subject: Electronic Cigarettes, How Do It Work? [print this page] Youre out in a restaurant with your friends and suddenly one of them produces a cigarette and starts smoking. The restaurant has a no smoking rule and people around throw inquisitive glances at you. Relax! Your friend says. Its just an e-cig. No need to panic. Interestingly, theres no security escorting you out of the restaurant that evening.
What is an e-cig? And, how do they work? you wonder on your way home.
E-cig is the short form of electronic cigarette(Known as elektronik zigarette in Germany ). These are battery powered devices which deliver doses of nicotine and resemble regular cigarettes. Although they resemble regular cigarettes, they are quite different in many ways. Heres how electronic cigarettes work.
Electronic cigarettes work by vaporizing liquid nicotine which is smoked. To understand how these devices, its best to look at the different parts that make up e-cigarettes and how each functions.
E cigarettes (e zigarette in dutch) are composed of five main parts, the vaporization chamber, atomizer, cartridge, LED light and batteries.
The vaporization chamber is the part in the electronic cigarette where vaporized nicotine solution is delivered to the mouth. In many cases, it resembles regular cigarette filters but is hollow. This is the part of the e-cigarette that comes into contact with your mouth.
The atomizer consists of a heating element and in some cases a button. The heating element heats up the liquid nicotine solution turning it into vapor. It is designed such that it requires just a little amount of power to superheat the nicotine solution. The buttons purpose is to turn the heating element on and off. This controls the amount of nicotine you inhale at a go.
The cartridge is the part of the electronic cigarette which contains the liquid nicotine. It is a removable component. In many cases, you will receive more than one cartridge with your e-cigarette starter kit. The cartridge can be disposable or reusable. Disposable cartridges can only be used until the nicotine solution is exhausted. For reusable cartridges, you can refill them and use them again. These are the more economical. In addition, you can find cartridges containing scented and flavored nicotine solutions!
The battery provides the current needed to power the atomizer and LED light. E-cigs come with rechargeable batteries which ensure that you dont have to buy new batteries each time your electronic cigarette doesnt have enough charge to power the atomizer. The electronic cigarette kit will come with a charger for the batteries.
The LED light more or less isnt a functional part. Its purpose is to light up when the e-cigarette is in use. It gives you the sensation similar to that of smoking a regular cigarette. That is, when you press the button and draw on the cigarette, the LED light simultaneously lights up!
To recap, heres how electronic cigarettes work. When you place the vaporizing chamber in your mouth and press the button, the LED light turns on. Simultaneously, the battery provides power to the atomizer which vaporizes liquid nicotine allowing the vapor pass to the vaporizing chamber. The vapor is what you inhale.
