Heating Chamber Insulation Layout for Focused Aerosol Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol generation devices for heated tobacco products face challenges in efficiently heating aerosol substrates while minimizing energy consumption and maintaining thermal isolation to prevent hotspots and improve user comfort.

Innovation Solution

A heating chamber design with a thin, thermally conductive side wall and a thicker base, surrounded by an insulating member with a vacuum or low-pressure gas, which is nested inside the insulating member to enhance thermal isolation and reduce heat transfer to the outer casing, along with a heater that extends around the side wall but not the base, to focus heat on the aerosol substrate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the heater extends around the chamber base, then heating uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases and thermal isolation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating uniformityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heater is designed to extend only around the chamber side wall and stop before reaching the chamber base, creating a localized heating zone. This local quality approach concentrates thermal energy where it is most needed (the aerosol substrate in the chamber) while avoiding unnecessary heating of the base and outer casing, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective heating uniformity in the target area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the insulating member has thick walls, then thermal isolation is improved, but device size and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer to outer casingVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating member is designed with thin wall structures that provide effective thermal isolation. The insulation relies on the principle of thin film insulation where the insulating material (such as aerogel or vacuum) provides high thermal resistance per unit thickness, allowing adequate thermal protection against heat transfer to the outer casing while keeping the device compact and lightweight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Speed

If the heater power is increased, then heating speed is improved, but thermal isolation deteriorates and hotspots form

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating speedVSAvoidhotspot formation
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is segmented into distinct zones: the heater wraps around the chamber side wall to provide distributed heating, while the chamber base remains separate and is not directly heated. This segmentation prevents concentration of thermal energy in one location, eliminating hotspot formation while achieving rapid heating of the aerosol substrate through the chamber side wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Stability of the object's composition

If the chamber base is in thermal contact with the insulating base, then structural stability is improved, but heat transfer to outer casing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidheat loss to environment
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The chamber base is extracted from direct thermal contact with the insulating base, creating a thermal break in the heat transfer path. This separation removes the heat loss pathway while the insulating member's side wall provides structural support and containment, maintaining chamber stability without compromising thermal isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 design allows for rapid heating of the aerosol substrate with reduced energy consumption, improved thermal efficiency, and enhanced user comfort by minimizing heat transfer to the outer casing, ensuring efficient aerosol generation and comfortable handling.

Implementation Method 1

the insulating side wall chamber contains a vacuum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum insulation: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

an insulating member comprising an insulating side wall, and an insulating base... the insulating member being arranged so that a part of the heating chamber including the chamber base is nested inside the insulating member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

heat, rather than burn, tobacco or other suitable materials by conduction, convection, and/or radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

heat, rather than burn, tobacco or other suitable materials by conduction, convection, and/or radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 5

heat, rather than burn, tobacco or other suitable materials by conduction, convection, and/or radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3863445B1Aerosol generation device and heating chamber therefor
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 JT INTERNATIONAL SA
  • EP3863445B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3863445B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3863445B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a heating chamber (108) for an aerosol generation device (100). The heating chamber (108) comprises a chamber side wall (126) and a chamber base (112). The chamber side wall (126) and chamber base (112) together define an interior volume of the heating chamber (108). A heater (124) is provided in thermal engagement with the chamber side wall (126). An insulating member (152) comprises an insulating side wall (154) and an insulating base (156), and is arranged so that a part of the heating chamber (108) including the chamber base (112) is nested inside the insulating member (152). There is also disclosed an aerosol generation device (100) comprising an electrical power source (120), an outer casing (102), the heating chamber (108) and control circuitry (122) arranged to control the supply of electrical power from the electrical power source (120) to the heater (124).