Thank you @gunrunnerjohn, @RickO, @RickO for your insights and explanations about the fan driven and puffer differences.
To maybe help answer the OP's question about what could be done to extend the length of "Smoke Time" between smoke fluid refills. There were some discussions a while back about using Lionel Premium Smoke fluid. For example: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...t-in-a-lionel-engine
Does anyone still think Lionel Premium Smoke fluid lasts longer compared to Lionel Smoke Fluid in a Lionel fan-driven smoke unit like the OP's Great Northern LionChief Plus Hudson #171?