Heat Pipe Aerosol Device Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generating devices face challenges in efficiently transferring heat to the aerosol generating substrate, which affects the generation of an inhalable aerosol.
Innovation Solution
The use of a heat pipe with a vaporizable liquid, a heater, and a heat transfer surface to efficiently transfer heat from the vapor to the aerosol generating substrate, ensuring effective heating without burning, and allowing for the generation of an aerosol for inhalation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a resistive heating element is used to heat the aerosol generating substrate, then the substrate can be heated to generate aerosol, but heat transfer efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a heat pipe containing a vaporizable liquid that undergoes phase transitions (liquid to vapor and vapor back to liquid) to transfer heat from the heating element to the aerosol generating substrate. The liquid vaporizes at the heating element, the vapor travels to the substrate, condenses releasing heat, and the condensed liquid returns to the heating element, creating an efficient thermal cycle that resolves the heat transfer efficiency problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe acts as an intermediary thermal transfer medium between the heating element and the aerosol generating substrate. Instead of direct contact heating, the vaporizable liquid within the heat pipe serves as a mediator that efficiently transports thermal energy through phase change, overcoming the insufficient heat transfer of direct resistive heating.
2Temperature
If an induction heating system with coil and susceptor is used, then heat can be generated and transferred to the substrate, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from a complex induction heating system (coil and susceptor) and consolidates it into a simpler heat pipe-based system. The heat pipe integrates the heating element and thermal transfer function into a single component, eliminating the need for separate induction coils and susceptors while maintaining effective heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the heating element, the thermal transfer medium, and the structural component connecting to the substrate. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby simplifying the overall system structure while maintaining effective heating.
3Productivity
If heat is transferred efficiently to the aerosol generating substrate, then aerosol generation is improved, but the risk of burning the substrate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe system provides inherent thermal feedback control through its phase change mechanism. As the substrate temperature increases, the rate of vapor condensation and heat transfer automatically adjusts, preventing excessive temperature buildup that could lead to burning. This self-regulating thermal feedback ensures efficient heating while protecting the substrate from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporization and condensation phase transitions in the heat pipe create a controlled thermal interface with the substrate. The phase change process absorbs and releases heat at controlled rates, providing uniform heat distribution that achieves efficient aerosol generation without localized overheating that could cause substrate burning.
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 solution provides a highly efficient and effective method for heating the aerosol generating substrate, generating an aerosol for inhalation by utilizing a heat pipe that vaporizes a liquid and transfers heat through a heat transfer surface, ensuring efficient and uniform heating.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid which is vaporisable to form a vapour; a heater positioned at the first end of the heat pipe for heating and vaporising the liquid
Implementation Method 2
at least one heat transfer surface positioned away from the first end of the heat pipe for transferring heat from the vapour to the aerosol generating substrate
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol generating substrate, e.g., an aerosol generating liquid or a non-liquid aerosol generating substrate, to generate an aerosol for inhalation includes a heat pipe and a heater. The heat pipe is partially filled with a liquid which is vaporisable to form a vapour and has a first end arranged to be positioned away from the aerosol generating substrate and an opposite second end. The heater is positioned at the first end of the heat pipe for heating and vaporising the liquid. The heat pipe includes at least one heat transfer surface positioned away from the first end for transferring heat from the vapour inside the heat pipe to the aerosol generating substrate to thereby heat the aerosol generating substrate.