Aerosol generator having temperature controlled heating zone and method of use thereof
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsKenneth A. Cox, Walter A. Nichols, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Douglas D. McRae, William R. Sweeney
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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.
Claims20
A capillary aerosol generator comprising:
- a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet;
- a heater in heat transfer communication with the flow passage wherein the heater comprises a capillary;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the heater, the controller being operable to monitor power consumed by the heater and automatically supply power to the heater as a function of the consumed power provided to said controller as a feedback signal to achieve a target temperature sufficient to volatilize a liquid passing through said flow passage.
A process of forming an aerosol from a liquid, comprising the steps of:
- supplying liquid to an upstream end of a flow passage of an aerosol generator including a heater positioned in heat transfer communication with the flow passage, wherein the heater comprises a capillary;
- measuring power consumed by the heater;
- controlling the temperature of the heater as a function of the consumed power with a controller using the consumed power as a feedback signal;
- and
- heating the liquid such that the liquid is volatilized and exits from a downstream end of the flow passage.
A capillary aerosol generator for generating an aerosol by vaporizing a liquid comprising:
- a capillary flow passage having an inlet and an outlet;
- a liquid source in fluid communication with the inlet;
- a resistance heater in heat transfer communication with a liquid vaporization zone of the flow passage;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the heater, the controller being operable to monitor power consumed by the heater and selectively meter power to the heater as a function of said monitored consumed power provided as a feedback signal to said controller to achieve a target temperature.
A process of forming an aerosol from a liquid, comprising the steps of:
- supplying liquid to an upstream end of a capillary flow passage of an aerosol generator including a heater positioned in heat transfer communication with the flow passage;
- measuring power consumed by the heater;
- controlling the temperature of the heater based on the consumed power with a controller using the consumed power as a feedback signal;
- and
- heating the liquid such that the liquid is volatilized and exits from a downstream end of the flow passage and forms an aerosol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.