Aerosol-generating systems and methods for guiding an airflow inside an electrically heated aerosol-generating system

1. An aerosol-generating system, comprising:

a liquid storage portion comprising a container configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and defining an opening at an end thereof;

a heater assembly extending across the opening along a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the liquid storage portion and comprising an arrangement of one or more electrically conductive flat filaments;

a capillary material disposed between the liquid storage portion and the heater assembly and being configured to convey the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the one or more electrically conductive flat filaments; and

conductive contacts, disposed in a main housing and making electrical contact with corresponding contacts of the heater assembly,

wherein the liquid storage portion is disposed at a first side of the heater assembly, and a portion of a first airflow channel is disposed at a second side of the heater assembly, the portion of the first airflow channel extending in a direction orthogonal to the plane and being configured to direct air originating from outside the system in a direction towards a surface of the capillary material.

2. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the first airflow channel is directed at a geometric center of the heater assembly and across a surface portion thereof to provide a flow path over the one or more electrically conductive flat filaments.

3. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 2 , wherein the flow path extends radially outward over the one or more electrically conductive flat filaments.

4. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 2 , wherein the flow path extends from the heater assembly toward a mouth end of the system, the flow path having a sharp bend downstream of the heater assembly.

5. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the heater assembly has a substantially flat orientation, such that a common plane passes through the one or more electrically conductive flat filaments.

6. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 2 ,

further comprising a second airflow channel defining another flow path through a portion of the system for air originating from outside the system,

wherein the portion of the first airflow channel and said another flow path merge prior to or along a portion of the portion of the first airflow channel.

7. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 6 , wherein the merged airflow is directed to impinge perpendicularly onto the one or more electrically conductive flat filaments.

8. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the first airflow channel diverges into plural channel portions downstream of the heater assembly.

9. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the first airflow channel includes plural first partial channels.

10. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 6 , wherein the second airflow channel includes plural second partial channels.

11. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 ,

further comprising a cartridge that is removably coupled to the main housing,

wherein the liquid storage portion and the heater assembly are disposed in the cartridge and the main housing comprises a power supply.

12. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 11 , wherein the conductive contacts are configured to be electrically coupled to the power supply.

13. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 11 , wherein the main housing further comprises at least one air inlet configured to draw ambient air from outside the system, and at least a first portion of the first airflow channel corresponding to a flow path in fluid communication with the heater assembly.

14. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 11 , wherein the main housing and the cartridge are configured to guide aerosol-containing airflow to and out of a single centrally arranged opening in the main housing.

15. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 11 , wherein the cartridge further defines at least one of the air inlet configured to draw ambient air from outside the system, and at least a first portion of the first airflow channel corresponding to a flow path in fluid communication with the heater assembly.

16. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the capillary material is aligned with the opening and is further disposed in contact with the one or more electrically conductive flat filaments.

17. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the heater assembly partially covers the opening.

18. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the capillary material comprises a ceramic material.

19. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the capillary material is configured to remain wet with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

20. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the capillary material is in direct contact with the one or more electrically conductive flat filaments.

21. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the capillary material provides thermal isolation and protects the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid storage portion from decomposition.

22. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece, wherein the opening faces away from the mouthpiece.

23. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein the heater assembly is disposed at a distal end of the container.