) comprises: an inlet (10) which receives emissions from a device (2); an outlet (11) for a collecting assembly (13); and a pump assembly (12) which includes a pump (120), the pump (120) being in fluid communication with the inlet (10) and operable to draw emissions from the inlet (10) to the outlet (11) for the collecting assembly (13), wherein the pump assembly (12) is configured such that, in use, emissions are drawn from the inlet (10) intermittently. A collecting assembly (13) may collect and condense the emissions by employing low temperatures.