Tapered Wick Capillary Body for Uniform Heat Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating system cartridges face challenges in achieving uniform heat distribution across the wick, leading to inefficient capillary action and vaporization due to non-uniform temperature distribution, which affects the efficiency of liquid vaporization and capillary efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge design featuring a fluid-permeable heating element with a capillary body where the cross-sectional area increases from the liquid storage end to the heating element end, allowing for greater contact area and improved heat distribution, combined with a robust and leak-proof liquid storage housing, using electrically conductive filaments and a capillary body with a fibrous or spongy structure for enhanced capillary action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cylindrical wick with constant cross-sectional area is used, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the heat distribution across the wick is non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The wick transitions from a cylindrical shape with constant cross-section to a tapered shape where the cross-sectional area increases from the liquid storage end to the heating element end. This asymmetric geometry is specifically designed to compensate for the non-uniform heat distribution, with the larger cross-sectional area at the heating end absorbing more heat to achieve uniform temperature throughout the wick.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the wick are given different cross-sectional areas to match the local heat distribution requirements. The end of the wick in contact with the heating element has a larger cross-sectional area to absorb the concentrated heat from the coil, while the end in the liquid storage portion has a smaller cross-sectional area, creating local quality variations that optimize overall heat distribution.
2Productivity
If the cross-sectional area of the wick is increased at the heating element end, then the heat absorption and capillary efficiency are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-sectional area parameter of the wick is varied along its length, transitioning from a constant value in cylindrical wicks to a graduated value in the tapered wick. This parameter change optimizes the heat absorption capacity at the heating element end while maintaining manufacturability through standard forming processes that can create tapered geometries.
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 design ensures even heating and improved capillary efficiency, resulting in more controlled and efficient vaporization of liquids, with a robust construction that is cost-effective and easy to manufacture, while providing reliable electrical connections for power supply.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid is transported to the heating element by the use of capillary force or capillary action
Implementation Method 2
The heating element heats the liquid at this end of the capillary wick by means of conduction
Implementation Method 3
a heating element which vaporizes the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating system is provided, including a main unit including a power supply; and a cartridge removably mounted to the main unit and including: a liquid storage portion to store a liquid, a heater assembly including a flat-shaped fluid-permeable heating element, including first and second surfaces, the first surface arranged in an upstream position to receive a liquid, and the second surface arranged in a downstream position to release the liquid in vaporized form, and a capillary body having a first elongated end and a second end, the first elongated end extending into the storage portion to contact the liquid, the second end contacting the first surface of the heating element, a cross-sectional area of the capillary body at the second end is greater than that at the first elongated end, the capillary body including capillary fibers at the first elongated end and at the second end.