Staged Heating Control in Aerosol Generators to Limit Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating devices fail to efficiently control temperature variation during the heating process of aerosol-generating materials, leading to inefficient aerosol production and excessive condensation within the device.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a heating assembly with a controller that programs heating units to sequentially reach different temperatures, each time increasing by less than 120°C and maintaining each temperature for at least 0.5 seconds, reducing condensation and enhancing aerosol quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If heating units are rapidly heated to high temperatures to generate aerosol quickly, then aerosol generation speed is improved, but excessive condensation occurs within the device
Solution Approach 1:
The heating process is segmented into multiple temperature stages (e.g., 200°C, 220°C, 240°C, 260°C, 280°C, 300°C) with the heating element pausing at each stage for specified durations. This segmented approach allows controlled aerosol generation at each temperature level while preventing excessive condensation that would occur with rapid single-stage heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element operates with periodic temperature adjustments rather than continuous rapid heating. It cycles through predetermined temperature points with dwell times at each point, creating a periodic heating pattern that balances aerosol generation efficiency with condensation control.
2Productivity
If heating units increase temperature rapidly to improve aerosol production efficiency, then productivity is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is pre-programmed with a sequence of target temperatures and dwell times before the heating process begins. This preliminary configuration ensures that the heating element follows a precise temperature trajectory, maintaining temperature control precision while achieving high aerosol production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensing that provides feedback to the controller, which adjusts power delivery to the heating element to maintain accurate temperatures at each stage of the heating sequence, ensuring both productivity and precision.
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
This approach allows for rapid aerosol generation with reduced condensation, providing a user experience similar to smoking a combustible cigarette while minimizing internal condensate buildup.
Implementation Method 1
heats smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled, without burning or combusting the smokable material
Implementation Method 2
heats smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material
Implementation Method 3
the heating unit is held at the new temperature for at least 0.5 seconds
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is an aerosol-generating device for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. The aerosol-generating device comprises a heating assembly including one or more heating units arranged to heat, but not burn, the aerosol-generating material 202 in use and a controller for controlling the one or more heating units. The controller is programmed such that, during a session of use, at least one of the one or more heating units is powered so as to be heated to a plurality of different temperatures sequentially, and each time that the heating unit is heated to a new temperature which is higher than a previous temperature the new temperature is less than 120° C. greater than the previous temperature and the heating unit is held at the new temperature for at least 0.5 seconds.