Helical Litz-Wire Inductor Coils for Compact Susceptor Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generation devices face challenges in efficiently heating aerosol-generating materials without burning, particularly in achieving a balance between performance, cost, and device compactness.
Innovation Solution
The use of helical inductor coils formed from litz wire with specific dimensions and configurations, including elliptical or rectangular cross sections and varying numbers of wire strands, to generate a varying magnetic field for efficient heating of susceptors, which in turn heat aerosol-generating materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional inductor coils are used for heating susceptors, then heating function is achieved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inductor coil is segmented into multiple discrete turns rather than using a continuous winding, allowing for optimized spacing and reduced overall coil volume while maintaining effective heating coverage of the susceptor surface
Solution Approach 2:
The coil parameters (turn spacing, wire diameter, coil diameter) are optimized to achieve maximum heating efficiency at minimal size, with specific attention to the spacing between turns to ensure adequate magnetic field penetration while minimizing device volume
2Power
If inductor coils with sufficient current are used to heat susceptors, then heating performance improves, but energy loss from induced current in inactive coils increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is divided into multiple independent turns that can be selectively activated or deactivated, allowing current to be directed only to the sections requiring heating at any given time, thereby eliminating energy loss from induced currents in inactive sections
Solution Approach 2:
Different turns of the coil are activated in a periodic or sequential manner to heat different sections of the susceptor, ensuring that only the necessary portions of the coil carry current at any moment, thus reducing overall energy consumption and heat loss
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 provides effective heating of aerosol-generating materials, achieving a balance between performance, cost, and device compactness, while ensuring efficient aerosol production without combustion.
Implementation Method 1
an inductor coil configured to generate a varying magnetic field for heating a susceptor arrangement
Implementation Method 2
a susceptor arrangement that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat aerosol generating material
Data Source
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AI summary
An aerosol provision device comprises an inductor coil configured to generate the varying magnetic field for heating the susceptor arrangement. The inductor coil is helical, formed from litz wire and comprises between about 25 and about 350 wire strands.