Mesh-Mediated Vaporizer Heating for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating systems face issues with liquid leakage and inefficient vaporization due to localized cooling of the heater, leading to unwanted drips and reduced vaporization efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vaporizer design incorporating a thermally conductive tube element with a mesh inside, where the heater heats the mesh indirectly through conduction, ensuring uniform heating and vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, while using a micropump for on-demand liquid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid aerosol-forming substrate is dispensed directly onto the heater, then vaporization can occur, but the liquid cools the heater locally causing liquid to drip without being vaporized
Solution Approach 1:
A mesh is introduced as an intermediary component between the liquid substrate and the heater. The mesh distributes the liquid uniformly across its surface, preventing localized cooling of the heater while ensuring complete vaporization. The mesh acts as a mediator that transforms direct liquid-heater contact into controlled liquid distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh creates local quality variations in liquid distribution across the heating surface. By spreading liquid uniformly through the mesh structure, different regions of the heater receive appropriate liquid amounts, preventing both dripping and incomplete vaporization in any local area.
2Ease of operation
If a wick is used to deliver liquid to the vaporizer, then liquid distribution improves, but liquid leakage from the enclosed heated wick becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh utilizes porous material properties to control liquid flow and distribution. The porous structure allows the mesh to retain and spread liquid through capillary action while maintaining structural integrity at heating temperatures, preventing both poor distribution and leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a composite structure combining the mesh (porous material) with the heater and tube element. This composite design integrates the liquid distribution function of the porous mesh with the heating function, creating a unified system that prevents leakage while ensuring complete vaporization.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the heater directly contacts the liquid substrate, then heating efficiency is high, but uniform heating is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh creates local quality variations in liquid distribution across the heating surface. By spreading liquid uniformly through the mesh structure, different regions of the heater receive appropriate liquid amounts, preventing both dripping and incomplete vaporization in any local area.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh acts as an intermediary that distributes heat and liquid uniformly. It mediates between the heater's thermal energy and the liquid substrate, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and consistent vaporization across the entire heating surface.
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 design prevents liquid leakage and ensures complete vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, improving vaporization efficiency and reducing unwanted drips.
Implementation Method 1
The heater is configured for heating the mesh and the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The heater is provided outside of the tube element. The tube element is thermally conductive.
Implementation Method 2
heating the mesh and the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate
Data Source
AI summary
The vaporizer includes a tube element defining an inner volume for receiving an amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a mesh in the inner volume of the tube element, and a heater outside, the heater including an electrical resistive heater, and the heater is configured to heat the mesh and the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate.