Ever wondered how your vape and e-liquid work together to create a flavourful vapour? Have a read of our guide to the science of vaping and find out everything you need to know.
How does a vape work?
Vapes are battery powered devices that create an inhalable aerosol that looks like water vapor but contains nicotine and flavourings. In the simplest sense, a battery powers a coil that heats up an e-liquid and turns it into vapour ready to be inhaled. That said, there are a lot of working parts in vapes and those can vary depending on the device and the brand.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that the various parts of a vape are sometimes known by a few different names. For example, some people call the battery a “mod”, while others might call coils “atomisers”. If a term sounds unusual to you, there’s a decent chance it’s just a different name for something you’re already used to.
What’s inside a vape?
The main components of a vape include a mouthpiece, battery, coil, and tank/pod. You’ll find some variation of these in vaping devices although they may look different depending on the vape type.
Mouthpiece
The mouthpiece is the part of the vape that allows you to inhale the vapour. Its design can vary widely depending on the device and manufacturer.
Battery
When it comes to batteries, you’ll find that most starter kits and pod systems have a built-in battery. However, some intermediate and advanced vape kits use external batteries which can be removed and replaced. The lithium-ion batteries used in vapes are similar to those used in other electronics like tablets and mobile phones, and can be repeatedly recharged with an average lifespan of around a year before they no longer hold charge like they used to, you can find out more in our post ‘What are the different types of vape batteries?’
Coil
The coil is the vape’s heating element. In reusable vape kits, this is a part of the vape that will need to be replaced as it will burn out over time. This is because it contains cotton, and as it is repeatedly heated the cotton will start to burn, eventually imparting a burnt taste to the vapour.
Some vape kits use replaceable coils, so just the coil will need to be changed periodically, while others have a fixed coil and will require the whole pod to be replaced. How long a coil will last depends on a number of factors, however, there have been many advances in coil durability over the years to make them longer-lasting and optimised for flavour.
Tank/pod
Reusable and refillable vapes also have a tank or pod, which is where e-liquid is stored. This is usually made of a combination of metal and glass or plastic, depending on the design of the device. Some devices use prefilled pods instead, which come already filled with vape juice and will need to be disposed of and replaced when empty.
Sensor
Also, modern vapes that don’t have on/off switches will have sensors that allow the device to switch on when the user inhales. This is referred to as auto-draw or inhale activation, and is usually found in starter kits and pod systems.
Circuits and safety features
It’s also worth mentioning that the circuits and firmware found in vapes can vary greatly from device to device. These elements can be crucial when it comes to the longevity of the vape. They are also very important for the safety features it offers. Common built-in safety features include overcharging prevention, overheating prevention, short circuit prevention, and low resistance detection.
The different types of vape coils
The type of coil used also changes from vape to vape and it can be worth checking which one is used in the vapes you’re choosing. The two most common types to look out for are:
- Standard coils – these have a metal coil inside as the heating element, and are a more traditional form of vape coil.
- Mesh coils – these use a metal mesh instead of coil as the heating element, which offers better heat distribution. This can help the coil last longer and offer better flavour, and has caused mesh coils to rise in popularity over the last few years.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that some pod vape kits have replaceable coils, while others have fixed coils and require the whole pod to be replaced when the coil burns out.
What is e-liquid and what’s in it?
E-liquid is the substance that’s heated up to provide the aerosol vapour than can be inhaled. It’s typically made up of two main ingredients, vegetable glycerin (VG) which is commonly used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, and propylene glycol (PG), which is an additive used in many food and cosmetic products.
VG has a thick consistency and is responsible for producing the vapour while PG has a thinner consistency and is used as a carrier for flavours. The balance between these two main components is different depending on the e-liquid and those balances change the properties. For example, e-liquids with a high VG proportion produce more vapour.
Flavouring
While VG and PG provide the bulk of the liquid, they are there to carry the more important elements – like the flavour. The natural flavourings used in e-liquids contain no artificial ingredients, sweeteners or additives. They are highly concentrated and need VG and PG to make sure they aren’t too intense. What’s more, flavourings used in e-liquids are all food grade and approved and tested by the MHRA.
Nicotine
Not all e-liquids contain nicotine, there are lots of popular nicotine-free vape juices, but for those that do, this is another important component. There are two types that may be added to e-liquids:
- Freebase nicotine: A pure, liquid form of nicotine that has been extracted from the tobacco leaf through a chemical process.
- Nic salts: Acid is added to freebase nicotine to produce nic salts, which have a pH of between 5 – 6 and offer a smoother inhale at higher nicotine levels.
E-liquids are available in a wide range of different strengths, to allow users to find the right strength to most effectively manage their nicotine cravings. You can find out more about the composition of vape juice in our handy guide to what’s inside e-liquid.
How does a vape work with e-liquid?
When a vape is in use, the battery causes the coil to heat up. This heats the e-liquid in the tank or pod, causing it to turn into an aerosol that can be inhaled. For vapes with an on/off switch, this happens when the vape is switched on. For those without a switch, a sensor detects when the user is inhaling and causes the coil to heat.
It’s important to keep the tank topped up or to replace pods when they are finished. Otherwise, you run the risk of letting the coil burn out prematurely or getting dry hits. This is also why coils need to be primed before using. Making sure the coil is fully saturated before vaping means it’s more likely to last longer, as well as making sure you get the best flavour experience. We have lots of advice on how to ensure your coil lasts as long as possible in our guide to coil maintenance.
Vape devices and e-liquids: which changes can we expect in the future?
Vapes have come a long way in a relatively short number of years – check out our evolution of vaping article for some insight – and we expect to see plenty more exciting changes on the horizon. Bigger and better batteries are being made all the time, meaning we’re likely to see vapes that last longer between charges.
There’s also been an impressive uptick in the development and adoption of big puff vapes in recent years. These longer lasting alternatives to the standard disposable vape have a refillable tank or replaceable pods, allowing them to hold more e-liquid and therefore offer more puffs per device.
Interested in finding out more about vapes and vaping? You’ll find lots of handy information in our beginners guide.
