Aerosol generator having multiple heating zones and methods of use thereof
AssigneeChrysalis Technologies Incorporated
InventorsKenneth A. Cox, Walter A. Nichols, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Douglas D. McRae, William R. Sweeney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temperature and flow rate controlled capillary aerosol generator includes two heating zones optionally separated by a region in which a pressure drop is induced. Power is metered or applied to the downstream, second zone to achieve a target resistance, and therefore a target temperature, while power is metered or applied to the upstream, first zone to achieve a target mass flow rate exiting the second zone. A target temperature is achieved in the second zone to generate an aerosol from the liquid flowing through the generator at the desired mass flow rate.
Claims18
A capillary aerosol generator comprising:
- a source of liquid material;
- a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being in fluid communication with the source of liquid material;
- a first heater in heat transfer communication with a first zone of the flow passage, said first heater being operable to preheat the liquid material;
- and
- a second heater in heat transfer communication with a second zone of the flow passage, the second heater being downstream of the first heater and being operable to volatilize the preheated liquid material from the first zone.
A system useful for generating an aerosol, comprising:
- a capillary aerosol generator comprising a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, a first heater in heat transfer communication with a first zone of the flow passage, and a second heater in heat transfer communication with a second zone of the flow passage, the second heater being downstream of the first heater;
- a source of pressurized fluid;
- and
- a valve between the source of pressurized fluid and the capillary aerosol generator, wherein the valve is an automatically controllable valve, and further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the first heater, the second heater, and the valve, the controller selectively supplying a voltage across the first heater and the second heater, and the controller operative to selectively open and close the valve.
A process of forming an aerosol from a liquid, comprising the steps of:
- supplying pressurized liquid to an upstream end of a flow passage of an aerosol generator including a first heater positioned in heat transfer communication with a first zone of the flow passage and a second heater positioned in heat transfer communication with a second zone of the flow passage, the second zone being downstream of the first zone;
- measuring a parameter indicative of the mass flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow passage in the second zone;
- changing the temperature in the first zone based on the measurement of the mass flow rate of the fluid through the second zone;
- and
- heating the liquid in the second zone such that the liquid is volatilized and sprayed from a downstream end of the flow passage in the form of an aerosol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.