Flexible Heating Coil Assembly for Efficient Aerosol Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smoking alternatives, such as heat-not-burn products, face challenges in efficiently generating aerosol from aerosol-generating materials without combustion, particularly in terms of heating efficiency and construction flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol provision device featuring a flexible coil configuration with a tubular heating element and a combination of inductor and resistive heating coils, where the inductor coil generates heat through magnetic penetration and the resistive coil conducts heat, allowing for efficient and flexible aerosol generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rigid heating element structure is used, then heating efficiency is improved, but construction flexibility and ease of assembly deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element uses a flexible coil configuration comprising a flexible support with resistive heating coils formed thereon, allowing the heating element to be bent and conform to different geometries during assembly while maintaining heating functionality. This flexible structure is wrapped around a mandrel or receptacle to create the desired cylindrical or curved heating zone geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element transitions from a flexible state during assembly to a fixed cylindrical configuration during operation. The flexible coil configuration allows dynamic manipulation during manufacturing and assembly, then stabilizes into a rigid functional form when wrapped around the receptacle and secured, optimizing both ease of manufacture and heating efficiency.
2Productivity
If complex heating assembly is used, then heating efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element integrates multiple functional components into a single assembly: the flexible support structure, the resistive heating coils, and the cylindrical form factor are combined into one unified component that performs both structural and heating functions, reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible support serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the heating coils, enables flexible manipulation during assembly, maintains the cylindrical geometry when wrapped, and facilitates heat distribution. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional heating coils are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but heating efficiency and aerosol generation performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is formed into a cylindrical configuration by wrapping the flexible coil around a mandrel or receptacle. This curved, three-dimensional geometry provides a larger surface area for heat transfer, improves aerosol generation efficiency, and allows better contact with the aerosol-generating material compared to flat traditional coils.
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 device achieves rapid and efficient aerosol generation with enhanced heating efficiency and construction flexibility, enabling improved performance and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
an inductor coil configured to generate heat through magnetic penetration
Implementation Method 2
a resistive heating coil configured to conduct heat
Data Source
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AI summary
An aerosol provision device (100) is provided for generating an aerosol from aerosol generating material. The aerosol provision device has a receptacle (116) defining a heating zone (114) configured to receive at least a portion of an article (200) comprising aerosol generating material. The aerosol provision device also has a flexible coil configuration (110) comprising a flexible support (122) extending around at least a portion of the receptacle (116), an inductor coil (126) formed on the flexible support; and a resistive heating coil (124) formed on the flexible support.