WO2025149379A1

WO2025149379A1 - Electrical power supply system

Info

Publication number: WO2025149379A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/088586
Authority: WO
Inventors: Grzegorz Aleksander PILATOWICZ
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2024-01-09
Filing date: 2024-12-27
Publication date: 2025-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-09

Abstract

An electrical power supply system (10) which is suitable for an aerosol- generating device, comprises a rechargeable electrical power source (2) and a fuel cell assembly (3). Charging electrical power is supplied by the fuel cell assembly to the rechargeable electrical power source with implementing a constant-current mode effective for said rechargeable electrical power source. Preferably, the fuel cell assembly is disabled when electrical power is to be supplied to a heater (20) of the aerosol-generating device. However, the fuel cell assembly may be used for supplying electrical power to functions of the aerosol-generating device other than heating.

Description

ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM

The invention relates to an electrical power supply system and an aerosol-generating device that comprises this system.

- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION -

Some already-existing small-size aerosol-generating devices are powered by non-replaceable electrical power sources (e.g., a lithium-ion secondary battery steady fixed inside device). Internally to each of these devices, the power source supplies electrical power to a heater for generating aerosol to be inhaled by a user of the device. Using a non-replaceable electrical power source has several advantages, including:

- the design of the aerosol-generating device is simpler, since it is not necessary to have an opening and releasable electrical connection suitable for the user to replace the current electrical power source when discharged with a new one;

- using a fixed electrical power source within each aerosol-generating device avoids that the manufacturer of the device has to ensure safety of a replacement operation to be performed by the user and to control of the type of the newly installed electrical power source;

- there is no need for the manufacturer to design the device in a way that it can support a wide range of power sources;

- as a result of the preceding reasons, the unit cost price of the aerosolgenerating device can be lower; and

- the manufacturer of the aerosol-generating device can control the quality of the power source that is used because it is enclosed initially within the device. However, new regulations in the context of sustainability prohibit using non-replaceable power sources in electronic appliances and may also apply to aerosol-generating devices. It is then an issue to have power sources that can be used in aerosol-generating devices with the following features:

- the dimensions of the electrical power supply system should be small enough for being compatible with those of the aerosol-generating device;

- the total cost of the electrical power supply system should be low;

- the type and quality of a rechargeable electrical power source to be incorporated in each aerosol-generating device should be ensured by the manufacturer of the device; and

- any replacement operation to be performed by the user of the aerosolgenerating device should be safe.

Therefore, one object of the present invention consists in providing an electrical power supply system which is suitable for being incorporated in an aerosol-generating device and which addresses the above-listed issues.

- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION -

For meeting at least one of these objects or others, a first aspect of the present invention proposes an electrical power supply system which is suitable for an aerosol-generating device, and which comprises:

- a charger module, provided with a battery-connection terminal, an input terminal and an output terminal, this charger module being configured for transferring a charging electrical power from the input terminal to the battery-connection terminal during a recharge operation, and for transferring a system electrical power from the battery-connection terminal to the output terminal of the charger module;

- a rechargeable electrical power source, connected to the batteryconnection terminal of the charger module; and - a fuel cell assembly comprising one fuel cell reactor unit or several fuel cell reactor units which are connected in series, in parallel or in a mixed series-parallel electrical arrangement, with an output terminal of the fuel cell assembly which is connected to the input terminal of the charger module.

Electrical power supply system for an aerosol-generating device with high energy density can be achieved thanks to using a fuel cell assembly, since existing hydrogen storage technologies allow high energy concentrations. Energy storage capacity that suits for an aerosol-generating device is thus possible. In addition, combining such fuel cell assembly with a rechargeable electrical power source makes it possible to have sufficient instant electrical power available for starting aerosol generation from a substrate which is initially at ambient temperature, with short heating time. Indeed, a heater used for aerosol generation can thus be supplied with suitable instant electrical power from the rechargeable electrical power source.

According to the invention, the electrical power supply system is configured to control the fuel cell assembly according to a constant-current mode effective for the rechargeable electrical power source during the recharge operation. This ensures that the recharge operation is performed in optimum conditions for the rechargeable electrical power source, in particular with respect to safety and lifetime of this latter. In addition, the duration of the recharge operation is limited and compatible with use of the aerosol-generating device.

Preferably, the electrical power supply system may be configured to control the fuel cell assembly so that the rechargeable electrical power source undergoes only constant-current mode during the recharge operation. The charger module can be simpler in this way, because of implementing one single recharge mode for the rechargeable electrical power source. In addition, general fuel cell suits to operate constant-current mode rather than variablecurrent mode. If fuel cell outputs current being widely varied, thereof degradation may be accelerated. In other words, by operating fuel cell only constant-current mode, lifetime of fuel cell may be extended. Advantageously, the charger module may be further configured for transferring another system electrical power from the fuel cell assembly, through the input terminal of this charger module, to the output terminal of the charger module. Such another system electrical power can be useful for functions of the aerosol-generating device which are less demanding in instant power value, such as power-supply to a microcontroller unit, information display, light indicators, decorative lighting, etc.

When the electrical power supply system further comprises a heater connected so as to be power-supplied from the output terminal of the charger module, it may be configured so that the fuel cell assembly supports supplying electrical power from the output terminal of the charger module except for to the heater. In this way, electrical power from the fuel cell assembly is saved for supplying functions that are less power-consuming than the heater. Power supplied to the heater tends to be variable. From this perspective, it would be better to not provide power from the fuel cell assembly to the heater. Preferably, the electrical power supply system may be configured so that transferring electrical power from the fuel cell assembly to the heater is prohibited. The heater can be power-supplied from the rechargeable electrical power source which is able to provide higher instant power values. It may be also effective to prevent degradation of the fuel cell assembly.

In first embodiments of the invention, the fuel cell assembly may comprise several fuel cell reactor units which are connected in series, or several subsets of fuel cell reactor units, these subsets of fuel cell reactor units being connected in series and each subset comprising several fuel cell reactor units connected in parallel with each other internally to this subset. Thanks to such electrical in-series connection mode within the fuel cell assembly, an output voltage of the fuel cell assembly may be larger than a maximum voltage value of the rechargeable electrical power source. In particular, the maximum voltage value of the rechargeable electrical power source may correspond to voltage when this rechargeable electrical power source as implemented in the electrical power supply system is at a maximum charge state. In general, electromotive force of fuel cell tends to be lower than the maximum voltage value of the rechargeable electrical power source. For example, electromotive force of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell, or PEFC, as typical example of fuel cell is about 1.23 V (volt), while maximum voltage of lithium-ion secondary battery is about 4.2 V. By connecting fuel cell reactor units in series, output voltage of whole of the fuel cell assembly may be greater than the maximum voltage value of the rechargeable electrical power source. As a result, using a charger module with simple design is then possible, and without necessity of any voltage-boost circuit at the output terminal of the fuel cell assembly. In particular, the fuel cell assembly may comprise at least four fuel cell reactor units which are connected in series, or at least four serially connected subsets of fuel cell reactor units. Considering typical range of electromotive force of fuel cell and maximum voltage value of the rechargeable electrical power source as described in above, if at least four fuel cell reactor units are connected in series, output voltage of whole of the fuel cell assembly may be greater than the maximum voltage value of the rechargeable electrical power source.

In second embodiments of the invention, the charger module may be of a type capable of performing the recharge operation when the voltage of the input terminal of this charger module is less than the maximum voltage value of the rechargeable electrical power source, this maximum voltage value corresponding again to the maximum charge state for the rechargeable electrical power source. Since such the charger module supports boost function, using a dedicated voltage-boost circuit between the output terminal of the fuel cell assembly and the input terminal of the charger module is unnecessary. In addition, connecting multiple fuel cell reactor units in series is unnecessary, thus design of the fuel cell assembly may become more flexible and/or scale of the fuel cell assembly may become more compact.

In third embodiments of the invention, the electrical power supply system may further comprise a DC-DC converter, for example of voltage-boost circuit type, which is arranged so that the output terminal of the fuel cell assembly is connected to the input terminal of the charger module through the DC-DC converter. Using a charger module with simple design is then possible again. For the second and third embodiments, a number of serially-connected fuel cell reactor units, or a number of serially-connected subsets of parallely- connected fuel cell reactor units, may be less than four in the fuel cell assembly.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the electrical power supply system may further comprise a current limiter which is arranged so that the output terminal of the fuel cell assembly is connected to the input terminal of the charger module through the current limiter. Such current limiter may provide improved safety for the electrical power supply system and prevent degradation of fuel cell assembly.

Generally for the invention, the fuel cell assembly may comprise an amount of a solid- or gel-state hydrogen precursor. Handling of such hydrogen precursor amount is easier and safer. In such case, the fuel cell assembly may further comprise at least one hydrogen generator in addition to the one or several fuel cell reactor units. This hydrogen generator is then adapted for being coupled to the hydrogen precursor amount, and this latter is exchangeable with respect to the at least one hydrogen generator, independent from the one or several fuel cell reactor units. The hydrogen precursor may be advantageously of a type adapted for generating hydrogen (H2) by reaction with water (H2O) coming from atmosphere. Then, each hydrogen generator may be adapted for making the hydrogen precursor amount generate hydrogen by reaction with the water coming from atmosphere, and the fuel cell assembly may further comprise:

- a first air channel connected to the hydrogen generator;

- a second air channel connected to a cathode of each fuel cell reactor unit; and

- an air intake parallelly connecting the first air channel and the second air channel.

Finally, a second aspect of the invention proposes an aerosolgenerating device that comprises the electrical power supply system which meets the first invention aspect. Such aerosol-generating device may comprise a casing designed to enclose:

- the electrical power supply system; and

- a chamber suitable for accommodating an article that comprises an aerosol-generating substrate to be heated for generating aerosol.

- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS -

Figure 1 is a general diagram of an electrical power supply system according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a time-diagram of a recharge operation implemented according to the invention with the electrical power supply system of Figure 1 .

Figure 3a and Figure 3b show two possible arrangements for an aerosol-generating device according to the invention.

For clarity sake, element sizes which appear in these figures do not correspond to actual dimensions or dimension ratios. Also, same reference numbers which are indicated in different ones of these figures denote identical elements of elements with identical function.

- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION -

With reference to Figure 1 , an electrical power supply system 10 comprises a charger module 1 , noted CH-IC for charger integrated circuit, a rechargeable electrical power source 2, a fuel cell assembly 3, and optionally the additional following components: a DC-DC converter 4, preferably of voltage-boost circuit type, a current-limiter 5, noted C.L., a USB-C receptacle 6, a microcontroller unit 7, noted MCU, a power switch 8, for example of MOSFET type, and a heater 20.

The heater 20 may be of any technology implemented in aerosolgenerating devices, including resistance-based, induction-based and based on irradiation with a light beam.

The charger module 1 may be provided with the following electrical terminals or connections:

- an input terminal, noted VBLIS, for receiving DC-power,

- an output terminal, noted SYS, for delivering DC-power,

- a battery-connection terminal, noted BAT, for delivering DC-power during a recharge operation or receiving DC-power during a powersupply operation,

- a enabling terminal, noted CE with upper horizontal bar, configured for prohibiting electrical power transmission from the VBUS-terminal, and

- a serial data connection, noted SDA, and a serial clock connection, noted SCL, for example in accordance with Inter- Integrated Circuit (l²C) communication protocol.

The rechargeable electrical power source 2 may be of a lithium -based type, for example with nominal maximum output voltage value of about 4.2 V (volt), corresponding to the nominal maximum charge state of this rechargeable electrical power source. The rechargeable electrical power source 2 is connected to the BAT-terminal of the charger module 1 .

The fuel cell assembly 3 has an output terminal 30 which is connected to the VBUS-terminal of the charger module 1. Possibly, this connection includes the DC-DC converter 4 and current limiter 5 combined in series. At least one of the DC-DC converter 4 and the current limiter 5 may be included into the fuel cell assembly 3. The output terminal 30 corresponds to positive terminal of the fuel cell assembly 3 operating as an electrical power source. The fuel cell assembly 3 comprises at least one fuel cell reactor unit, and the output terminal 30 is then connected to a cathode C of this fuel cell reactor unit. In the exemplifying embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the fuel cell assembly 3 comprises at least two serially-connected fuel cell reactor units 31-1 and 31 -2. Each fuel cell reactor unit 31 -1 , 31 -2, ... may be of a known design with a respective cathode C, a respective anode A and a respective intermediate proton-exchange membrane noted PEM. In a well-known manner, the fuel cell reactor units 31 -1 , 31-2, ... may be arranged as a stack for forming the in-series electrical connection within minimum volume.

The optional USB-C receptable 6 may be connected to the VBUS- terminal of the charger module 1 in parallel with the fuel cell assembly 3. When used, it allows recharging the rechargeable electrical power source 2 from a power source external to the electrical power supply system 10. From now on, it is assumed that no external power source is connected to the USB-C receptacle 6. Additionally or alternatively, a receptacle other than USB-C may be implemented.

Then, an issue is selecting a number of the fuel cell reactor units 31-1 , 31-2,... that are serially-connected within the fuel cell assembly 3. This depends on a type of the charger module 1 and on whether the DC-DC converter 4 is used or not. Basic type may be used for the charger module 1 if the DC-DC converter 4 is used, because this DC-DC converter 4 of voltageboost type ensures that the voltage at the VBUS-terminal of the charger module 1 is always higher than the voltage at the BAT -terminal, whatever the charge state of the rechargeable electrical power source 2. Alternatively, the charger module 1 may be of a type capable of performing recharge of the rechargeable electrical power source 2 with electrical power originating from the fuel cell assembly 3 even when the output voltage of the fuel cell assembly 3 is lower than the current voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source 2. In this alternative embodiment, the charger module 1 may support boost function. However, it may be preferred selecting the number of fuel cell reactor units which are serially connected within the fuel cell assembly 3 so that the voltage at the output terminal 30 is higher than that across the rechargeable electrical power source 2 whatever the charge state of this latter. This requires for example at least four serially-connected fuel cell reactor units if the individual voltage of each fuel cell reactor unit is of about 1 .23 V (volt), and implementing the lithium-based rechargeable electrical power source 2 so as to ensure that its voltage is always less than of 4.92 V, this value corresponding to a maximum charge of the rechargeable electrical power source 2 as implemented in the electrical power source system 10. Using the DC-DC converter 4 or a suitable type for the charger module 1 allows implementing less than four serially-connected fuel cell reactor units in the fuel cell assembly 3. Although only serially-connected fuel cell reactor units have just been mentioned, the fuel cell assembly 3 may alternatively comprise serially- connected subsets each comprised of in-parallel connected fuel cell reactor units. Implementing such subsets allows obtaining higher instant power values at the output terminal 30 of the fuel cell assembly 3.

In the invention embodiment that is described here, but non-lim itingly, the microcontroller unit 7 and the switch 8 are used for supplying electrical power to the heater 20 from the SYS-terminal of the charger module 1. The microcontroller unit 7 is provided with the following terminals and connections:

- a power supply terminal, commonly known as VDD, which is connected to the SYS-terminal of the charger module 1 ;

- several input/output terminals, noted I/O, configured for controlling functionalities external to the microcontroller unit 7, and

- a serial data connection SDA and a serial clock connection SCL which are connected respectively in a known manner to those of the charger module 1 .

One of the I/O terminals of the microcontroller unit 7 may be connected to a gate terminal of the switch 8, so as to control electrical power that is transmitted from the SYS-terminal of the charger module 1 to the heater 20. To this end, a drain terminal of the switch 8 may also be connected to the SYS- terminal of the charger module 1 , and a source terminal of the switch 8 may be connected to the heater 20.

Another one of the I/O terminals of the microcontroller unit 7 may be connected to the enabling terminal of the charger module 1. In this way, the microcontroller unit 7 can initiate and terminate recharge operation of the rechargeable electrical power source 2.

Possibly, still another one of the I/O terminals of the microcontroller unit 7 may be connected to control an external function 21 , for example a light indicator, possibly of LED-type. The fuel cell assembly 3 may further comprise a hydrogen source, formed by combination of a hydrogen precursor amount 32 and a hydrogen generator 33. The hydrogen precursor amount 32 is comprised of a material capable of releasing gaseous hydrogen (H2) when contacted with water (H2O) by the hydrogen generator 33. This material, which is the hydrogen precursor, may be solid or a gel. Water in vapour phase may originate from air and be conducted to the hydrogen generator 33 by a first air channel 36, possibly provided with a valve 37. Such technology for producing hydrogen is well- known. In particular, the hydrogen precursor may be based on magnesium (Mg) or zinc (Zn). For example when it is magnesium-based, the hydrogen generator 33 combines magnesium hydride (MgFk) initially contained in the hydrogen precursor amount 32 with water (H2O) for producing magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) and hydrogen (H2). A common hydrogen generator 33 may be shared by all the fuel cell reactor units 31 -1 , 31 -2,... or each fuel cell reactor unit may be provided with a separate respective hydrogen generator. Coupling of the hydrogen precursor amount 32 to the hydrogen generator 33 may be performed through a loading operation of a cartridge of the hydrogen precursor amount, as described later below in connection with Figure 3a. The hydrogen gas generated in this way is conducted from the hydrogen generator 33 to the anode A of each fuel cell reactor unit 31-1 , 31 -2,... through dedicated ducts equipped with controlled valves: duct 34-1 (respectively 34-2,...) with valve 35-1 (resp. 35-2,... ) for fuel cell reactor unit 31-1 (resp. 31 -2,... ). Actuators of the valves 35-1 , 35-2,... are connected to one or several further I/O terminals of the microcontroller unit 7 so that this latter can operate de valves 35-1 , 35-2,... for modulating or stopping the hydrogen supply to the fuel cell reactor units 31-1 , 31-2,... Such hydrogen supply modulation or stopping allows adjusting or cancelling in real-time the electrical current that flows from the output terminal 30 of the fuel cell assembly 3. For the fuel cell assembly 3 to produce electrical current, the cathode C of each fuel cell reactor unit 31-1 , 31-2,... is supplied with oxygen (O2) via another dedicated channel 38. This oxygen may originate from air conducted by the channel 38. Possibly, both channels 36 and 38 may extend in parallel from a common air intake 39. A water vapour exhaust, not represented, is also provided from the cathode C of each fuel cell reactor unit 31 -1 , 31 -2, ...

In a recharge operation of the electrical power supply system 10, electrical power is transferred by the charger module 1 from the fuel cell assembly 3 to the rechargeable electrical power source 2, via the VBUS- and BAT-terminals of the charger module 1. Since the enabling terminal of the charger module 1 follows negative logic, the microcontroller unit 7 initiates the recharge operation by inputting low level signal into the enabling terminal. This charging electrical power is noted CH-PW. According to the invention, the recharge operation is controlled by the charger module 1 cooperatively with the microcontroller unit 7 so that charging of the rechargeable electrical power source 2 is performed with constant current ICH exiting through the BAT- terminal. Cooperative operation of the charger module 1 and microcontroller 7 is allowed by communication through the serial data connection. The charger module 1 measures in real time the charging current I CH and compares it to a target value ITG. Control instructions are sent by the charger module 1 to the microcontroller unit 7 for this latter to adjust the valves 35-1 , 35-2,... and 37. Hydrogen supply to the fuel cell reactor units 31-1 , 31-2,... and/or internal switching operation of the charger module 1 is modulated in this way, so that the charging current ICH matches the target value ITG. During the recharge operation, the current delivered by the fuel cell assembly 3 at its output terminal 30 may vary depending on the instant charge level of the rechargeable electrical power source 2. Once the voltage V2 across the rechargeable electrical power source 2 as sensed by the charger module 1 has reached a predetermined threshold VTH, the microcontroller unit 7 closes the valves 35-1 , 35-2,... and 37, thereby terminating the recharge operation. Simultaneously of alternatively, the termination of the recharge operation can be triggered by the microcontroller unit 7 applying a disabling signal (i.e., high level signal) to the charger module 1 . The diagram of Figure 2 displays the respective timevariations of the current ICH and voltage V2 during such recharge operation, x- axis in this diagram identifies time t, y-axis on left side the IcH-values and y-axis on right side the V2-values. VTH is the above-mentioned voltage threshold for the termination of the recharge operation and ITG is the target current value used for the constant-current recharge of the rechargeable electrical power source 2. toN and toFF are the start time and termination time, respectively, of the recharge operation. The voltage threshold VTH, which thus corresponds to the maximum charge state for the rechargeable electrical power source 2 as implemented in the electrical power supply system 10, may correspond to a reduced value compared to the nominal full-charge voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source 2. Alternatively, the voltage threshold VTH may set a voltage when charge state for the rechargeable electrical power source 2 is a bit lower than the maximum charge state, for avoiding over charging. For example, the voltage threshold VTH may be of about 4.2 V for a lithium-based rechargeable electrical power source 2. Such value for the voltage threshold VTH ensures that the voltage V2 across the rechargeable electrical power source 2 is always lower than the output voltage of the fuel cell assembly 3 at terminal 30, when this fuel cell assembly 3 is comprised of four serially- connected fuel cell reactor units. The VTH- and IcH-values are predetermined and fixed, and may be recorded within the charger module 1 or the microcontroller unit 7.

Useful operation of the electrical power supply system 10 corresponds to the microcontroller unit 7 allowing electrical power to be transmitted to the heater 20 or to the light indicator 21 or any other function. This useful electrical power adds to that entering into the microcontroller unit 7 through its VDD- terminal, and the total electrical power thus delivered by the charger module 1 has been called system electrical power in the general part of the description. Preferably, when the microcontroller unit 7 controls power supply to the heater 20 through the switch 8, it preferably communicates with the charger module 1 by means of serial data communication, so that the system electrical power is then supplied only by the rechargeable electrical power source 2. The system electrical power supplied in these conditions is noted SYS-PW1 in Figure 1 . Indeed, operation of the heater 20 may require instant power values which are not compatible with supply from the fuel cell assembly 3, and can be provided only from the rechargeable electrical power source 2. For example, maximum instant power value from the fuel cell assembly 3 may be between 4 W (watt) and 8 W, and the heater 20 may require 10 W. However, if the light indicator 21 is to be activated while the heater 20 is not, the fuel cell assembly 3 may be capable of supplying sufficient electrical power. So for such activation of the light indicator 21 only, the microcontroller unit 7 may remove the disabling signal applied to the charger module 1 , and control the valves 34-1 , 34-2,... and 37 so that the system electrical power now originates from the fuel cell assembly 3. It corresponds then to the electrical power supplied to the light indicator 21 added to that consumed by the microcontroller unit 7. It is noted SYS-PW2 in Figure 1 and has been called another system electrical power in the general part of this description. Possibly, this another system electrical power may correspond to the consumption of the microcontroller unit 7 alone if the light indicator 21 is not activated. Charge level of the rechargeable electrical power source 2 is saved in this way for next activation of the heater 20.

For all operations of the electrical power supply system 10 that involve the fuel cell assembly 3, correct operation of this latter may be monitored by the charger module 1 , possibly referring to pre-recorded reference operation data relating to the fuel cell assembly 3.

An aerosol-generating device 100 according to the invention is shown in Figure 3a. It is enclosed in a casing 101 which extends between a proximal end PE from which a user can inhale aerosol produced by the device and a distal end DE opposed to the proximal end. The aerosol-generating device 100 may be provided with a chamber 102 at the proximal end PE, suitable for accommodating an article 200 that comprises an amount of aerosol-generating precursor to be heated for production of the aerosol. To this end, the heater 20 may be located close to part of the article 200, for heating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating precursor during a use session of the device 100. For example, the heater 20 may be shaped as a hollow cylinder which surrounds the chamber 102, although alternative arrangements are also possible for the heater 20. Preferably, the hydrogen precursor amount 32 may be provided as a cartridge which can be loaded in an open housing 103 provided in the casing 101. Thus, a cartridge of the hydrogen precursor amount 32 currently depleted after usage in combination with the aerosol-generating device 100 can be exchanged easily with a new one, by removal and insertion by the user through a dedicated opening in the casing 101. Advantageously, the cartridge of the hydrogen precursor amount 32, its housing 103 in the casing 101 and the hydrogen generator 33 may be designed so that cartridge insertion into the housing 103 automatically activates the hydrogen transfer ducts 34-1 , 34-2,... between the hydrogen precursor amount 32 and the hydrogen generator 33. In this way, the inserted hydrogen precursor amount 32 is operatively coupled to the hydrogen generator 33. In the arrangement example of Figure 3a, the cartridge housing 103 is located at the distal end DE of the aerosol generating device 100. Then, the other components may be superposed in the following order, from the cartridge housing 103 toward the proximal end PE: the hydrogen generator 33, the fuel cell reactor units 31-1 , 31-2,... , the rechargeable electrical power source 2 together with a printed circuit board that supports at least the charger module 1 , the microcontroller unit 7 and the switch 8, and then the chamber 102 with the heater 20. The air intake 39 may be located at the chamber 102, for example at a bottom thereof, with the air channels 36 and 38 connecting the air intake 39 to the hydrogen generator 33 and the fuel cell reactor units 31 -1, 31 -2,... The arrangement of Figure 3a is suitable for the aerosol-generating device 100 when having a long and slim shape between both ends DE and PE.

Figure 3b shows an alternative arrangement resulting in a short and wide shape for the aerosol-generating device 100 between both ends DE and PE. In this other arrangement, the cartridge housing 103 is located side-by-side with a remainder of the device components, transversally with respect to the direction connecting the distal end DE to the proximal end PE.

Claims

1. An electrical power supply system (10) for an aerosol-generating device (100), said electrical power supply system comprising:

- a charger module (1), provided with a battery-connection terminal (BAT), an input terminal (VBIIS) and an output terminal (SYS), the charger module being configured for transferring a charging electrical power (CH-PW) from the input terminal to the battery-connection terminal during a recharge operation, and for transferring a system electrical power (SYS-PW1 ) from the battery-connection terminal to the output terminal of said charger module;

- a rechargeable electrical power source (2), connected to the batteryconnection terminal (BAT) of the charger module (1 ); and

- a fuel cell assembly (3) comprising one fuel cell reactor unit or several fuel cell reactor units (31 -1 , 31 -2,...) which are connected in series, in parallel or in a mixed series-parallel electrical arrangement, with an output terminal (30) of the fuel cell assembly which is connected to the input terminal (VBIIS) of the charger module (1 ), characterized in that the electrical power supply system (10) is configured to control the fuel cell assembly (3) according to a constant-current mode effective for the rechargeable electrical power source (2) during the recharge operation.

2. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 1 , configured to control the fuel cell assembly (3) so that the rechargeable electrical power source (2) undergoes only constant-current mode during the recharge operation.

3. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the charger module (1) is further configured for transferring another system electrical power (SYS-PW2) from the fuel cell assembly (3), through the input terminal (VBLIS) of said charger module, to the output terminal (SYS) of said charger module.

4. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 3, further comprising a heater (20) connected so as to be power-supplied from the output terminal (SYS) of the charger module (1 ), and wherein said electrical power supply system (10) is configured so that the fuel cell assembly (3) supports supplying electrical power from the output terminal (SYS) of the charger module (1) except for to the heater (20).

5. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 4, configured so that transferring electrical power from the fuel cell assembly (3) to the heater (20) is prohibited.

6. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of one claims 1 to 5, wherein the fuel cell assembly (3) comprises several fuel cell reactor units (31 -1 , 31-2,... ) which are connected in series, or several subsets of fuel cell reactor units, said subsets of fuel cell reactor units being connected in series and each subset comprising several fuel cell reactor units connected in parallel with each other internally to said subset, so that an output voltage of the fuel cell assembly is larger than a maximum voltage value of the rechargeable electrical power source (2).

7. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 6, wherein the fuel cell assembly (3) comprises at least four fuel cell reactor units (31 -1 , 31 -2,... ) which are connected in series, or at least four serially-connected subsets of fuel cell reactor units.

8. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the charger module (1) is of a type capable of performing the recharge operation when the voltage of the input terminal (VBIIS) of said charger module is less than a maximum voltage value of the rechargeable electrical power source (2), that corresponds to a maximum charge state for said rechargeable electrical power source.

9. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a DC-DC converter (4) arranged so that the output terminal (30) of the fuel cell assembly (3) is connected to the input terminal (VBIIS) of the charger module (1 ) through the DC-DC converter.

10. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 8 or 9, wherein a number of serially-connected fuel cell reactor units (31-1 , 31-2,...), or a number of serially-connected subsets of parallelly-connected fuel cell reactor units, is less than four in the fuel cell assembly (3).

11. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a current limiter (5) arranged so that the output terminal (30) of the fuel cell assembly (3) is connected to the input terminal (VBIIS) of the charger module (1 ) through the current limiter.

12. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the fuel cell assembly (3) comprises an amount of a solid- or gel-state hydrogen precursor (32).

13. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 12, wherein the fuel cell assembly (3) further comprises at least one hydrogen generator (33) in addition to the one or several fuel cell reactor units (31-1 , 31-2,... ), said hydrogen generator being adapted for being coupled to the hydrogen precursor amount (32), and wherein the hydrogen precursor amount (32) is exchangeable with respect to the at least one hydrogen generator (33), independent from the one or several fuel cell reactor units (31 -1 , 31 -2, ... ).

14. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 13, wherein the hydrogen precursor is of a type adapted for generating hydrogen by reaction with water coming from atmosphere.

15. The electrical power supply system (10) for the aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 14, wherein each hydrogen generator (33) is adapted for making the hydrogen precursor amount (32) generate hydrogen by reaction with the water coming from atmosphere, and wherein the fuel cell assembly (3) further comprises:

- a first air channel (36) connected to the hydrogen generator (33);

- a second air channel (38) connected to a cathode of each fuel cell reactor unit (31 -1 , 31-2,... ); and

- an air intake (39) parallelly connecting the first air channel (36) and the second air channel (38).