Multi-Susceptor Induction Heating for Uniform Aerosol Generation

The heating system is divided into multiple susceptor elements (first susceptor element and second susceptor element) that are spatially separated and independently controllable. Each susceptor element can be heated separately by the induction coil, allowing different regions of the aerosol-forming substrate to be heated to different temperatures or at different times, thereby achieving uniform heat distribution across the entire substrate.

The controller implements periodic heating cycles where the induction coil alternates between generating a first alternating magnetic field at a first frequency to heat the first susceptor element, and a second alternating magnetic field at a second frequency to heat the second susceptor element. This periodic action ensures that both susceptor elements receive adequate heating over time, maintaining consistent aerosol production from different regions of the substrate.

The system dynamically adjusts the heating process by sequentially activating different susceptor elements based on real-time requirements. The controller can modulate the duty cycle, frequency, and power level for each susceptor element independently, ensuring that energy is consumed efficiently by heating only the necessary regions at the necessary times, rather than continuously heating all elements at maximum power.

The susceptor elements act as intermediary components that are inductively heated by the induction coil and then transfer thermal energy to the aerosol-forming substrate through thermal conduction. This indirect heating mechanism eliminates the need for direct contact between the induction coil and substrate, minimizing substrate displacement while still achieving effective heating. The susceptors serve as thermal mediators that decouple the electromagnetic field generation from the substrate heating process.