Multi-Caloric Heating Medium for Aerosol Substrate Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol generating systems for heat-not-burn cigarettes face challenges in achieving uniform heating of the aerosol generating substrate and accurate control of heating temperature, particularly due to the limitations of resistance heating and electromagnetic induction heating methods.

Innovation Solution

The proposed aerosol generating system utilizes a multi-caloric coupling giant caloric effect and a heating medium comprising dielectric, magnetic, and conductive components, which are structured to enhance dielectric loss, hysteresis loss, and electrical conductance loss. This system achieves multi-field coupling to produce a uniform heating temperature and low power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If resistance heating method is used, then heating function is provided, but uniform heating of aerosol generating substrate is difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating uniformityVSAvoidtemperature control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional resistance heating method (Joule heating through current passing through resistance element) with electromagnetic induction heating. This substitution enables more uniform heating distribution and better temperature control accuracy by utilizing electromagnetic fields to induce currents within the heating element itself, rather than relying on external resistance heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the heating mechanism by changing from resistive heating parameters to electromagnetic induction parameters. By adjusting electromagnetic field frequency, magnetic susceptibility of heating elements, and induction coil configurations, the system achieves improved temperature uniformity and control precision that cannot be obtained through resistance heating alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If electromagnetic induction heating system is used, then heating efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into the aerosol-generating article itself. The article contains both the aerosol-forming substrate and the induction-heatable susceptor assembly as unified components, eliminating the need for separate heating devices. This multi-functional design achieves high heating efficiency while reducing overall system complexity by making the product itself self-heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The aerosol-generating article is designed to heat itself through electromagnetic induction. The susceptor assembly within the article converts electromagnetic energy directly into heat at the location where it is needed, without requiring external heating apparatus. This self-heating capability improves energy efficiency and simplifies the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 system effectively realizes uniform heating of the aerosol generating substrate, reduces thermal excitation temperature, and enhances the saturated vapor pressure of the aerosol generating medium, leading to improved aerosol generation efficiency and reduced power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

enhance dielectric loss, hysteresis loss, damping loss, resonance loss and electrical conductance loss

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric loss: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

enhance dielectric loss, hysteresis loss, damping loss, resonance loss and electrical conductance loss

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHysteresis loss: Magnetic Hysteresis

Implementation Method 3

enhance dielectric loss, hysteresis loss, damping loss, resonance loss and electrical conductance loss

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conductance loss: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 4

enhance dielectric loss, hysteresis loss, damping loss, resonance loss and electrical conductance loss

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP4497337A1Aerosol generating system using multi-caloric coupling giant caloric effect, and heating medium
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 HUBEI CHINA TOBACCO INDUSTRY CO LTD
  • EP4497337A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4497337A1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4497337A1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

An aerosol generating system using a multi-caloric coupling giant caloric effect, and a heating medium. The heating medium comprises a first heating medium (0113, 0213), which is suitable for an alternating electromagnetic field response frequency in a range of 0.3 to 300 MHz, and a second heating medium (0313), which is suitable for an alternating electromagnetic field response frequency in a range of 0.3 to 30 GHz. A heating medium, which is obtained by means of performing mesoscale composition on components that are correspondingly used and have a high dielectric loss, a high hysteresis loss and a high conductivity loss, meets a material configuration requirement of multi-field coupling generating a multi-caloric giant caloric effect, and has a strong coupling effect and a high heating efficiency. In an aerosol generating system (01, 02, 03), the heating medium serves as heating particles, which are blended with an aerosol substrate or are doped for restituting tobacco sheets, in an aerosol generating substrate (0112, 0212, 0312); alternatively, the heating medium, as a foil-sheet-shaped film composite heating medium (0114, 0214, 0314), serves as an auxiliary enhanced heating medium in an aerosol generating stage; and the heating medium also serves as a block heating medium (0235, 0332) of a heating cavity and a particle coating heating medium (0123, 0223, 0323) of a pre-heating housing, thereby realizing a multi-source cooperative enhanced heating effect.