AEROSOL GENERATOR

Abstract

Amendments to the Specification

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present teachings generally relate to producing of human-consuming aerosol, and more particularly to aerosol generators, such as electronic cigarettes and similar by function inhalers utilizing heat induced vaporization.

BACKGROUND

In the present aerosol generators, which utilize vaporization of a liquid medium, a liquid-saturated wick or a wick-like capillary-porous member is heated along with the liquid medium by an external heater element. When heating above the boiling point, hot vapor pockets having poor heat transfer rate arise in the liquid medium adjacent to the hot surfaces of the heating element and heated wick due to the Leidenfrost effect. The vapor pockets have low heat flux and cause hot spots and micro-explosions resulting in overheating and drying of the heater and capillary-porous member resulting in generation of the harmful compounds and substances that migrate into the user’s body when inhaled with aerosol.

SUMMARY

The present invention solves the technical problem of the vapor pockets associated with “hot surfaces” by selective internal heating of liquid media in capillary-porous members by electromagnetic field energy, so that the temperature of the capillary-porous member during the heating remains lower than the temperature of the liquid media.

The term “liquid medium” is used throughout the specification to refer to any liquid-state aerosol forming substance, for example, containing glycerin, propylene glycol, water, nicotine, flavors, alcohol.

The term “capillary-porous member” is used throughout the specification to refer to any structure or material having wicking properties, i.e. able to be saturated and transport a liquid medium keeping it from leaking due to the capillary forces. Examples of a capillary-porous member are a capillary, fibrous or/and open-pored spongy structures or/and materials.

There is therefore provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an aerosol-generating device utilizing electromagnetic field energy to heat and vaporize an aerosol forming liquid medium, comprising a capillary-porous member having a first surface permeable to a liquid medium, a second surface permeable to electromagnetic field energy, and a third surface permeable to a vapor of the liquid medium, and capable of wicking of a liquid medium in the direction from the first surface to the third surface beneath the second surface, wherein the capillary-porous member is transmissive for the electromagnetic field energy.

The use of “first”, “second,” etc. are only intended to distinguish the surfaces from each other and not to impart any order or hierarchy to the surfaces.

Typically, a material of the capillary-porous member may be made of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) compounds and titanium oxide (TiO₂).

The third surface of the capillary-porous member may contain a second surface of the capillary-porous member.

In preferred embodiments the second surface of the capillary-porous member may be impermeable for a vapor of the liquid medium.

In other embodiments, the capillary-porous member may comprise plurality, preferably array, of micro-structures, for example, micro-posts and micro-nozzles, formed by the third surface on the capillary-porous member.

In an advantageous case the capillary-porous member is substantially transmissive to the electromagnetic field energy to which a liquid medium having thickness less than 1000 µm is substantially dissipative.

In other embodiments the aerosol-generating device utilizing electromagnetic field energy to heat and vaporize an aerosol forming liquid medium may comprise a liquid reservoir further comprising a liquid tank interfaced with the first surface of the capillary-porous member; and an electromagnetic field source further comprising an emitter faced to the second surface of the capillary-porous member configured to generate electromagnetic field with the energy selected so as to heat and vaporize the liquid medium.

The term “reservoir” is used throughout the specification to refer to any arrangement capable to store or contain liquid medium.

The term “source of electromagnetic field energy” is used throughout the specification to refer to any electrical arrangement comprising an electromagnetic field-emitting element or emitter and producing electromagnetic field energy by moving electrical charges in the emitter. The emitter of the electromagnetic field energy may comprise a laser, light emitting diode, lamp, magnetron, electrode. The electromagnetic field energy source may comprise field energy-forming means and/or arrangements, such as reflectors, lenses, waveguides, standing-wave resonators, configured electrodes.

In further embodiments, the aerosol-generating device utilizing electromagnetic field energy to heat and vaporize an aerosol forming liquid medium may comprise an air duct having inlet and outlet, containing at least one of the second and third surfaces of the heating body.

In a group of embodiment the capillary-porous member may be arranged and the electromagnetic field source may be configured to a pulse mode of vaporization generating a sequence of the pulses having a pulse duration and delay so that a temperature of the liquid medium repeatedly rises above a boiling point of the liquid medium during the pulse and falls below the boiling point during the delay between the pulses in the sequence of pulses

There is also provided, in accordance with embodiments of the invention, a method for aerosol generation, which include providing the aerosol-generating device comprising the capillary-porous member transmissive to the electromagnetic field energy; bringing the liquid medium into engagement with the first surface of the capillary-porous member; and generating electromagnetic field with the pulse energy selected so as to heat and vaporize the liquid medium. In accordance with some embodiments methods may include steps of directing air trough the air duct, detachment of capillary-porous member, the liquid tank and/or emitter. In accordance with other embodiments methods include generating a sequence of pulses of electromagnetic field having the pulse duration and delay in the range of 1 µs to 100 ms with the pulse energy selected so that a temperature of the liquid medium repeatedly rises above a boiling point of the liquid medium during the pulse and falls below the boiling point during the delay between the pulses in the sequence of pulses. The delay between the pulses in the sequence of pulse may be not shorter than the time for refilling of the liquid vaporized in the capillary-porous member by the pulse prior to the delay.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an aerosol generator comprising a transmissive capillary-porous member having a surface permeable to both an electromagnetic field energy and vapor of a liquid medium.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an aerosol generator comprising a transmissive capillary-porous member having a surface permeable to an electromagnetic field energy, but impermeable to a vapor of a liquid medium .

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an aerosol generator comprising a transmissive capillary-porous member having a plurality of micro-structures formed by a surface permeable to a vapor of a liquid medium

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an aerosol generator comprising a transmissive capillary-porous member having a plurality of through micro-nozzles formed by a surface permeable to a vapor of a liquid medium

FIG. 5 is an illustration to an embodiment configured for selective heating of a water-based liquid medium by an electromagnetic field energy in the infrared range.

FIG. 6 is an illustration to an embodiment operating in a pulsed mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

It would be beneficial to have a safe aerosol generator and method allowing aerosol generation at significantly reduced hazardous risk levels, as set forth in the following description.

Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generator 10 utilizing electromagnetic field energy to heat and vaporize an aerosol forming liquid medium is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generator 10 comprises a capillary-porous member 12 having a first surface 122 permeable to a liquid medium 14, a second surface 124 permeable to electromagnetic field energy 16 and a third surface 126 permeable to a vapor 142 of the liquid medium 14. The capillary-porous member 12 is capable of wicking of the liquid medium 14 in the direction from the first surface 122 to the third surface 126 beneath the second surface 124.

In accordance with the disclosed concept of selective heating, the capillary-porous member 12 substantially transmits the energy of the electromagnetic field energy 16 so that the electromagnetic field energy 16 increases the internal energy predominantly not in the material of the capillary-porous member 12, but in the liquid-medium 14 that may be retained within the capillary-porous structure of the capillary-porous member 12. Due to the refractions and scatterings introduced by the capillary-porous structure, the capillary-porous member 12 can be not necessarily transparent, even though made from a transparent material, but can be diffusively transmissive to the electromagnetic field energy 16. Under the conditions, the material of the capillary-porous member 12 can be less heatable than the liquid medium 14 when being exposed to the electromagnetic field energy 16.

In the embodiments, a capillary-porous member 12 is configured to transmit an electromagnetic field energy 16 which is dissipating in a liquid medium 14. For the concept of the selective heating according to the present invention it does not however matter by which specific physical mechanism the energy of an electromagnetic field energy 16 may be transformed into internal energy of a liquid medium 14 giving rise to the temperature of the liquid medium 14. For example (not shown), a capillary-porous member 12 may be configured to transmit an alternative electromagnetic field 16 that can be coupled into an electrically conductive or non-conductive liquid medium 14 giving rise to its temperature, for example, through the induction of Eddy currents or, for example, oscillations of dipolar molecules.

The capillary-porous member 12 can be formed by known from the art methods of fabrication of wicking structures like as, for example, fiber matrix, sponges, fabrics. The wicking structures hold the liquid medium 14 due to capillary forces but releases the vaporized liquid medium 14 when heated by the electromagnetic field energy 16 due to the drop in the liquid viscosity, capillary forces and pressure of the expanding vapor. The porous structure may have weight on the order of 100 g/m², thickness exceeding 0.3 mm and be mechanical stable, similar to chemically inert high temperature ceramic or glass fiber filters known in the art. Such filters typically allow for liquid flow rates higher than that of cotton. The porosity of the capillary-porous member 12 may achieve 90% allowing liquid passage rate of the liquid medium 14 of at least about 3 µl/s·mm², while withstanding pressure of at least 0.3 g/ mm² in order to maintain integrity in the presence of hot gases in the pores of the capillary-porous member 12 .

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the third surface 126 contains the second surface 124 of the capillary-porous member 12 so that the second surface 124 and third surface 126 may be physically the same. In this group of embodiments, heating and vaporization of a liquid medium 14 by an electromagnetic field energy 16 and ejection of a vapor 142 of the liquid medium 14 outward the capillary-porous member 12, for example, into the ambient air 146 can be performed through the same surface of the capillary-porous member 12.

Illustrated in FIG. 2, is an aerosol generator 20, the second surface 124 is impermeable to a vapor 142 of the liquid medium 14. The capillary-porous member 12 has a pathway for a vapor 142 of a liquid medium 14 from beneath the surface 124 to the third surface 126 and outward. Heating and vaporization of a liquid medium 14 by an electromagnetic field energy 16 beneath the second surface 124 can be performed trough the second surface 124 whilst ejection of a vapor 142 of the liquid medium 14 outward the capillary-porous member 12 can be performed through the third surface 126.

Shown in FIG. 3 is an aerosol generator 30 containing a capillary-porous member 12 having plurality, preferably array, of micro-structures 1262 formed by the third surface 126 in the direction outward the capillary-porous member 12 to promote aerosol formation. The micro-structures 1262 can be, for example, micro-posts (not shown) or similar micro-structures including natural roughness (not shown) to enlarge the surface 126 through which an expanding hot vapor 142 of the liquid medium 14 can be ejected from the capillary-porous member 12 during the vaporization process.

In other example, the micro-structures 1262 can be micro-nozzles formed by the third surface 126 in the direction inward the capillary-porous member 12 to promote aerosol formation. The term “micro-nozzle” is used throughout the specification to refer to a hollow device to control, particularly to direct and accelerate, a vapor of the liquid medium flowing through the micro-nozzle. Micro-nozzles 1262 can have varying cross sectional area and be cone-like profiled, as shown in FIG. 3. Natural roughness (not shown) may also have directing and accelerating profile. The vapor permeable third surface 126 allows ejection of an expanding hot vapor 142 of a liquid medium 14 into the micro-nozzles 1262 which, due to their profile, are able to direct and accelerate the vapor 142 in the direction from beneath the third surface 126 outward the micro-nozzles 1262 in the form of a narrow directed high speed vapor jets 144. The pressure and temperature drop in the vapor jet promote the aerosol formation in the jets 144 when mixing with ambient air 146.

Illustrated in FIG. 4, is an aerosol generator embodiment 40, having micro-structures in the form of through micro-nozzles 1262 expanding from the second surface 124 of the capillary-porous member 12 allowing better mixing with the ambient air 146.

The second surface 124 of the embodiments 20, 30 Illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can be formed impermeable by one of the methods known from the art, for example, by integration, sintering or bonding of permeable and impermeable layers of the same material .

FIG. 5 is a supportive illustration to an aerosol generator 50, in accordance with the invention, in which a material of a capillary-porous member 12 is preferably made of aluminium oxide ( Al₂O₃ ) compounds, such as, for example, sapphire, corundum, alumina, or/and titanium oxide (TiO₂) such as titania. Liquid medium 14 may contain a composition of glycerol, propylene glycol and water typically used to produce human-consuming aerosol. An electromagnetic field energy 16 may cover an infrared range. As shown in FIG. 5, water having dissipation spectrum 504 may be more dissipative than sapphire having dissipation spectrum 502 in an infrared range of the electromagnetic field energy 16, so that sapphire has a transmission window in in the range, in contrast to dissipative water, making thus possible its selective heating by the electromagnetic field energy 16.

Although not shown, other preferable embodiments may include a capillary-porous member 12 containing other aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) compounds and/or titanium oxide (TiO₂) having transmission window in the infrared range and a liquid medium 14 containing glycerol and/or propylene glycol dissipative in the range. The examples can be also expanded by the microwave range and electrically conductive liquids.

In further embodiments, the materials of a capillary-porous member 12 is configured to be transmissive not only in infrared, but also, for example, in microwave range thus providing selectivity of heating of a liquid medium 14.

It is further advantageous if a material of the capillary-porous member 12 is transmissive to the electromagnetic field energy 16 to which a liquid medium 14 having thickness less than 1000 µm is dissipative. In an example of embodiment example shown in FIG. 5, a capillary-porous member 12 containing sapphire is configured for selective heating of a liquid medium 14 containing water in the spectral region 506 contained by the wavelength range of about 1.4 µm to about 10.5 µm, within which the electromagnetic field energy 16 dissipates in a layer of the liquid medium 14 having thickness less than 1000 µm.

FIG. 6 is a supportive illustration to an aerosol generator 60 containing a capillary-porous member 12 configured for a pulse mode of selective heating and vaporization. Pulses 602 of an electromagnetic field energy 16 are followed in a sequence one after another causing a heating profile 606 of a liquid medium 14 and a lower heating profile 604 of a capillary-porous member 12. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the pulse sequence 602 contains a pulse duration ┬ and a pulse delay δ. In order to reduce heat transfer from the liquid medium 14 to a material of the capillary-porous member 12, it is preferable if a capillary-porous member 12 is configured to have its characteristic heating time (thermal relaxation time) shorter than the pulse duration ┬ and the characteristic heating time (thermal relaxation time) of a liquid medium 14 in the pores of a capillary-porous member 12.

It is further preferable if a capillary-porous member 12 is configured to have its thermal relaxation time and refilling time shorter than the pulse delay δ. The thermal relaxation time and refilling rate of a capillary-porous member 12 are both associated with a pore size of the capillary-porous member 12. In most practical embodiments both the thermal relaxation time and refilling time can contain values in the range of about 1 µs to 100 ms in the case of a capillary-porous member 12 having pore size providing wicking effect to be in the range of 1 µm to 500 µm.

In a group of embodiments, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the aerosol generators 10, 20, 30, 40 comprise a liquid reservoir 18 containing a liquid tank configured to contain a liquid medium 14 interfaced with the first surface of the capillary-porous member 12; and an electromagnetic field energy source 22 further comprising an emitter 222 faced to the second surface 124 of the capillary-porous member 12 configured to generate electromagnetic field energy 16 selected so as to heat and vaporize the liquid medium 14 in the capillary-porous member 12. In the aerosol generator examples 20, 30, 40 a vapor 142 can be ejected through the third surface 126, whereas the second surface 124 faced to an emitter 222 is opposite and impermeable to a vapor 142, as shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4. In the embodiment 10, the vapor 142 is ejected through the third surface 126 that is also faced to an emitter 222, as shown in FIG. 1.

In the group of embodiments shown in FIG. 1, a liquid reservoir 18 comprises a first surface 122 of a capillary-porous member 12 providing integration of a capillary-porous member 12 with a liquid reservoir 18 . In other embodiments, a capillary-porous member 12 can act like as a tank or container and be itself a reservoir 18. In further embodiments the third surface 126 of a capillary-porous member 12 is peripheral with respect to the first and second surfaces 122 and 124, as in the embodiments 20, 30, 40 of an aerosol generator illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4.

A source of electromagnetic field energy 22 is an electrical arrangement comprising an electromagnetic field-emitting element or emitter 222 and producing electromagnetic field by moving electrical charges in the field-emitting element or emitter 222, shown in FIG. 1. A source of electromagnetic field energy 22 can also comprise field energy-forming means 224, for example to direct or guide the electromagnetic field energy 16 toward a capillary-porous member 12, collect the electromagnetic field energy 16 on a capillary-porous member 12, couple the electromagnetic field energy 16 into a capillary-porous member 12. A source of electromagnetic field 22 can comprise a user-controllable electrical driver 226 arranged to control the movement of the electrical charges in an emitter 222 and an electrical power source, for example, a battery 228, to electrically activate an emitter 222 and driver 226. Examples, of emitters 222 of electromagnetic field energy 16, depending on applied wavelength ranges, and embodiments are light emitting diodes, lasers, lamps in infrared range, magnetrons in microwave range, electrode configurations, for example parallel-plate or coaxial. The field-forming means and/or arrangements 224 can be arranged as specific for the wavelength range reflectors, as lenses, waveguides, standing-wave resonators, various electrode configurations, such as parallel-plate, coaxial or combination thereof arranged, configured and formed appropriately to convert the electromagnetic energy into the internal energy or heating of the liquid medium 14 in the capillary-porous element 12 with highest efficiency. For example, a reflector 224 having ellipsoidal shape can be used to collect electromagnetic field energy 16 of an emitter 222 containing a halogen lamp. Other examples of emitters and field forming means are also known in the art.

In the embodiment 50 of FIG. 5, an electromagnetic field energy source 22 contained an emitter 222, for example a power infrared laser, diode, halogen lamp, emiting an electromagnetic field 16 in the range of around 1.4 µm to about 10.5 µm.

A liquid reservoir 18 can be detachable, for example, together an emitter 222. In other embodiments an emitter 222 can be itself detachable for a replacement.

In further embodiments an emitter 222 can be shielded to reduce the electromagnetic field in the space outside the capillary-porous member 12.

As Illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the embodiments 10, 20, 30, 40 can comprise an air duct 20 having inlet 202 and outlet 204 and containing the third surface 126 of the capillary-porous member 12. Due to the negative pressure caused by inhalation at the outlet 204, the ambient air 146 flows through the inlet 202 into the air duct 20 across the third surface 126 of the capillary-porous member 12. When mixing with ambient air 146, a vapor 142 forms aerosol 206 in jets 144 flown out through the outlet 204 .

In the embodiments 10, 20, 30, shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 the air duct 20 directs the ambient air 146 across the capillary-porous member 12. In the embodiments 40 shown in FIG. 4 the air duct 20 directs the ambient air 146 through the capillary-porous member 12, more specifically, through the micro-nozzles 1264 formed by a third surface 126 of the capillary-porous member 12. During the vaporization process, the expanding hot vapor 142 is ejected from the capillary-porous member 12 through the third surface 126 into the micro-nozzles 1264 and then, being driven by the negative pressure of the user’s inhalation, are accelerated by the micro-nozzles 1264 and ejected outward the capillary-porous member 12 in the form of a narrow directed high speed vapor jets 144. The pressure and temperature drop in the micro-nozzles 1264 and vapor jets 144 promote the formation of aerosol 204.

In a group of preferred embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a capillary-porous member 12 may be arranged and an electromagnetic field energy source 22 may be configured to a pulse mode of vaporization. In the mode, a driver 226 and an emitter 222 of the electromagnetic field source 22 are configured to emit a sequence of pulses 602 of the electromagnetic field energy 16 having a pulse duration ┬ and pulse delay δ, as illustrated in FIG. 6. A temperature of the liquid medium 14 in the pulsed mode repeatedly rises above a boiling point T_B during the pulse duration ┬ and falls below the boiling point point T_B during the delay δ between the pulses causing a heating profile 606 of a liquid medium 14 and a lower heating profile 604 of a capillary-porous member 12. In the embodiment, a capillary-porous member 12 is configured to have its characteristic heating time (thermal relaxation time) shorter than the pulse duration ┬ and the characteristic heating time (thermal relaxation time) of a liquid medium 14 in the pores of a capillary-porous member 12. It is further preferable if a capillary-porous member 12 is configured to have its thermal relaxation time and refilling time shorter than the pulse delay δ. The thermal relaxation time and refilling rate of a capillary-porous member 12 are both associated with a pore size of the capillary-porous member 12 . In most practical embodiments both the thermal relaxation time and refilling time can contain values in the range of about 1 µs to 100 ms in the case of a capillary-porous member 12 having pore size providing wicking effect to be in the range of 1 µm to 500 µm.

There is also provided, in accordance with embodiments of the invention, a method for aerosol generation, which include providing an aerosol generator comprising the capillary-porous member 12 transmissive for an electromagnetic field energy 16, for example, in the range 506, as shown in FIG. 5, a reservoir 18 configured to contain a liquid medium 14 dissipative, for example, in the range 506 interfaced with the first surface 122 of the capillary-porous member 12, and an electromagnetic field energy source 22 with an emitter 222 faced to the second surface 124, configured to emit the electromagnetic field energy 16, for example, in the spectral range 506 of the capillary-porous member 12. Preferable spectral bands in the spectral range 506 can be 1400 nm -1900 nm, 2700 nm - 3300 nm, 6000 nm -10000 nm.A liquid medium 14 is brought into engagement with the first surface 122 of the capillary-porous member 12 that also may include a step of filling the liquid reservoir 18 with the liquid medium 14. The emitter 222 of the electromagnetic field energy source 22 emits then an electromagnetic field energy 16 in the range 506 with the energy selected so as to initiate vaporization of the liquid medium 12 in the capillary-porous member 12.

The capillary-porous member 12 and/or emitter 222 and/or the reservoir 18 of an aerosol generator are detachable and thus capable to replacement. In accordance with the method, detachment of at least one of the items is also performed to replace it with another, for example new, item.

In further method, an aerosol generator also comprises an air duct 20. In accordance with the method, the air 146 is directed through the air duct 20, for example, when performing a puff.

In accordance with other method, the capillary-porous member 12 is arranged and the electromagnetic field source 22 is configured to a pulse mode of selective heating and vaporization. The driver 224 drives the emitter 222 to generate an electromagnetic field energy 16 in the form of a sequence of pulses 602, as shown in FIG. 6, having in accordance to a method in this case, pulse duration ┬ and delay δ less than 100 ms, in the range of 1 µs to 100 ms. The pulse energy is selected so that a temperature 606 of the liquid medium 14 repeatedly rises above a boiling point T_B of the liquid medium during the pulse and falls below the boiling point T_B during the delay between the pulses in the sequence of pulses 602. The pulsing temperature of the capillary-porous member 12 has a lower profile 604 due to the selective heating in comparison with the temperature 606 of the liquid medium 14. In the considered method, the thermal relaxation time and refilling time of the capillary-porous element 12 are shorter than 100 ms, in the range of 1 µs to 100 ms.

The present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not disclosed in the prior art.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a source of electromagnetic field energy capable of heating and vaporizing a liquid medium to be aerosolized; anda wicking capillary-porous member,wherein the capillary-porous member is configured to substantially transmit the electromagnetic field energy.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the capillary-porous member is made of aluminum oxide and/or titanium oxide.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein the capillary-porous member has a first surface permeable to the liquid medium, a second surface permeable to the electromagnetic field energy, and a third surface permeable to the vapor of the liquid medium, and wherein the capillary-porous member is capable of wicking a liquid medium in the direction from the first surface to the third surface beneath the second surface.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the third surface of the capillary-porous member contains the second surface of the capillary-porous member.

25. The device according to claim 23, wherein the second surface of the capillary-porous member is impermeable to the vapor of the liquid medium.

26. The device according to claim 23, wherein the capillary-porous member comprises an array of micro-structures formed by the third surface to accelerate the vapor and/or enlarge the vapor ejection surface of the capillary-porous member.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the micro-structures are through micro-nozzles expanding from the second surface of the capillary-porous member.

28. The device according to claim 21, wherein the electromagnetic field energy is substantially dissipated in a layer of the liquid medium having thickness less than 1000 µm.

29. The device according to claim 23, comprising a liquid reservoir further comprising a liquid tank configured to contain a liquid medium interfaced with the first surface of the capillary-porous member; and an electromagnetic field source further comprising an emitter, emitting the electromagnetic fields energy toward the second surface of the capillary-porous member, configured to generate sufficient electromagnetic field energy to vaporize the liquid medium.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the emitter of the electromagnetic field source is comprised of at least one of the following emitting means: a laser, light emitting diode, lamp, magnetron, electrodes.

31. The device according to claim 29, wherein the electromagnetic field source comprises at least one of the following field-forming means or arrangements: reflector, lens, waveguide, standing-wave resonator, electrodes.

32. The device according to claim 29, wherein the emitter and the capillary-porous member with tank are separately detachable.

33. The device according to claim 29, further comprising an air duct having inlet and outlet, wherein the air duct contains at least one of the second and third surfaces of the capillary-porous member.

34. The device according to claim 29, wherein the electromagnetic field energy source is configurable to emit a sequence of the electromagnetic field energy pulses having duration and delay in the range of 1 µs to 100 ms correlated with the thermal relaxation time of the liquid medium in the pores of the capillary-porous member for vaporization in a pulsed mode.

35. A method for generation of aerosol comprising: providing the device according to claim 29; bringing the liquid medium into engagement with the first surface of the capillary-porous member; and generating electromagnetic field energy to initiate vaporization of the liquid medium.

36. A method for generation of aerosol comprising: providing the device according to claim 32; bringing the liquid medium into engagement with the first surface of the capillary-porous member; generating electromagnetic field energy to initiate vaporization of the liquid medium; and performing the detachment.

37. A method for generation of aerosol comprising: providing the device according to claim 33; bringing the liquid medium into engagement with the first surface of the capillary-porous member; generating electromagnetic field energy to initiate vaporization of the liquid medium; and directing air through the air duct.

38. A method for generation of aerosol comprising: providing the device according to claim 34; bringing the liquid medium into engagement with the first surface of the capillary-porous member; and generating the electromagnetic field energy in a sequence of pulses having duration and delay in the range of 1 µs to 100 ms correlated with the thermal relaxation time of the liquid medium in the pores of the capillary-porous member to initiate vaporization of the liquid medium in a pulse mode.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the delay between the pulses in the sequence of pulse is not shorter than the time for refilling of the liquid medium vaporized in the capillary-porous member by the pulse prior to the delay.