Surface Wave Aerosol Atomization for Uniform Viscous Liquids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generation devices struggle to produce fine, uniform aerosols from highly viscous liquids without thermal atomization and provide a rich amount of atomization while visualizing the process.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol generation device utilizing a piezoelectric plate and transducer with a comb pattern shape or a reflector to generate surface waves, which converts electrical signals into surface waves for non-thermal atomization of highly viscous liquids, enhancing atomization efficiency and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If thermal atomization is used to generate aerosols from highly viscous liquids, then the amount of atomization can be increased, but the aerosol particles become non-uniform in size and the process cannot be visualized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal atomization (thermal system) with surface wave-induced atomization (mechanical system). The surface wave generation part uses piezoelectric elements to create surface waves on the liquid, causing mechanical disruption and aerosol formation without heat, thereby achieving uniform particle sizes while maintaining high atomization quantity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through surface waves generated by piezoelectric elements. These surface waves create oscillatory motion in the highly viscous liquid, leading to controlled atomization that produces uniform aerosol particles. The vibration frequency and amplitude can be controlled to optimize both atomization quantity and particle size uniformity
2Manufacturing precision
If non-thermal atomization is used to produce fine uniform aerosols, then aerosol particle size uniformity is improved, but the amount of atomization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic surface waves with controllable frequency and amplitude to atomize the liquid. By adjusting the wave parameters, the system can simultaneously achieve fine uniform particles and high atomization quantity. The dynamic nature of surface waves allows continuous optimization of both particle uniformity and atomization amount
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the atomization process by using surface wave characteristics (frequency, amplitude, wavelength) instead of thermal parameters. By controlling these wave parameters, the system achieves both fine uniform aerosol particles and high atomization quantity, resolving the contradiction between particle uniformity and atomization amount
3Manufacturing precision
If surface waves are used to atomize highly viscous liquids, then fine uniform aerosols are generated, but the atomization process cannot be visualized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates fluorescent dyes or markers in the liquid that fluoresce under specific wavelengths of light. This allows the atomization process and resulting aerosol particles to be visualized using fluorescence microscopy or other optical detection methods, making the previously invisible process observable while maintaining particle uniformity
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 device achieves the generation of fine, uniform aerosols with a rich amount of atomization and visualizes the atomization process, addressing the limitations of thermal atomization methods.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric plate extending into the atomization area; and a transducer disposed on the piezoelectric plate. The transducer may be configured to convert an electrical signal into a surface wave
Implementation Method 2
a surface wave generation part connected to the atomization area and generating surface waves. The surface wave may be provided to the atomization area
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol generation device according to an embodiment may comprise: a body which has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and side surfaces between the first and second surfaces, and includes a mouthpiece end disposed at the first surface; an atomization region which is disposed within the body and connected to the mouthpiece end; a storage part which is connected to the atomization region and in which an aerosol-forming substrate is stored; and a surface wave generation part which is connected to the atomization region and generates surface waves, wherein: the surface wave generation part comprises a piezoelectric substrate extending to the atomization region and a converter disposed on the piezoelectric substrate; the converter converts an electrical signal into surface waves; the surface waves are provided to the atomization region; and the converter has a comb pattern shape.