CE2 Wicking

[dragginfly]

Just a thought to toss out here (not sure where else to say it)...

I've been lightly reviewing the design developments of the new cartos. CE2 rev 4 or whatever they're being called.

The concept sounds great.

A sealed reservoir holds the eliquid with no filler material required to hold it in place.

A wick draws the liquid to a vaporization point that is an intersection of air, electrically heated wire (atomizer) and the liquid in the wick.

Air delivery is easy. Just draw on the cartomizer and it is pulled in.

Same with the electrical current, which can be manually activated or actuated automatically as the air is drawn.

How does the liquid arrive at this vaporization point?

Ans: it is wicked from the reservoir.

What replaces the wicked liquid in the reservoir?

Ans: air

How does the air get in the reservoir?

Ans: not very easily

A vacuum is created in the reservoir that actually works against the wicking action.

If the reservoir is completely sealed except for the wick, then the air must pass into the reservoir via the wick in the exact opposite direction the liquid is traveling.

This would certainly cause a restriction in the flow of liquid to the vaporization point.

What if...

A 'bleeder' hole were added to allow air to directly enter the liquid reservoir from the outside? It would be like fresh air makeup.

In such a case, the vacuum created by drawing on the mouthpiece would be relieved from two sources: the main fresh air intake and the liquid (replaced by the additional makeup air intake into the reservoir).

In effect, drawing on the mouthpiece sucks air PLUS liquid rather than relying on a wicking action to keep the wick wet.

The additional makeup air intake in the reservoir would require back flow prevention to keep the liquid from seeping out the reservoir. A 'throttle' may also be required to adjust the amount of liquid drawn up the wick to prevent flooding.

Just a thought.

 

[nickf41680]

the air on a e2 is drawn through a center post directly below the coil and wick the ,air is drawn up the center post from the 3 holes on the bottom of the battery connection.....which then passes over the heated coil producing the vapor.. the only thing working against the wick is gravity...

 

[dragginfly]

the air on a e2 is drawn through a center post directly below the coil and wick

Got it. That's the main air intake directed to the intersection of the wick and atomizer.

the only thing working against the wick is gravity...

Wrong.

A vacuum is created in the reservoir which works against the wicking.

Further, air MUST enter the reservoir.

If the only air entering the sealed reservoir is via the wick, then you also have the air flowing through the wick (in the opposite direction of the liquid) also causing a restriction on the wicking of the fluid.

 

[Weekend_warrior1999]

draggin... in order for this to work a intake for the reservoir would have to intake the air from the outside IE:inlet vent from outter housing. otherwise of the intake would be in the same vacuum that is suppose to be aiding the wicking action the result would be a stabilization of pressue inside the cartridge and cause all wicking to stop.

 

[dragginfly]

Understood.

What if...

A 'bleeder' hole were added to allow air to directly enter the liquid reservoir from the outside?

...

The additional makeup air intake in the reservoir would require back flow prevention to keep the liquid from seeping out the reservoir. A 'throttle' may also be required to adjust the amount of liquid drawn up the wick to prevent flooding.

The additional flow up the wick could be excessive... almost like sucking a soft drink up a straw.

I thought I had read where poor wicking was an issue with the new cartos, but your comment helped me realize it should not be a problem at all.

I had assumed a steady state condition as though taking one long forever draw.

However, we have two different pressure states. One during the draw and one in between draws.

During the draw the wicking is enhanced as the high pressure reservoir tank flows to the low pressure top draw area above it.

Air flowing through the wick in the opposite direction back into the reservoir occurs during the second pressure state (in between draws) to re-balance pressure.

During an 'at rest' period additional wicking could occur naturally, even if the liquid and air in the wick are moving in opposite directions.

Thanks for the feedback and for letting me share.

Appreciating the new design even more now.

 

[VV Vapster]

and just to state, the resevoir is not completeley sealed. the 2 inject holes, and the cup slots are not sealed. I guess if you put the middle silcon ring in, you could consider the inject holes sealed, but that still leaves the open cup slots.

 

[DaveP]

The wicking action in a CE-2 is similar to a kerosene lamp with the exception that no forced draw occurs in the lamp, just the wicking action. I have only used one of my 5 CE-2 rev4 cartos, but the wicking does seem to be lacking. Once I finally use up the juice in the first one, I plan to take it apart and try the PTB wick fix. Maybe the wick is tightly constricted where it passes through the reservoir into the bowl. That would hinder the wicking action. I'm not sure that a significant vacuum is created during draw due to the hole under the bowl allowing makeup air to be supplied.

I do find that laying it down horizontally for a few minutes helps the wick to saturate.

 

[VV Vapster]

it's just the actual wick itself that needs improved, maybe a differnt thickness? something, I dont really know, but over in the other thread, br toch's his wicks and says they work much better after that, I personally did this, and had the same results, it does work better, but still not up to par. Who knos...I dont even think china knows!

 

[nicotime]

Draggin..you are talking about a very tiny amount of air movement...its not like your turning on a water faucet and that water needs to be replaced with air. The slots are not sealed totally...and just the porosity of the cup would allow the amount of air needed to get by. The bigger effect is when the coil is heated it tends to repel the juice away from it...basically pushing the juice back down the wick. Thats why if you hit for too long you get the dry taste..you need to allow the juice to re-saturate the wick inside of the coil again.

 

[Tim the Enchanter]

Understood.



The additional flow up the wick could be excessive... almost like sucking a soft drink up a straw.

I thought I had read where poor wicking was an issue with the new cartos, but your comment helped me realize it should not be a problem at all.

I had assumed a steady state condition as though taking one long forever draw.

However, we have two different pressure states. One during the draw and one in between draws.

During the draw the wicking is enhanced as the high pressure reservoir tank flows to the low pressure top draw area above it.

Air flowing through the wick in the opposite direction back into the reservoir occurs during the second pressure state (in between draws) to re-balance pressure.

During an 'at rest' period additional wicking could occur naturally, even if the liquid and air in the wick are moving in opposite directions.

Thanks for the feedback and for letting me share.

Appreciating the new design even more now.

*Tim nods in agreement with all dragginfly has said in this thread.

 

[squirrel64]

would something like this work in the side of the tube ? Would allow air in but not allow it to leak

http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Bill-Valve-HOMELITE-69451/dp/B001OKFCVC

these things are tiny and would easily fit in the side of a tube. Just a thought. May prevent a vacuum.