Vapour Delivery Apparatus Constricted Flow Venturi Effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smoking substitute systems, such as e-cigarettes, often produce visible vapour clouds, which can be socially unacceptable and lead to restrictions on their use, including on aeroplanes. Additionally, conventional nicotine inhalers provide a poor user experience in terms of nicotine delivery.
Innovation Solution
A vapour delivery apparatus that delivers a non-visible or substantially non-visible vapour of an active ingredient, such as nicotine, using a vapour generator with a constricted air flow region bounded by a substrate, enhancing the transfer of the active ingredient into the airflow through the Venturi effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a heating device is used to vaporize e-liquid in conventional e-cigarettes, then nicotine delivery to the user is achieved, but visible vapour clouds are produced which are socially unacceptable and restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature combustion (conventional e-cigarettes) to low-temperature vaporization (below combustion point). This parameter change eliminates visible vapour clouds while maintaining nicotine delivery through controlled heating of the aerosol-forming material
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition from liquid to vapor through controlled heating. The heating device heats the aerosol-forming material to a temperature sufficient for vaporization but below combustion, enabling nicotine transfer to inhalable vapor without producing harmful combustion by-products or visible vapour clouds
2Object-generated harmful factors
If low temperature combustion is used to reduce harmful by-products, then tar and other harmful substances are reduced, but nicotine delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the temperature parameter within a specific range (low temperature combustion) that balances two competing requirements: reducing harmful by-products like tar while maintaining sufficient nicotine delivery efficiency. This controlled temperature parameter achieves both health safety and product effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces conventional combustion-based nicotine delivery with a controlled vaporization system. Instead of relying on high-temperature combustion, the system uses a heating device to vaporize an aerosol-forming material containing nicotine, substituting a less harmful thermal process for traditional combustion while maintaining delivery efficiency
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 apparatus provides a more socially acceptable smoking substitute experience by eliminating visible vapour clouds and enhances nicotine delivery efficiency, allowing for effective use on aeroplanes and improved user satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing the transfer of the active ingredient into the airflow through the Venturi effect
Data Source
AI summary
A vapour delivery apparatus is configured to deliver a vapour comprising an active ingredient to a user drawing air through the apparatus for inhalation. The apparatus comprises an air passage defined between an air inlet and an outlet, and a vapour generator arranged in the air passage. The vapour generator comprises a substrate loaded with a source of an active ingredient for generation of the vapour. The vapour generator also comprises a constricted air flow region adapted to provide a higher air flow velocity in the constricted air flow region than an air flow velocity in the air passage upstream of the vapour generator for a given air flow rate from the air inlet to the outlet. The constricted air flow region is bounded on at least one side by the substrate to extract vapour from the substrate into the air flow in the constricted air flow region. There is also provided a method of using a vapour delivery apparatus.