Filter Ventilation and Design
Subject: Prediction of Tar Yields From Measurements of Cigarette Pressure Drop and/or Filter Ventilation
Abstract
Describes process by which cigarette tar yield is impacted by introduction of filter ventilation. Details components of formula for determination of percent air diltuion, and means for prediction of smoke delivery.
Fields
- Type
- Memorandum
- Company
- R.J. Reynolds
- Author
- Calleson, D.A.
- Thesaurus Term
- Tar Level
- Filter Ventilation Holes
- Smoking Parameters
Document Images
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Sul)ject;
To:
WC ~1 Yr
Prediction of Tar Yields From
Measurements of Cigarette Pressure
Drop and/or Filter Ventilation
DISCUSSION:
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Date: June 26, 1980
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From: D. A. Calleson
Cigarette tar yield basically is a function of the
amount of tobacco burned during the cumulative series of
puffs taken on the cigarette. With unfiltered, un-venti-
lated cigarettes, tar yield for a given brand will correlate
well with tobacco density in the tobacco rod.
Addition of filters introduces the variable of smoke
filtration, but the prediction of changes in smoke delivery
is straight forward as there is a high correlation between
filter pressure drop and filtration efficiency. ~
The further introduction of highly porous cigarette
papers and burn-rate additives has made the prediction of
smoke delivery less accurate. The introduction off ventilated
filter systems, however, has created a significant variation
in tar yield simply because the ventilation level is highly
variable in itself. This is complicated by the fact that
filter ventilation is not an independent variable -- it
is in fact dependent upon the previous factors of tobacco
- --
~
density (draTt resistance)-,-filter pressure arop, an ----
cigarette paper porosity, As well as the actual ventilation
path variables.
Smoke delivery, therefore, is dependent upon variability
of the smoke produced by the tobacco column and delivered
to the filter system. The prediction can be no better than
this. We must know the expected tar level. presented to the
filter system for each brand, as well as the variability of
this number. This can be obtained by routine smoking of each
brand with filter s sy t.ems removed. This will be called tar
producc:d-. -
RJRI FORM 74?2-Rev. 7/70

2
Data must be obtained for tar prc>cjuced as a function of
percent of puff volume as seen by t.he tobacco column. Each
brand must be smoked without the filter and at. various puff
volumes on either side of the nominAl ventilation level of
that brand. For example, a cigarettc with a target ventilation
level of 30% should be smoked without the filter at a puff
volume of 70% of the standard 35 cc puff, since the other 30%
is pulled in through the filter vent..ilation path. This measured
tar value may correlate with the tar produced with a standard
35 cc puff, multiplied by a factor of (l-o ventilation), and
if so, will confirm if tar delivery is proportional to puff
volume.
Tar delivered to the smoker will be the tar produced, less
that portion filtered out in the filter. Since filtration
efficiency is affected to a small degree by air flow rate through
the filter, and this in turn is related to degrce of ventilation,
some means of measuring the degree of ventilation of individual
cigarettes must be obtained. The preferred method is to measure
percent ventilation directly, as this approach requires a
single measurement, and the measurementt accuracy is limited
only by the precision of the instrument. It is possible to
predict percent ventilation by measurement of draft resistances
of various portions of the cigarette, such as the cigarette draft
with the ventilation holes covered and uncovered, but the !'
variability of this prediction should be significantly greater,
than the direct measurement.
Basically, the amount of tar delivered to the smoker is
closely related to (1) tar produced, (2) percent ventilation,
and (3) percent filtration in the filt:er. If tar produced is
proportional to puff volume, then the following relation should
exist:
Tar delivered = tar produced (1 - % vent.) (l. - % F. E.)
The percent air dilution can be measured. Percent filtration
efficiency is both a function of air dilution and filter pressure
drop, and can be predicted very closely for any given filter
system. The value for tar produced, i.e. delivered to the filter,
can be measured for each brand, and this value must then be
adjusted for any known changes in the tobacco rod, such as
tobacco density or cigarette paper porosity.
Prediction of tar delivery using only cigarette draft
measurements, without knowledge of tar produced, would be
highly inaccurate and dangerous.

3
Use of Preysurc l)ro~p to Predict Percent Ventilation
Percent ~zii dilution is defined as the ratio of air volume
pulled in throus;li the filter ventilation holes to the total puff
volume (35 cc.) lt may also be defined as the air flow rate
through the ve,:tilat.ion path divided by the standard flow rate
of 17.5 cc/sec. J.t: is generally accepted that the relationships
between flow r.:ztc and pressure drop of tobacco rods and filters
are analogous to el ectri.c ci.rcui ts, and follow ohms law.
Pressure drop i s aiia.logous to vol tage drop and flow rate to
current. The rat~.o of pressure drop to flow rate (resistance)
is a constant-. Therefore, if the pressure drop of each component
is measured at the standard flow rate of 17.5 cc/sec., the
measured pressure drops may be used as relative resistances of
these componeiits. Knowing the relative resistances, ohm s law
may be used. to caic.ul.ate the unknown values, and flow rates
throu-Vii the ventilation path may be inferred. The accuracy of
this calculati«n obviously is dependent upon the accuracy of
the measurement of individual resistance values (such as filter
draft, cioarette draft with holes open, with holes closed,
tobacco column draft, etc.), and the completeness of the mathe-
matical model.
A s:implif.i_ed approach is made by measuring only two values
of total cigarette draft, one with ventilation holes open and"
one with venti lat ion holes closed. The difference in these two
values would be a coarse estimate of percent filter ventilation.
The degree of ventilation depends upon the relative values of
three pressure drops (or resistances): tobacco column resistance,
resistance of the filter upstream of the filter vents, and the
resistance of the filter vent holes. The measurement of the
resistance of these individual components requires destruction
of the cigarette and is time consuming as well. A non-destructive
test requiring a minimum of measurements is desired and by
measuring c.igarett.e draft both with holes open and holes closed
and taking the difference, an inferred value of the resistance
of the ventt holes is obtained. It is necessary in doing this to
assume a pressure drop of the portion of the filter tip upstream
of the vents. 7'his may be obtained from previous data on filter
tip drafts, but the accuracy will depend upon the variability of
filter draft and upon the variation in position of the band of
vent holes on the filter tip.
The measurement of holes closed - holes open draft gives
a value, M. Using ohms law analogy, the prediction equation
for the resistance of the vent holes, Rv , reduces to:
Rv = Ru ( P.u
where 12u = pressure drop of the cigarette with holes closed --
pressure drop of the portion of the filter downstream
(mouthend) of the vents

4
Since % ventilation = Qv
qu +Qv
where Qv and Qu represent flow rates through the
vent and tobacco column respectively
then, % ventilati.on may also be represented by:
$ v a IZtI _
ltu + Rv
or, using a measurement of holes closed - holes open draft:
~ v= M x 100
Ru
where M is the difference in cigarette pressure drop measurements,
holes closed - holes open and R is the pressure drop of
the tobacco column and abuttinguportion of the filter tip.
If the pressure drop of the filter portion could be assumed t%"
be constant for a given brand, the holes-closed - holes open '~
draft, 1.1, would be proportional to percent.ventilation..
The calculation of percent ventilation in this manner provides
an estimate only; however, because a difference in measured values
is required, the accuracy of the result is highly dependent upon
the precision of the pressure drop measurement. It is for this
reason that a direct measurement of ventilation is preferred,
if available.
Predict ion of Smoke Del. ivery
. The result desired, after all, is a prediction of smoke
tar delivered to the smoker. There are many variables associated
with this, but as mentioned earlier, the two factors most
influential are puff volume through the tobacco column and
filtration efficiency of the filter.
Puff volume through the tobacco column is directly related
to percent ventilation in the filter. But it must also be
remembered that. porosity of the cigarette paper influences both
the degree of.ventilation in the filter and the air flow through
the tobacco column. It is possible, for example, to have a
cigarette with both high tobacco density and high porosity paper.
In this case, the pressure drop of the tobacco column may not
change, and therefore, the percent ventilation will not change.
The air flow through the burning cone will be lowered, however,
and smoke delivery will al.s~ change significantly. Only a
measure of encapsulated cigarette pressure drop will indicate
this condition.

5
In the prediction of smoke delivery, the filtration
efficiency of the £ilte.r must be considered. As percent
ventilation is increased, the filter efficiency w:i.ll increase
because of lower flow rates. An average filtration efficiency
for each brand should be determined and the effect of changes
in ventilation also determined. This may be used as a correction.
Practically, for the purposes of quality assurance, the
filter pressure drop must be known in order to assume that
efficiency has not changed. In order to then be relatively
assured that smoke delivery is as specified, the fol.lowing
measurements are required:
1. percent ventilation, direct measurement
2. tobacco rod weight and density (size)
3. cigarette pressure drop, totally encapsulated
4. cigarette pressure drop, holes closed
5. filter tip pressure drop, encapsulated
From these measurements, it should then be possible to rapidly
indicate if any of these parameters are out of specification, ,.,
and to assess the relative effect on smo}:e delivery. Only the
measurement of filter tip pressure drop requires destruction
of the cigarette and this may not be required once it is d
established whether or not the filters being used are within '~
specification. The measurements of cigarette pressure.drop ~
with holes closed and with total encapsulation will give a
measure of tobacco column pressure drop and degree of cigarette
paper porosity effect.
~
onal . ~`al- e son
DAC:jcs
