Vacuum Thermal Insulation With Indirect Heat Bridge for Heat-Not-Burn
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat-not-burn devices for smoking alternatives face challenges in efficiently heating smokeable materials without combustion, leading to inefficient heat transfer and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A thermal insulation system with a boundary comprising a first, second, and third boundary section, where the third boundary section follows an indirect path to connect the first and second sections, and an internal insulating region with lower pressure, thermally isolating the first boundary section from the second, combined with an infra-red heater to volatilize smokeable material components without burning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional thermal insulation is used in heat-not-burn devices, then heat loss is reduced, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin-walled vacuum insulation structure where a metallic wall (thickness of at least approximately 100 microns) forms the boundary of a vacuum-evacuated core region. This thin-film approach provides effective thermal insulation while minimizing the mass of the insulation component, directly resolving the contradiction between reducing heat loss and minimizing device weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a vacuum environment (pressure between approximately 0.1 and approximately 0.001 mbar) within the insulation core region to eliminate convective and conductive heat transfer through the insulation medium. This vacuum environment provides superior thermal insulation performance with minimal material, thereby reducing both heat loss and the weight associated with traditional solid insulation materials.
2Productivity
If direct thermal path is used for heating, then heating efficiency is high, but heat loss to surrounding components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different thermal conductivity properties to different regions: the third boundary section (thermal bridge) has higher thermal conductivity to provide efficient heating path, while the internal insulating region has extremely low thermal conductivity (vacuum) to prevent heat loss. This local differentiation of thermal properties allows simultaneous achievement of high heating efficiency and minimal heat loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation boundary is segmented into three distinct sections: a first boundary section, a second boundary section, and a third boundary section forming an indirect thermal bridge. This segmentation allows the thermal bridge to be optimized for heat conduction while the majority of the boundary maintains vacuum insulation, resolving the contradiction between heating efficiency and heat loss prevention.
3Loss of energy
If thick insulation is used to minimize heat loss, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin metallic wall (at least approximately 100 microns) to enclose the vacuum core region, providing effective thermal insulation without requiring thick insulation layers. This thin-film approach simplifies the overall insulation structure and reduces manufacturing complexity compared to traditional thick solid insulation while maintaining superior thermal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
By evacuating the core region to create a vacuum environment (pressure between approximately 0.1 and approximately 0.001 mbar), the patent achieves excellent thermal insulation performance with a minimal thickness structure. This eliminates the need for complex multi-layer insulation systems required in atmospheric conditions, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing difficulty.
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 solution effectively reduces heat loss and energy consumption by using a thin, high-conductivity thermal bridge with an indirect path and vacuum insulation, allowing for efficient heating of smokeable materials, enhancing the heating process while minimizing the device's size and weight.
Implementation Method 1
an internal insulating region inside the boundary and configured to thermally insulate the first boundary section from the second boundary section
Implementation Method 2
The internal insulating region may have a lower pressure than a pressure at the exterior of the boundary
Implementation Method 3
an infra-red heater configured to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material
Implementation Method 4
A thermal conductivity of the third boundary section may be higher than a thermal conductivity of the internal insulating region
Data Source
AI summary
Thermal insulation including a boundary having a first boundary section, a second boundary section and a third boundary section which connects the first and second boundary sections together; and an internal insulating region inside the boundary and configured to thermally insulate the first boundary section from the second boundary section; wherein the third boundary section follows an indirect path between the first and second boundary sections. An apparatus configured to volatilize components of smokeable material including the insulation is also described.