Inductive Susceptor Heating with Dual Coil Temperature Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol-generating devices with inductive heating systems face challenges in heating different portions of an aerosol-forming article without indirectly heating adjacent portions, leading to difficulties in generating aerosols with desirable characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The use of a dual inductor coil system with independent temperature profiles for each coil, controlled by a controller to heat distinct portions of the aerosol-forming substrate with specific temperature profiles, allowing for precise and separate temperature adjustments of different parts of the susceptor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single inductor coil is used to heat the aerosol-forming substrate, then the heating process is simple, but it is difficult to heat different portions of the substrate to different temperatures without indirectly heating adjacent portions
Solution Approach 1:
The single inductor coil is divided into multiple independent coil segments (first inductor coil, second inductor coil, etc.), each capable of being controlled independently to heat different portions of the aerosol-forming substrate to different temperatures, thereby achieving versatile temperature control while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the aerosol-forming substrate are heated to different temperatures simultaneously by assigning different temperature profiles to different coil segments, creating local quality variations in the heating process that enable diverse aerosol generation characteristics from a single substrate
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple inductor coils are used to heat different portions of the substrate independently, then temperature control flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inductor coil is segmented into multiple independently controllable sections, each section capable of receiving independent control signals to generate specific temperature profiles, thereby achieving precise temperature control without requiring a completely separate heating system for each portion
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts the operating parameters (current, frequency, duty cycle) of each inductor coil segment in real-time based on desired temperature profiles, enabling precise temperature control through dynamic parameter modulation rather than static structural complexity
3Productivity
If adjacent portions of the substrate are heated simultaneously, then heating efficiency is improved, but the ability to control temperature profiles of different portions independently is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into independent coil segments that can operate simultaneously on different portions of the substrate, each segment maintaining independent temperature control while contributing to overall high productivity through parallel heating operations
Solution Approach 2:
The control system can implement periodic or alternating heating patterns across different coil segments, allowing some portions to be heated while others cool down, thereby maintaining independent temperature control capability while achieving high overall heating efficiency through time-multiplexed operation
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 enables the generation of aerosols with desirable characteristics for a longer duration by allowing independent temperature control of different portions of the aerosol-forming substrate, improving the quality and consistency of the aerosol production.
Implementation Method 1
The inductor generates a varying magnetic field to generate eddy currents and hysteresis losses in the susceptor, causing the susceptor to heat up
Implementation Method 2
The inductor generates a varying magnetic field to generate eddy currents and hysteresis losses in the susceptor
Implementation Method 3
The inductor generates a varying magnetic field to generate eddy currents and hysteresis losses in the susceptor
Implementation Method 4
a susceptor arranged such that it is in thermal proximity to the aerosol-forming substrate
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method of controlling an aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device including a cavity to receive an aerosol-forming substrate, an inductive heating arrangement including an inductive heating element including a susceptor heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the substrate, first and second inductor coils, and a power supply; the method including initiating heating of the substrate in the cavity by a first varying current in the first coil to generate a first varying magnetic field that heats a first portion of the element, and controlling the first current to increase a temperature of the first portion with a first profile; and subsequently driving a second varying current in the second coil to generate a second varying magnetic field that heats a second portion of the element, and controlling the second current to increase a temperature of the second portion with a second profile.