WO2024008634A1

WO2024008634A1 - Aerosol generating device comprising a fuel cell and/or a metal air battery

Info

Publication number: WO2024008634A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/068206
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pier Paolo MONTICONE; Layth Sliman BOUCHUIGUIR
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2022-07-04
Filing date: 2023-07-03
Publication date: 2024-01-11

Abstract

This aerosol generating device comprises a case including an air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path extending between the air inlet and the air outlet, the aerosol generating device further including a heater adapted to heat a fluid flowing in the air flow path and an infusion stage provided in the air flow path downstream of the heater, the aerosol generating device further including a fuel cell or a metal air battery electrically connected to the heater, the fuel cell or the metal air battery being adapted to provide a fluid flowing in the air flow path with thermal power, the fuel cell or the metal air battery including a proximal surface closer to the heater than a distal surface. A heat exchanger is thermally connected to the proximal surface and/or a thermal insulator is thermally connected to the distal surface.

Description

AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE COMPRISING A FUEL CELL AND/OR A

METAL AIR BATTERY

Technical field

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device comprising a case and a fuel cell and/or a metal air battery . More particularly, the present invention relates to such aerosol generating devices in the form of electronic cigarettes , e-cigarettes , vapor inhalators , vaping devices and related devices .

Background

A non-conventional aerosol generating device includes a case including an air inlet , an air outlet and an air flow path between the air inlet and the air outlet . Furthermore , the aerosol generating device includes a heater and an infusion stage provided in the air flow path . The heater heats a fluid flowing in the air flow path before that the heated air flows through the infusion stage , thus generating the aerosol . Generally, an aerosol generating device includes a battery in order to provide the heater with electrical power .

In order to use the aerosol generating device , the user firstly has to make sure that the battery is suf ficiently charged and, i f it is not the case , to charge the battery . Then, the user may use the aerosol generating device until the battery is fully discharged . Then, the aerosol generating device is no longer available until the user recharges the battery . This rather complicated process and unavailability of the aerosol generating device generates inconvenience for the user .

In another technical field, being the market for phones and laptops , a portable fuel cell is known as an alternative means for providing electrical power . An important advantage of a fuel cell is that , taking the full system into consideration, fuel cells have been shown to provide 530Wh per kilogram compared to 44Wh per kilogram for a lithium-ion battery . However, while a battery system will generally cost around 1 . 20 US dollars per Wh, a fuel cell system may cost around 5 US dollars per Wh . Therefore , a signi ficant disadvantage of fuel cells is their costs .

Few examples show portable fuel cells used in aerosol generating devices . Patent application publication WO 2021 / 046157 is an example of a vapori zer device including a fuel cell . However, this arrangement is not fully satis factory for the above-mentioned reasons , that is , an excessive cost per Wh and/or an insuf ficient energy provided per mass of fuel cell/battery .

Similarly, patent application publication WO 2021 / 035118 discloses a vapori zer device including a metal air battery . However, the arrangement of this document suf fers from the main drawbacks as the arrangement of publication WO 2021 / 046157 .

There is therefore a need to further improve the integration of the fuel cell or a metal air battery into an aerosol generating device . It is thus an obj ect of the present invention to provide such improved aerosol generating devices that can remedy the drawbacks of the conventional solutions .

Summary

The mentioned drawbacks are remedied by the subj ect-matter of the independent claims . Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims .

According to one aspect of the present invention, there i s provided an aerosol generating device comprising a case including an air inlet , an air outlet and an air flow path extending between the air inlet and the air outlet , the aerosol generating device further including a heater adapted to heat a fluid flowing in the air flow path, the aerosol generating device further including a fuel cell electrically connected to the heater, the fuel cell being further adapted to provide a fluid flowing in the air flow path with thermal power when the fuel cell is operated to generate electric power, the fuel cell battery including a proximal surface and a distal surface , the proximal surface being closer to the heater than the distal surface . The aerosol generating device further includes a heat exchanger thermally connected to the proximal surface and/or a thermal insulator thermally connected to the distal surface .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generating device comprising a case including an air inlet , an air outlet and an air flow path extending between the air inlet and the air outlet , the aerosol generating device further including a heater adapted to heat a fluid flowing in the air flow path, the aerosol generating device further including a metal air battery electrically connected to the heater, the metal air battery being further adapted to provide a fluid flowing in the air flow path with thermal power when the metal air battery is operated to generate electric power, the metal air battery including a proximal surface and a distal surface , the proximal surface being closer to the heater than the distal surface . The aerosol generating device further includes a heat exchanger thermally connected to the proximal surface and/or a thermal insulator thermally connected to the distal surface .

In the invention according to the first and second aspect of the present invention, the heat exchanger and/or the thermal insulator allow leveraging of the fact that the reaction in a fuel cell or a metal air battery is exothermic, in order to further enhance the provision of heat to the fluid flowing in the air flow path . This makes it possible to reduce the use of the heater, thus decreasing the power consumption from the fuel cell or the metal air battery and increasing the useful energy provided per mass o f the fuel cell or the metal air battery .

According to an embodiment , the aerosol generating device comprises an infusion stage provided in the air flow path downstream of the heater . According to an embodiment , the fuel cell or the metal air battery includes a cathode , the case further including an oxygen flow path fluidly connected to the cathode .

Preferably, the case further includes an oxygen inlet , the oxygen flow path is fluidly connected to the oxygen inlet ; and the oxygen flow path further includes a first turbine between the oxygen inlet and the cathode .

In such an embodiment , it is possible to further improve the operation of the fuel cell or the metal air battery in order to increase the energy provided per mass of the fuel cell or the metal air battery .

In detail , first turbine can increase an amount of oxygen supplied to the fuel cell or the metal air battery . In common fuel cell , compressed hydrogen is supplied . In common metal air battery, rich metal active materials are hold on its cathode . Such increased oxygen may lead to increase an actual molecular ratio of chemical reaction per unit time .

Also , the heat exchanger and/or the thermal insulator may be omitted . Even without the heat exchanger and/or the thermal insulator, the first turbine allows increasing the useful energy provided per mass of the fuel cell or the metal air battery, with respect to the conventional solutions .

It is also possible to foresee an electric motor, the first turbine being actuated in rotation by the electric motor, the electric motor being electrically connected to the fuel cell or the metal air battery and/or with a battery of the aerosol generating device .

With such an arrangement , it is possible to provide a precise control of the oxygen sent to the fuel cell or the metal air battery, in order to further increase the energy provided per mass of the fuel cell or the metal air battery .

Preferably, the aerosol generating device further includes the fuel cell , and the case further includes a fuel flow path and the fuel cell or the metal air battery includes an anode fluidly connected to the fuel flow path, the fuel being a gas or a liquid, the first turbine being actuated in rotation by the compressed fuel flowing in the fuel flow path . Such an embodiment allows providing a compact and simple arrangement in order to provide the fuel cell with compressed oxygen .

Preferably, the fuel flow path includes a second turbine upstream of the anode in the fuel flow path, the aerosol generating device further including a mechanical transmission mechanically connected to the first turbine and to the second turbine .

Such an arrangement allows providing a precise control of the oxygen provided to the fuel cell or the metal air battery while using the compressed fuel to rotate the first turbine . Since the first turbine and the second turbine are mechanically connected to each other, actual molecular ratio of hydrogen supplied to anode and actual molecular ratio of oxygen supplied to cathode are synchroni zed to each other . It may lead no excess or deficiency of fuel of the fuel cell .

Preferably, the case further includes a connecting channel fluidly connecting the cathode and the air flow path .

It is thus provided an even more compact and simple arrangement to use the compressed fuel to rotate the first turbine and provide the oxygen to the fuel cell or the metal air battery .

Preferably, the connection between the connecting channel and the air flow path is upstream of the heater in the air flow path .

Such an arrangement allows using negative pressure of a cathode side of the fuel cell or the metal air battery to supply 02 thereto . This makes the device even more simple and compact .

In an embodiment , the aerosol generating device further includes the fuel cell and an oxygen tank, the oxygen flow path fluidly connecting the oxygen tank and the cathode .

Preferably, the case further includes a vapor flow path fluidly connected to the cathode , the air flow path including a branching point , the vapor flow path being fluidly connected to the branching point .

Such an arrangement allows mixing the water-based vapor generated by the fuel cell or the metal air battery to the aerosol generated by the device . This makes it possible to reduce the si ze of the air flow path in proximity of the air inlet , thus making the device more compact and simpler .

Preferably, the branching point is upstream of the heater in the air flow path .

In another embodiment , the branching point is between the heater and the infusion stage in the air flow path .

Such features allow making use of the fact that , by being mixed with the air flowing in the air flow path, the waterbased vapor generated by the fuel cell or the metal air battery also provides thermal energy to the air flow passage through the infusion stage . This further improves the energy provided per mass of the fuel cell or the metal air battery .

One may also foresee that the branching point is downstream of the infusion stage in the air flow path .

In another embodiment , the cathode is in contact with a fluid flowing in the air flow path .

Such an arrangement allows using user inhalation for supplying oxygen to the fuel cell or the metal air battery . This makes the device even more simple and compact .

One may also foresee at least one additional fuel cell .

Preferably, the fuel cell and the at least one additional fuel cell are electrically connected in series .

Such features allow increasing the output voltage in order to further improve the energy provided per mass of the fuel cell or the metal air battery .

Brief description of drawings

Embodiments of the present invention, which are presented for better understanding the inventive concepts and which are not to be seen as limiting the invention, will now be described with reference to the figures in which :

Fig . 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device and a removable energy stick according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating device and energy stick of Fig . 1 , Fig . 3 is a schematic diagram explaining the operation of a fuel cell assembly of the aerosol generating device of Figs . 1 and 2 ,

Fig . 4 is a schematic diagram of the fluid flows and thermal energy flows in the aerosol generating device of Figs . 1 and 2 ,

Fig . 5 is a schematic electrical diagram of the fuel cel l assembly of the aerosol generating device of Fig . 1 to 4 ,

Fig . 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 7 is a schematic diagram explaining the operation of a metal air battery of the aerosol generating device of Fig . 6 ,

Fig . 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to a fi fth embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures. The same or sequentially similar numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, an aerosol generating device 2 includes a case 4 and a removable energy container 6. The removable energy container 6 is shown disassembled from the case in Fig. 1 and assembled to the case in Fig. 2. As visible in Fig. 2, the case 4 defines an air flow path 8 extending between an air inlet 10 and an air outlet 12. In other words, a fluid such as air may flow in the air flow path 8, from the air inlet 10 to the air outlet 12.

The aerosol generating device includes a mouthpiece 14 defining the air outlet 12, an infusion stage 16, a heater 18 and a fuel cell assembly 20. As visible in Fig. 2, the air flow path 8 passes through each of the fuel cell assembly 20, the heater 18, the infusion stage 16 and the mouthpiece 14, in this order.

The infusion stage 16 may include a flavor and/or a nicotine infusion consumable. The heater 18 may include an electric resistor provided in vicinity of the air flow path 8. By doing so, the heater 18 is able to heat a fluid flowing in the air flow path 8. The heater 18 is electrically connected to the fuel cell assembly 20.

As visible in Figs. 2 and 5, the fuel cell assembly 20 may include a plurality of fuel cells 22. The operation of a fuel cell 22 will now be described with reference to Fig. 3.

As visible in Fig. 3, each fuel cell 22 includes an electrolyte 28, an anode 30 and a cathode 32. A fuel circuit 34 including a fuel inlet 36 and a fuel outlet 38 provides a fuel, such as hydrogen H2, to be in contact with the anode 30. An air circuit 40, including an air inlet 42 and an air outlet 44, provides a gas, such as air, to be in contact with the cathode 32. An electrical circuit 46 joins electrically the anode 30 and the cathode 32.

By virtue of the arrangement depicted in Fig. 3, molecules of hydrogen H2 provided by the fuel circuit 34 react with the anode 30 and form, respectively, H+ ions passing through the electrolyte 28 and electrons flowing in the electrical circuit 46. When these electrons reach the cathode 32, they react with molecules of oxygen O2 provided by the air circuit 40, with the H+ ions provided by the electrolyte 28 in order to form a vapor H2O. Therefore, an electrical current is provided in the electrical circuit 46.

As visible in Fig. 5, the fuel cells 22 are electrically connected in series. This allows increasing the output voltage provided to the heater 18. This is in particular because an output voltage of single fuel cell is lower than common lithium-ion battery.

The fuel cell assembly 20 is adapted to provide a fluid flowing in the air flow path 8 with thermal power when it is operated to generate electric power. In this regard, the fuel cell assembly 22 may be thermally connected to the air flow path 8 and/or the heater 18.

In this embodiment, as depicted in Fig. 2, each fuel cell includes a proximal surface 48 and a distal surface 50 opposed to the proximal surface 48. The proximal surface 48 is closer to the heater 18 than the distal surface 50. The fuel cell assembly 20 further includes a thermal insulator 24 facing the distal surface 50, and a heat exchanger 26 facing the proximal surface 48. The thermal insulator 24 may include at least one material chosen among ceramic, plastic (e.g., PMMA) , rubber, fiber/ foam-glass , air, silica aerogel, polystyrene foam, mineral oil, ceramic insulating paint. The heat exchanger 26 may include at least one material chosen among metals, cupper, aluminium or metallic alloys.

Referring now to Fig. 4, an operation of the aerosol generating device 2 will now be explained.

As schematically depicted by the arrow 52, air flowing through the air inlet 10 and in the air flow path 8 forms a solvent, optionally flowing through a humidifying unit 54 for adding extra water or propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin to the solvent shown by the arrow 52 . This air then reaches the heater 18 and forms vapor schematically depicted by the arrow 56 . The vapor 56 then passes through the infusion stage 16 and becomes an aerosol schematically depicted by the arrow 58 .

Besides , the removable energy container 6 provides the fuel circuit 34 with a fuel schematically depicted by the arrow 60 , and the air circuit 40 , which communicates with an exterior of the case 4 , provides the fuel cell assembly 20 with oxygen schematically depicted by the arrow 62 .

By virtue of this arrangement , the fuel cell assembly 20 generates electricity schematically depicted by the arrow 64 , heat schematically depicted by the arrow 66 , and water and vapor schematically depicted by the arrow 68 .

The electricity 64 is transmitted to the heater 18 by virtue of an electrical circuit 70 which may be a printed circuit board ( PCB ) , a flexible printed circuit ( FPC ) or an electrical wire . The heat 66 generated by the fuel cell assembly 22 is provided to the heater 18 by means of the heat exchanger 26 and the thermal insulator 24 . The water and vapor 68 are provided to the heater 18 by means of a conduit 72 , in order to be mixed with the solvent 52 , and to the infusion stage 16 by means of a conduit 74 and mixed with the vapor 56 .

Referring now to Figs . 6 and 7 , it is depicted an aerosol generating device 80 according to a second embodiment of the present invention . The aerosol generating device 80 mainly di f fers from the aerosol generating device 2 in that it includes , instead of a fuel cell assembly 20 , a metal air battery 82 .

The operation of the metal air battery 82 will now be explained referring to Fig . 7 .

The metal air battery 82 includes a metal anode 84 , a porous cathode 86 and an electrolyte 88 provided between the anode 84 and the cathode 86 . By virtue of the arrangement , the metal anode 84 reacts with the electrolyte 88 in order to generate metallic ions M2+ in the electrolyte 88 . The electron resulting from this trans formation in the metal anode 84 flows in an electrical circuit 90 electrically connecting the anode 84 to the cathode 86 . The electron reaching the porous cathode 86 then reacts with the metallic ion M2+ and with the molecules of oxygen provided by an air circuit (not depicted) . Therefore , in a similar manner to the fuel cells 22 , the metal air battery 82 allows generating an electrical current in the electrical circuit 90 .

As well as for the fuel cells 22 , the reaction in the metal air battery 82 is exothermic . Therefore , thanks to the heat exchanger 26 and the thermal insulator 24 , thermal energy is ef fectively trans ferred from the metal air battery 82 to the heater 18 .

Although, in the depicted embodiment , only one metal air battery 82 is foreseen in the aerosol generating device 80 , it is possible , without departing from the scope of the present invention, to foresee a plurality of metal air batteries . Preferably, such a plurality of metal air batteries may be connected in series .

Referring now to Fig . 8 , it is depicted an aerosol generating device 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention .

The aerosol generating device 100 mainly di f fers from the aerosol generating devices 2 and 80 of the first and second embodiments in that it includes , instead of a removable energy container 6 , a refillable energy container 102 . In other words , when the energy vector has run out , instead of replacing the removable energy container 6 with an additional , new removable energy container, additional fuel is directly inj ected in the refillable energy container 102 . In this regard, the case 4 includes a port 104 and a valve 106 .

Referring now to Fig . 9 , an aerosol generating device 120 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is depicted . The aerosol generating device 120 may have the same appearance as the aerosol generating devices 2 and 100 of the first and third embodiments . The present embodiment will be disclosed with a single fuel cell 22 . However, one may foresee , without departing from the scope of the invention, a plurality of fuel cells 22 forming a fuel cell assembly 20 as in the first , third and fourth embodiment . According to the present embodiment , the case 4 of the aerosol generating device 120 includes an oxygen inlet 122 and an oxygen flow path 124 extending between the oxygen inlet 122 and the cathode 32 of the fuel cell 22 .

A turbine 126 is provided on the oxygen flow path 124 . In other words , the turbine 126 is provided between the oxygen inlet 122 and the cathode 32 .

A fuel flow path 128 extends between the energy container 6 and the anode 30 . A solenoid valve 130 is able to prevent the flow of fuel through the fuel flow path 128 .

In the present embodiment , the fuel contained in the energy container 6 is a compressible fluid and, preferably, a gas . For example , the fuel may be dihydrogen (H2 ) and gas .

The aerosol generating device 120 further includes a circuit board 132 including a micro controller unit (MCU) 134 , a capacitor 136 , a switch 138 connected in series with a resistor 142 of the heating chamber 18 , and a switch 140 connected in series with the capacitor 136 . By virtue of this arrangement , an electrical connection is implemented between the fuel cell 22 and the resistor 142 , in a controllable manner, and control of the solenoid valve 130 by MCU 134 may be implemented . Instead of MCU 134 or in addition to MCU 134 , a micro processing unit (MPU) can be used .

In the present embodiment , the case 4 of the aerosol generating device 120 further includes a vapor flow path 144 fluidly connecting the cathode 32 and the air flow path 8 . More speci fically, the air flow path 8 includes a branching point 146 and the vapor flow path 144 is connected to the branching point 146 . In the present embodiment , the branching point 146 is provided upstream of the heater 18 in the air flow path 8 . By virtue of this arrangement , water and vapor generated by the cathode 32 may reach the air flow path 8 and mix with the solvent flowing in the air flow path 8 before that the mixture is heated by the heater 18 and flows through the infusion stage 16 .

In the present embodiment , the case 4 further includes a kinetic energy link 148 between the fuel flow path 128 and the turbine 126 . By virtue of this arrangement , pressure of the fuel flowing in the fuel flow path 128 may actuate in rotation the turbine 126 . In other words , in the present embodiment , the turbine 126 is rotated by the compressed fuel gas .

Referring now to Fig . 10 , an aerosol generating device 150 according to a fi fth embodiment of the present invention is depicted .

The aerosol generating device 150 mainly di f fers from the aerosol generating device 120 of the fourth embodiment in that a branching point 152 in the air flow path 8 , in which the vapor flow path 144 is branched, is between the heater 18 and the infusion stage 16 . By virtue of this arrangement , water and vapor generated by the cathode 32 may reach the air flow path 8 and mix with the vapors already heated by the heater 18 , and then flow through the infusion stage 16 .

Referring now to Fig . 11 , an aerosol generating device 160 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is depicted .

The aerosol generating device 160 mainly di f fers from the aerosol generating devices 120 and 150 of the fi fth and sixth embodiment in that the air flow path 8 includes a branching point 162 to which the vapor flow path 144 is connected . The branching point 162 is downstream of the infusion stage 16 in the air flow path 8 . By virtue o f this arrangement , water and vapor generated by the cathode 32 may reach the air flow path 8 and mix with the aerosol having flown through the heater 18 and the infusion stage 16 .

Referring now to Fig . 12 , an aerosol generating device 170 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is depicted .

The aerosol generating device 170 mainly di f fers from the aerosol generating devices 2 , 80 , 100 , 120 , 150 and 160 in that it further includes an electric motor 172 able to actuate in rotation the turbine 126 . The electric motor 172 is controlled by the micro controller unit 134 in such a way that the torque and speed of the turbine 126 may be precisely controlled .

Furthermore , the aerosol generating device 170 includes a battery 174 . In the depicted embodiment , the battery 174 is mounted in parallel to the fuel cell 22 or the metal air battery . However, one may, without departing from the scope of the present invention, foresee a battery 174 mounted in series with the fuel cell or the metal air battery .

The electric motor 172 is supplied with electric power by the fuel cell 22 or the metal air battery, and by the battery 174 .

By virtue of this arrangement , oxygen is supplied to the cathode 32 by virtue of a turbine which is rotated by electricity generated by the fuel cell 22 or the metal air battery, or by an additional battery .

Referring now to Fig . 13 , an aerosol generating device 180 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention is depicted .

The aerosol generating device 180 mainly di f fers from the aerosol generating devices 120 , 150 , 160 , 170 in that the case 4 further includes a connecting channel 182 fluidly connecting the cathode 32 to the air flow path 8 . More speci fically, the air flow path 8 includes a further branching point 184 being upstream of the heater 18 , and the connecting channel 182 is connected to the further branching point 184 .

By virtue of this arrangement , it is possible to provide the cathode with oxygen by using a negative pressure on a cathode side of the fuel cell 22 or of the metal air battery .

Referring now to Fig . 14 , an aerosol generating device 190 according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention is depicted .

As visible in Fig . 14 , the aerosol generating device 190 mainly di f fers from the aerosol generating devices 120 , 150 , 160 , 170 and 180 by the location of the air flow path 8 , and by the absence of a dedicated oxygen flow path and of an oxygen inlet .

However, in the present embodiment , the cathode 32 of the aerosol generating device 190 is in contract with a fluid flowing in the air flow path 8 .

By virtue of this arrangement , air drawn due to user inhalation in the air flow path 8 firstly reaches the cathode 32 , part of the air provided to the cathode 32 reacts with the cathode 32 in order to generate electricity, heat , vapor and water, and the air flowing in the air flow path 8 and mixed with vapor and water generated by the cathode 32 then flows through the heater 18 , the infusion stage 16 and the outlet 12 . In other words , in the present embodiment , oxygen is supplied to the cathode 32 by user inhalation .

Referring now to Fig . 15 , an aerosol generating device 200 according to an tenth embodiment of the invention is depicted .

The aerosol generating device 200 mainly di f fers from the aerosol generating devices 120 , 150 , 160 , 170 and 180 in that it includes , instead of an oxygen inlet , an oxygen tank 202 . The oxygen tank 202 may be replaceable . Furthermore , in the present embodiment , the oxygen flow path 124 fluidly connects the oxygen tank 202 and the cathode 32 . The aerosol generating device 200 further includes a solenoid valve 204 in the oxygen flow path 124 . The solenoid valve 204 is controlled by the micro controller unit 134 .

By virtue of this arrangement , compressed oxygen i s provided to the cathode 32 by an additional tank .

Referring now to Fig . 16 , an aerosol generating device 210 according to a eleventh embodiment of the invention is depicted .

The aerosol generating device 210 mainly di f fers from the aerosol generating devices 120 , 150 and 160 in that the turbine 126 is a slave turbine , and in that it includes a master turbine 212 in the fuel flow path 128 . Furthermore , the aerosol generating device 210 includes a mechanical transmission 214 mechanically connecting the slave turbine 126 and the master turbine 212 . Alternatively, a turbine 212 can be used as the slave turbine 212 , and a turbine 126 can be used as the master turbine 126 .

By virtue of this arrangement , oxygen is supplied to the cathode 32 by a slave turbine which is rotated by a master turbine rotated by the compressed fuel .

Although all detailed embodiments have been described, these only serve to provide a better understanding of the invention defined by the independent claims and are not to be seen as limiting .

Although all embodiments of the detailed description were shown with a thermal insulator 24 and a heat exchanger 26 , it is not mandatory to foresee these two components . Without departing from the scope of the present invention, it may be foreseen only one of the thermal insulator 24 and heat exchanger 26 . Also , it may be foreseen that none of the thermal insulator 24 and heat exchanger 26 are provided . In such a variant embodiment , the consumption of the fuel cell or of the metal air battery may be decreased by other features of the aerosol generating device , such as for example a turbine or a mechanical energy link for actuating the turbine .

Although the battery 174 is depicted on only the seventh embodiment , instead, other embodiments can include the battery 174 for powering electrical parts ( e . g . , the turbine 126 or the micro controller unit 134 ) .

Although the fuel cell 28 is depicted that it works by hydrogen, instead of hydrogen, an ethanol in liquid state can be used a fuel . Such fuel cell 28 is known as direct methanol fuel cell ( DMFC ) .

Claims

1 . An aerosol generating device comprising a case including an air inlet , an air outlet and an air flow path extending between the air inlet and the air outlet , the aerosol generating device further including a heater adapted to heat a fluid flowing in the air flow path, the aerosol generating device further including a fuel cell or a metal air battery electrically connected to the heater, the fuel cell or the metal air battery being further adapted to provide a fluid flowing in the air flow path with thermal power when the fuel cell or the metal air battery is operated to generate electric power, the fuel cell or the metal air battery including a proximal surface and a distal surface , the proximal surface being closer to the heater than the distal surface , characteri zed in that it further includes a heat exchanger thermally connected to the proximal surface and/or a thermal insulator thermally connected to the distal surface .

2 . The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell or the metal air battery includes a cathode , the case further including an oxygen flow path fluidly connected to the cathode .

3 . The aerosol generating device according to claim 2 , wherein the case further includes an oxygen inlet , the oxygen flow path is fluidly connected to the oxygen inlet ; and the oxygen flow path further includes a first turbine between the oxygen inlet and the cathode .

4 . The aerosol generating device according to claim 2 or 3 , further including an electric motor, the first turbine being actuated in rotation by the electric motor, the electric motor being electrically connected to the fuel cell or the metal air battery and/or with a battery of the aerosol generating device .

5 . The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , further including the fuel cell , and wherein the case further includes a fuel flow path and the fuel cell or the metal air battery includes an anode fluidly connected to the fuel flow path, the fuel being a gas or a liquid, the first turbine being actuated in rotation by the compressed fuel flowing in the fuel flow path .

6 . The aerosol generating device according to claim 5 , wherein the fuel flow path includes a second turbine upstream of the anode in the fuel flow path, the aerosol generating device further including a mechanical transmission mechanically connected to the first turbine and to the second turbine .

7 . The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the case further includes a connecting channel fluidly connecting the cathode and the air flow path .

8 . The aerosol generating device according to claim 7 , wherein the connection between the connecting channel and the air flow path is upstream of the heater in the air flow path .

9 . The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 2 to 8 , further including the fuel cell and an oxygen tank, the oxygen flow path fluidly connecting the oxygen tank and the cathode .

10 . The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 2 to 9 , wherein the case further includes a vapor flow path fluidly connected to the cathode , the air flow path including a branching point , the vapor flow path being fluidly connected to the branching point .

11 . The aerosol generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the branching point is upstream of the heater in the air flow path .

12 . The aerosol generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the branching point is between the heater and the infusion stage in the air flow path .

13 . The aerosol generating device according to claim 9 , wherein the branching point is downstream of the infusion stage in the air flow path .

14 . The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , wherein the cathode is in contact with a fluid flowing in the air flow path .

15 . The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 , further including at least one additional fuel cell .

16 . The aerosol generating device according to claim 15 , wherein the fuel cell and the at least one additional fuel cell are electrically connected in series .

17 . The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 16 , further comprising an infusion stage provided in the air flow path downstream of the heater .