Heating Element with Phase Change Material for Vaping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reduced-risk tobacco devices fail to replicate the handling experience of conventional cigarettes due to their larger size and embedded technology, which differs from the traditional cigarette experience, and often pose burning risks due to the use of carbon-based heating sources.
Innovation Solution
A heating element for consumable articles that absorbs heat during a pre-heating phase and releases it during a vaping phase, allowing the device to be handled like a conventional cigarette while heating a vaporizable material without burning, using a heat-absorbing/releasing material such as phase change materials or ceramics to maintain aerosol generation for a full vaping session.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a carbon-based heating source is used to heat the vaporizable substrate, then the device can generate aerosol, but the carbon source may dissociate and create burning risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat transfer medium (such as a phase change material or heat conductive substance) as an intermediary between the heating source and the vaporizable substrate. This intermediary transfers heat from the heating source to the substrate without requiring direct contact, thereby eliminating the risk of carbon source dissociation and burning while maintaining effective heating for aerosol generation.
2Duration of action of moving object
If embedded technology (battery, heater, control system) is used to heat the substrate, then aerosol can be generated for multiple puffs, but the device size becomes larger than conventional cigarettes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a phase change material that absorbs and stores thermal energy during a charging phase when connected to a power source. This preliminary action of storing heat energy allows the device to later release the stored heat for extended vaping sessions without requiring continuous power supply or large battery capacity, thereby reducing device size while maintaining duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the power supply and control electronics from the consumable article itself, placing them in a separate reusable device. The consumable article contains only the vaporizable substrate and heat transfer medium, which can be replaced independently. This separation allows the consumable to remain small and cigarette-like while the reusable device houses the embedded technology for extended operation.
3Ease of operation
If the consumable article is made small and cigarette-like in size, then it is easy to handle, but it cannot accommodate sufficient vaporizable material for multiple puffs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase change materials that undergo transitions between solid and liquid states at specific temperatures. During the charging phase, the material is in one phase absorbing heat; during the vaping phase, it transitions to another phase releasing heat. This parameter change allows the same material to serve dual functions: storing energy compactly and delivering sustained heat for multiple puffs from a small volume.
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 solution provides a reduced-risk tobacco consumption experience similar to conventional cigarettes by ensuring the heating element can be handled like a traditional cigarette while maintaining aerosol generation for multiple puffs or a prolonged period without burning, enhancing user experience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a heat absorbing/releasing material able to: absorb heat during a pre-heating phase carried out when the element body is engaged with the consumable article and received in the engaged position with this consumable article in the energy supplying cavity of the external energy supplied device
Implementation Method 2
release the absorbed heat to the storage portion to the vaporizable material during a vaping phase carried out upon a triggering event
Implementation Method 3
heating an aerosol generating substrate to a temperature typically in the range 150° C. to 350° C. Heating the aerosol generating substrate to a temperature within this range, without burning or combusting the aerosol generating substrate, generates a vapour which typically cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user of the device
Data Source
AI summary
A heating element for a consumable article, the consumable article including a storage portion storing a vaporizable material, includes an element body configured to be engaged in an engaged position at least partially around the storage portion of the consumable article and the element body is configured to be removably received at least partially in an energy supplying cavity of an external energy supplied device.The element body includes a heat absorbing/releasing material able to:absorb heat during a pre-heating phase carried out when the element body is received with this consumable article in the energy supplying cavity; andwhile the element body is in the engaged position with the consumable article, release the absorbed heat to during a vaping phase.