How well does "metal foam" actually wick?

[one_raven]

Does the nickle foam (are they all nickel?) actually wick well?

My idea is that I want to create a mod that has an atomizer face-down with the bridge partially submerged in liquid when in use.

By having the bridge only partially submerged, and the atomizer staying in the bridge-down position, will the liquid wick up to the pot/coil if I draw air up through the hole in the middle of the atomizer?

I haven't figured out a practical way to test this, but I was hoping someone had enough parts lying around to try it out and see what happens.

 

[framitz]

Does the nickle foam (are they all nickel?) actually wick well?

My idea is that I want to create a mod that has an atomizer face-down with the bridge partially submerged in liquid when in use.

By having the bridge only partially submerged, and the atomizer staying in the bridge-down position, will the liquid wick up to the pot/coil if I draw air up through the hole in the middle of the atomizer?

I haven't figured out a practical way to test this, but I was hoping someone had enough parts lying around to try it out and see what happens.

When I dip with my 401 atty I can watch the juice being pulled up. So I'd say it wicks quite well once it is wet. If you can maintain the liquid level in your mod I think it should work great.

 

[breakfastchef]

The mesh surrounding the heating coil of the atomizer does a fine job. If it did not, it would have been changed. What is important to understand about the mesh is that it no only covers the bridge over the heating coil, but also is wrapped around the ceramic cup in which the heating coil sits. The proper action of the mesh is to transfer e-liquid from the cartridge to the bridge and to the mesh surrounding the ceramic cup. As you draw, the liquid in the mesh around the cup draws the e-liquid into the cup and is absorbed by the material inside the heating coil. If you have ever taken an atomizer apart, you will understand what I am describing.

 

[mnealtx]

Interesting idea - I'm not sure how you would prevent flooding, though.

 

[one_raven]

Interesting idea - I'm not sure how you would prevent flooding, though.

I don't follow.

Preventing flooding is half the point of it.
As long as the fluid doesn't rise above the level of the coil, the design itself prevents flooding by allowing the excess fluid drip from the pot.

 

[surbitonPete]

I don't follow.

Preventing flooding is half the point of it.
As long as the fluid doesn't rise above the level of the coil, the design itself prevents flooding by allowing the excess fluid drip from the pot.

wouldn't that mean that you would always have to be careful to hold the e-cig in one particular way and never tip it up or over?

 

[one_raven]

wouldn't that mean that you would always have to be careful to hold the e-cig in one particular way and never tip it up or over?

Not if that is taken into consideration in the design.
Granted, you couldn't hold it upside-down and use it, but I'm not concerned about having to ability to do that.

 

[mnealtx]

I don't follow.

Preventing flooding is half the point of it.
As long as the fluid doesn't rise above the level of the coil, the design itself prevents flooding by allowing the excess fluid drip from the pot.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding - you're talking about an upside-down atomizer, with a bottom cup that the bridge will go into, correct? With all the mesh above the coil, how are you going to see if you've flooded it? What's going to prevent any overflow from going directly into the battery?

 

[cybervex]

I dont reallt see this working for a "on the go" PV, but for a sit at your desk PV it may be fantastic.

 

[one_raven]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding - you're talking about an upside-down atomizer, with a bottom cup that the bridge will go into, correct?

Correct.

With all the mesh above the coil, how are you going to see if you've flooded it?

My impression of flooded is that the ceramic pot is full of fluid, submerging the coil, therefore the coil cannot efficiently vaporize the fluid.
If the atomizer is facing down, and the pot is kept out of the fluid, how would it get flooded?
The pot will drip any excess fluid back down onto the bridge below it.
I don't understand why there would be a problem if all the metal foam is completely saturated.
In fact, I think that would be preferable, because when you suck in through the hole in the top of the atomizer, it would draw fluid through the holes in teh side of the pot and deliver it to the coil.

What's going to prevent any overflow from going directly into the battery?

It all depends on where and how the battery is mounted.
Where are you imagining it?
If it is above the atomizer, it couldn't go up into it - if it is below it, the fluid stays in the "cup".
How would it go into the battery?

Actually, I'm likely to mount the battery alongside cup/atomizer unit, anyway.

Regardless, if there is any overflow at all, the design sucks and needs to be reconsidered.

 

[one_raven]

I dont reallt see this working for a "on the go" PV, but for a sit at your desk PV it may be fantastic.

I do - if I can design the atomizer/cup/tank unit correctly.
I'm hoping keep it in my pocket.

 

[mnealtx]

I'm thinking of a current atomizer with a whole lot of metal mesh that would be ABOVE the atomizer coil and bridge in your modification and full of juice - if you can flood a current atomizer with too much juice, what's preventing this one from flooding?

Are you planning on designing and building an entirely new atomizer, or just reversing a current one?

 

[one_raven]

Just flipping one.

 

[kinabaloo]

Air flows pulls droplets of liquid from the mesh around the cup through small holes (to speed up the air) onto the coil. From cart to cup area is pure wicking; the only effect of the air flow in the bridge area is that it fights the juice flow somewhat (opposite direction). Hence long ago I suggested that the system would work better with the cart behind the coil (but mouthpiece still at the front). A bit awkward for topping up, and for getting electrical connections from battery to coil. But it could be done.