Genesis Vortex Generator

[DrMA]

As a follow-up to a topic that emerged around May in the Ceramic Wick thread, here's a little gizmo I made tonite.

I modded the plastic tube from a Smok rebuildable tank (which was previously modded to a Genesis-style tank with a white ceramic wick). The idea is to give the airflow past the coil a swirling motion.

The metal air intake is a piece from a 15 gauge blunt-tipped needle CA'd in place. I used a Dremel cut-off wheel to cut it at an angle such that it's flush with the outside of the tank.



So far it's a big improvement vs. the typical straight hole right in front of the coil.

 

[bapgood]

Very nice!!! I'll have to put this on my to-do project list

 

[DrMA]

This thing definitely has a kick. I had to go down from 19W to 14W, so I don't choke on the vapor.

 

[DrMA]

I have positive confirmation there's a vortex inside the vapor chamber, though it's proven impossible to record... Watching this thing in a mirror while vaping, one can see the condensation on the wall 180° opposite the wick being pushed around along the wall by the incoming air current. It looks like the air stream is quite a bit faster than I expected too...

 

[dr g]

Hmm maybe in a way this makes the head behave more like a low volume chamber.

 

[DrMA]

One hypothesis by Zen (as in Zen Atty Pro) is that you want the airflow to go past the wick more than once before exiting the mouth piece, so it picks up more steam, flavor and nic. I'm inclined to agree that this seems to be working quite well. I've finally gotten back that elusive nic buzz without using high-nic liquid or over the top power coils.

Currently vaping 50/50 DIY liquid @12mg nic on a DIY OKR-T/6 VV mod @ 4.3V with a 1.2Ω coil (3-ply twisted 30AWG Kanthal A-1) wrapped 5/6 around a DIY white ceramic wick.

 

[dr g]

Color me a bit skeptical that the airflow could remain laminar enough to make more than one rotation around the head space ... I wonder if this doesn't just create greater turbulence throughout the headspace.

 

[DrMA]

The flow is definitely not laminar, nor does it matter for the air to rotate around the chamber. But yes, turbulence is definitely the goal...

 

[bapgood]

Have you tried the Zen large diameter disk on the top of the center post?

 

[dr g]

The flow is definitely not laminar, nor does it matter for the air to rotate around the chamber. But yes, turbulence is definitely the goal...

Not sure how that equates to airflow "going past the wick more than once" ...

There are many ways to introduce turbulence but a nozzle roughly conformal to the circumference of the tank suggests some intent for directional flow.

 

[chuckie]

I love that chip,a about $9 you can't go wrong.I like the air idea.

 

[DrMA]

I've tried the large disc on top before, but didn't notice a difference. Perhaps I should revisit it now and see if it works better in conjunction with the vortex airflow.

The directional nozzle is one idea for preventing the airflow from going straight from the intake to mouthpiece and forcing it to go past the coil more than once. I'm sure there are other ways to do it and I'd like to hear other ideas...

 

[cadcoke5]

Not sure how that equates to airflow "going past the wick more than once".

I have similar doubts. I would think that the idea of a vortex would just create a path for the air that is a helix or a spiral. In other words, each molecule of air could only pass through a particular point once. I suppose if the coil were relatively long, some of the air might touch the coil in two separate parts along its length. Thinking more about it, if the coil were of normal length, an the helix were relatively short, it might have more than one contact point.

I suspect the main effect is that of filtering the particle size. The larger droplet sizes would be moved towards the outer walls by centrifugal forces, and stick to the wall, so they are filtered out. Smaller particle sizes are known for going deeper into the lungs, like smoke particles do. This might make the vaping more cigarette like, and cause a faster rise in the nicotine blood levels.

And while, with the larger droplets being filtered out, the total amount of vaporized liquid is reduced, there is one other competing concept. The flow rate of the air going past the coil is probably greater. So, that may increase vapor production. It is hard to figure out the end result in regards to total vapor production.


-Joe Dunfee

 

[DrMA]

That's an interesting theory, cadcoke.

Whatever this thing does, it's a significant improvement in the vapor quality: flavor, TH, nic delivery. Vapor quantity itself doesn't seem to be different than a well placed straight hole.

And another unintended benefit is that the condensation in the top cap no longer leaks out the air hole, making this device a lot more pocket friendly than your typical genny.

 

[BJ43]

I've tried the large disc on top before, but didn't notice a difference. Perhaps I should revisit it now and see if it works better in conjunction with the vortex airflow.

The directional nozzle is one idea for preventing the airflow from going straight from the intake to mouthpiece and forcing it to go past the coil more than once. I'm sure there are other ways to do it and I'd like to hear other ideas...

Just search ECF and you will find hundreds, about every six months someone starts a new thread, but in almost 5 years here really haven't seen anything that works except reducing the cap volume.

 

[jackson32503]

How did you attach this? (I'm not sure what you mean by CA.)

What are you using to seal the unused holes? I've had quite a few ideas I'd love to try, but need to figure out what materials can be safely used to plug holes and or mold additional parts.

I have 4 Smoktech Vivi tanks (parts of a 5th one...lol) which I have been using for lots of tinkering and experimenting. Found a place to get them (in US) for $5.99.... Not a bad price for such adaptable toys.... Makes it much less risky to try out random ideas/modifications.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[DrMA]

CA=cyanoacrylate aka superglue. I used the gel kind.

I used JB Weld steel reinforced epoxy to seal the unused holes. Both CA and JB Weld epoxy are food-safe once fully cured.

 

[rolf]

hi dr ma
funny I tried this for another reason so ...don't like the steam hitting my beard !
the top is 3 wafers center one has two v slots stopping short of the drip tip hole. so the air is from the sides . directed down with the small ss tubes and cut some slots in it to hit the coil ...bottom of tubes is crimped shut .
did not glue because still playing with direction of airflow. works great . also nice way to get in air in pyrex chamber..




















hitting










"




'

 

[DrMA]

Very nice, rolf. I bet that system also prevents juice leakage outside the chamber.

 

[Covert]

This is a very valid point. The reduction within the foggatti, kayfun,Nimbus, and Patriot leads to great flavor. Also notice it on my Cyclone AFC atty. The Cyclone ACF actually has controls for a vortex like airflow control the thing is great on both flavor and vapor.