Porous Material Liquid Store with Graded Pores for E-Vapor Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic vapor provision devices face challenges in efficiently retaining and controlling the release of liquid nicotine, as they often require separate components and may not optimize liquid storage and vaporization processes effectively.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a porous material for the liquid store with a heating element support that forms part of the liquid store, featuring smaller pores near the heating element and larger pores further away, allowing for efficient liquid retention and wicking, and optionally includes gaps between the heating element and support for enhanced vaporization and surface area exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a porous material is used for liquid storage with uniform pore size, then liquid retention is improved, but liquid release control and vaporization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a porous material with non-uniform pore distribution: smaller pores (5-50 micrometers) in the region next to the heating element for controlled liquid release, and larger pores (50-200 micrometers) further from the heating element for efficient liquid wicking and storage. This spatial variation in pore size allows the same porous material to simultaneously provide both liquid retention and vaporization efficiency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate components are used for liquid store and heating element support, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating element support and liquid store into a single integrated porous material component. The porous material serves dual functions: it acts as the structural support for the heating element while simultaneously serving as the liquid reservoir. This integration reduces component count and simplifies the device structure while maintaining structural stability through the inherent mechanical properties of the porous material.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the heating element is in direct contact with the porous material, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but liquid distribution control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality by creating a gap between the heating element and the porous material bulk, while maintaining intimate contact only in the immediate vicinity of the heating element. This localized contact arrangement allows efficient heat transfer to the liquid at the heating interface, while the gap provides capillary channels for controlled liquid distribution from the bulk porous material to the heating zone.
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
This configuration enhances liquid storage and vaporization efficiency, reduces component complexity, and allows for a larger liquid capacity, resulting in a more effective and simplified electronic vapor provision device.
Implementation Method 1
the porous material comprises smaller pores in the region next to the heating element and larger pores further from the heating element
Implementation Method 2
heating element for vaporising liquid
Implementation Method 3
heating element support that forms part of the liquid store
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
An electronic vapour provision device (1) comprising a power cell (9, 54), a vaporiser (6, 52) and a liquid store (7, 51), where the vaporiser comprises a heating element (17, 68) and a heating element support (20, 67), wherein the liquid store comprises a porous material.