Vapour generating system

Abstract

Provided is a vapour generating system with a heatable ceramic wick (300) for vaporizing a liquid. The wick (300) has an aerofoil shape to provide laminar air flow over the wick (300).

1 . A vapour generating system for use in a smoking substitute apparatus, the system comprising:
 a reservoir, configured to retain a vaporisable liquid;   a ceramic wick in fluid contact with the reservoir at a first portion, wherein the ceramic wick is configured to transport the vaporisable liquid via capillary action to a second portion, different from the first portion; and   a heating element connected to the second portion of the ceramic wick, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the vaporisable liquid retained at the second portion of the ceramic wick;   wherein the ceramic wick has an aerofoil shape to provide laminar air flow over the wick.   
     
     
         2 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein second portion of the ceramic wick comprises a material selected from cordierite, Si-bonded SiC, recrystallized SiC, aluminum titanate, mullite, silicon nitride, SIALON, zirconium phosphate, zirconia, titania, alumina, and silica. 
     
     
         3 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the entire ceramic wick is made from a material selected from cordierite, Si-bonded SiC, recrystallized SiC, aluminum titanate, mullite, silicon nitride, SIALON, zirconium phosphate, zirconia, titania, alumina, and silica. 
     
     
         4 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic wick has a porosity of 20% to 70%. 
     
     
         5 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises two end sections of the ceramic wick, and the second portion comprises a central region of the ceramic wick connecting the two end sections; wherein the second portion has the aerofoil shape to provide laminar air flow over the wick. 
     
     
         6 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 5 , wherein the second portion has a shape, in a cross section perpendicular to the direction from one end section to the other end section, of a teardrop aerofoil. 
     
     
         7 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 5 , wherein the second portion has a shape, in a cross section perpendicular to the direction from one end section to the other end section, of a Kamm tail aerofoil. 
     
     
         8 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 7 , wherein the heater is located on the leading edge face of the second portion. 
     
     
         9 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 5 , wherein the second portion has a shape, in a cross section perpendicular to the direction from one end section to the other end section, of a circular arc aerofoil. 
     
     
         10 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 9 , wherein the heating element is located on one or both of the circular arc faces of the second portion. 
     
     
         11 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 5 , wherein each end section is provided with an electrical contact electrically connected to the heating element and configured to be able to transmit electrical energy to the heating element. 
     
     
         12 . A smoking substitute apparatus having: an air inlet; an outlet; a flow passage formed between the air inlet and the outlet; a vapour generating system comprising;
 a reservoir, configured to retain a vaporisable liquid;   a ceramic wick in fluid contact with the reservoir at a first portion, wherein the ceramic wick is configured to transport the vaporisable liquid via capillary action to a second portion, different from the first portion; and   a heating element connected to the second portion of the ceramic wick, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the vaporisable liquid retained at the second portion of the ceramic wick;   wherein the ceramic wick has an aerofoil shape to provide laminar air flow over the wick; and a vaporisation chamber in communication with the flow passage; wherein the second portion of the wick and the heating element of the vapour generating system are positioned within the vaporization chamber and the reservoir and the first portion of the wick are positioned outside the vaporization chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 6 , wherein the heating element is located on the leading edge face of the second portion.