Radiant Heating Atomizer for Aerosol Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol delivery devices face issues with charring of wicks, thermal degradation, and pyrolysis when heating aerosol precursors, which can lead to reduced device lifetime and suboptimal aerosol formation.
Innovation Solution
The use of radiant heating, specifically with laser diodes or microheaters, to vaporize aerosol precursors without direct contact, minimizing charring and thermal degradation, and optimizing the arrangement of heaters and liquid transport elements to enhance energy efficiency and aerosol formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional contact heating is used to vaporize aerosol precursor, then heating efficiency is achieved, but charring of wick and thermal degradation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces radiant heating as an intermediary heating method that transfers thermal energy through radiation rather than direct contact. The heater radiates heat through the wall structure to vaporize the aerosol precursor in the reservoir, eliminating the need for direct contact between the heating element and the liquid, thereby preventing charring and thermal degradation while maintaining effective vaporization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical contact-based heating system with a radiant heating system. Instead of using a heating element that physically contacts the wick or liquid (mechanical system), the invention uses radiant heat transfer through electromagnetic radiation to achieve vaporization, substituting the mechanical heating approach with a non-contact thermal radiation approach
2Productivity
If direct contact heating is used, then rapid vaporization is achieved, but device lifetime is reduced due to charring
Solution Approach 1:
The wall structure serves as an intermediary medium that enables rapid heat transfer from the heater to the aerosol precursor reservoir through radiant heating. This intermediary approach maintains high vaporization rates while preventing direct contact between the heater and liquid, thereby extending the operational lifetime of both the heater and wick by eliminating charring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical contact heating system with a radiant heating system that achieves rapid vaporization through electromagnetic radiation. This substitution maintains high productivity (vaporization rate) while simultaneously extending device lifetime by eliminating the charring problem that plagues contact-based heating systems
3Productivity
If high temperature heating is applied, then aerosol formation is enhanced, but pyrolysis and char deposition increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radiant heating system with wall intermediary enables enhanced aerosol formation by efficiently transferring thermal energy to the aerosol precursor reservoir. The radiant heating method achieves the necessary temperatures for optimal aerosol generation while preventing pyrolysis and char deposition by avoiding direct contact between the high-temperature heater and the liquid precursor
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
Radiant heating increases the usable lifetime of heaters and wicks, reduces thermal degradation, and improves aerosol formation by minimizing pyrolysis and char deposition, resulting in a more efficient and reliable aerosol delivery process.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat the aerosol precursor liquid to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the aerosol precursor liquid and form an inhalable aerosol
Implementation Method 2
a liquid transport element extending from the reservoir and in capillary communication with the aerosol precursor liquid stored in the reservoir, the liquid transport element configured to transport the aerosol precursor liquid to the heater
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an atomizer (801; 901; 1001) for an aerosol delivery device, the atomizer (801; 901; 1001) comprising: a porous liquid transport element (836; 936; 1036; 1136; 1236) comprising a material containing an open pore network; a first heater (833a; 933a; 1033a; 1133a; 1233a) having a heating surface (Ha); and a second heater (833b; 933b; 1033b; 1233b) having a heating surface (Hb); wherein the first heater (833a; 933a; 1033a; 1133a; 1233a) and the second heater (833b; 933b; 1033b; 1233b) are aligned in a substantially parallel arrangement with the porous liquid transport element positioned therebetween, the first heater (833a; 933a; 1033a; 1133a; 1233a) and the second heater (833b; 933b; 1033b; 1233b) being spaced apart with the respective heating surfaces (Ha, Hb) facing each other such that the porous liquid transport element (836; 936; 1036; 1136; 1236) is in a radiant heating arrangement with the heating surface (Ha) of the first heater (833a; 933a; 1033a; 1133a; 1233a) and the heating surface (Hb) of the second heater (833b; 933b; 1033b; 1233b) and is not in direct physical contact with the heating surface (Ha) of the first heater (833a; 933a; 1033a; 1133a; 1233a) or the heating surface (Hb) of the second heater (833b; 933b; 1033b; 1233b).