Vaporizer: Heating Method and Efficiency
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Vaporizers are inhaling devices that use plants and herbs to produce vapors. The active compound of herbs and blends are not burned but rather they are heated at such a temperature that they turn into vapors. Since there is no burning or combustion of materials involved, there is no production of smoke or toxic gases. Vaporizers are safe to use. There is no production of unlikely or unnecessary by products from the plants. Only the active ingredients of the herbs are boiled off. Neither is any kind of steam involved that can cause problems for lungs. One can inhale through a pipe or can store it in a bag or some container

Vaporizers are categorized in three categories on basis of the way the substances are heated. They are heated by:
• Thermal conduction
• Convection
• Thermal radiation
In thermal conduction heating, compounds are heated on metal plate to release the required products. This type of heating was used in first vaporizer and is still being used these days.
In case of convection heating, the compound is never in contact of the heating element used. Rather hot air is produced that heats the constituents rapidly to produce vapors. The amount f constituents released by convection heating is more compared to conduction heating. Convection vaporizers are of two types, forced type and passive type. In forced air type air is blown to the heating element so that it produces components. In passive type a user doe not need a pump or a fan to inhale vapors.
In radiation heating, as the name suggests, bright light is used for the purpose of heating. The temperature of the substance rises as it absorbs the light. They are rarely found but they are the best when it comes to production of active compounds.
Tests say that it is the kind of vaporizer used and also the way of heating determines the efficiency of a vaporizer. Factors that can affect the output of an inhaler are:
• Weight
• Temperature
• Essential oils
• Content of water
• Material consistency in the chamber
• Vapor storage time
• Specimen density
• Herb used
Vaporizers are today being used in many sectors apart from only being an alternative to smoking. They are being used in restaurants to bring more flavor and fragrance to food and spices. They are providing benefits in medical industry as well.
