A Profile of the Heat Generation Inside a Cigarette During Puffing

Abstract The transient temperature distribution inside a burning cigarette during a 2-second constant-draw single puff was measured to determine the heat generation rate at various positions. The calculation of the heat generation was applied only to a vertically positioned cigarette. The solid-phase temperature was measured by an infrared thermometer with an optical fiber probe, and the gas-phase temperature was measured by a thermocouple. Heat generation rates at various positions inside the burning cigarette were obtained from the temperature distribution profile based on the heat balance equations. Heat generation was found to be concentrated within a region 2 to 3 mm behind the paper char line. The maximum heat generation rate was observed during the initial period of puffing and the heat generation rate decreased significantly in the interval during the middle unsteady period. Steady heat generation was observed in the latter period. The puffing volume as well as the properties of cigarette paper affected the heat generation rate during the unsteady period. The amount of the heat generated during the unsteady period was more than half of the total regardless of the cigarette paper basis weight and the puffing volume.