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EP0089590B1 - Maschine zum Erzeugen von Schnee - Google Patents

Maschine zum Erzeugen von Schnee Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0089590B1
EP0089590B1 EP83102459A EP83102459A EP0089590B1 EP 0089590 B1 EP0089590 B1 EP 0089590B1 EP 83102459 A EP83102459 A EP 83102459A EP 83102459 A EP83102459 A EP 83102459A EP 0089590 B1 EP0089590 B1 EP 0089590B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
water
air
turbine
compressed air
snow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP83102459A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0089590A1 (de
Inventor
Stig L. Albertsson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AT83102459T priority Critical patent/ATE24604T1/de
Publication of EP0089590A1 publication Critical patent/EP0089590A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0089590B1 publication Critical patent/EP0089590B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C3/00—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Producing artificial snow
    • F25C3/04—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Producing artificial snow for sledging or ski trails; Producing artificial snow
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2303/00—Special arrangements or features for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Special arrangements or features for producing artificial snow
    • F25C2303/046—Snow making by using low pressure air ventilators, e.g. fan type snow canons
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2303/00—Special arrangements or features for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Special arrangements or features for producing artificial snow
    • F25C2303/048—Snow making by using means for spraying water
    • F25C2303/0481—Snow making by using means for spraying water with the use of compressed air

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a snow making apparatus, comprising an open-ended shroud, a fan for directing a flow of air through said shroud, a plurality of water spraying nozzles arranged circumferentially about said shroud and adapted to spray water forwardly along with said flow of air.
  • One of the common techniques for the production of man-made snow is the mixture and discharge of water and compressed air through a simple discharge gun as, for example, the type shown in US-A-3 716 190.
  • the water is partially atomized within the gun, when it is mixed with the high pressure compressed air, and the high velocity discharge of the water/compressed air mixture serves to complete the atomization and to convey the atomized water particles then an appropriate distance from the discharge nozzle.
  • Snow making guns of this type are simple and reliable, but suffer a disadvantage in requiring a substantial consumption of compressed air, which is an expensive component of the snow making process.
  • snow making apparatus incorporates an engine drive fan, which directs a stream of air at relatively high velocity through a confining shroud and outcover the snow making area.
  • a plurality of atomizing water nozzles are distributed around the periphery of the shroud, discharging streams of atomized water at an angle, forwardly and into the fan-driven air stream.
  • small amounts of compressed air are injected into the water streams immediately prior to discharge from the atomizing nozzles, to facilitate the atomizing process.
  • This technique either eliminates or greatly minimizes the requirement for a compressed air distribution system over the ski area, but in turn suffers the disadvantage that the equipment is both very expensive, and inconvenient to operate.
  • such equipment incorporates a self-contained internal combustion engine.
  • each snow making unit requires a substantial capital investment.
  • the equipment is large, heavy and difficult to move easily around the snow making site.
  • snow making equipment provided with engine-driven fans has certain significant advantages, it also has important compensating disadvantages.
  • Illustrative of snow making equipment utilizing self-contained engine-driven fan is US-A-4 083 492.
  • a further known snow making apparatus of the kind specified in the first paragraph hereof utilizes compressed air from the primary compressed air supply source to supply motive power to a fan-type snow maker which imposes limitations on the operation of the system.
  • the relationship of air to water in the atomizing process is a variable function of temperature and humidity, particularly temperature.
  • the utilization of compressed air as a motive source for the fan tends to impose limitations upon the flow of compressed air to the system, requiring that the pressurized water serves as the primary variable on the control of the snow making process. This leads to significant inefficiencies in the overall operation and importantly limits the capacity of the apparatus to make snow under marginal conditions.
  • a novel and improved high efficiency, fan-type snow making apparatus which derives motive power for driving a fan from the high pressure water supply, prior to discharging of the water through snow making nozzles.
  • This utilization of a turbine powered by the high pressure water source produces unique and advantageous results in reducing or eliminating the difficulties associated with the prior snow making equipment listed above, since a natural water source can be utilized which is available at the locations where the apparatus is operated.
  • the snow making nozzles are of the compressed air-water type, similar in principle to the conventional snow making guns that do not use fans.
  • the compressed air is introduced into the water supply upstream of the nozzle discharge, enabling mixing and partial atomization to occur prior to discharge from the nozzle extremity.
  • the atomized mixture can be discharged directly into the fan-driven stream of distributional air.
  • All of the compressed air-water atomizing nozzles can be placed directly in the fan-induced air stream, and in particular within the confines of a shroud which surrounds the fan.
  • the atomized air/water mixture is discharged directly into the distributional air stream for atomization and snow particle formation. Due to this feature, the constant bathing of the atomizing nozzles in the distributional air stream serves to keep the nozzles clean and free of ice accumulation, which can otherwise have a deleterious effect on the atomizing efficiency and effectiveness of the nozzles.
  • the reference numeral 10 designates generally a support structure for the snow making equipment, which typically may be a skid suitable for being towed into position for use, either manually or by the usual snow cat equipment normally available at commercial ski areas.
  • the support structure 10 advantageously may include a swivel arrangement 11, for accommodating rotational movement of the snow generator, generally designated by the numeral 12.
  • a support frame 13 is mounted on the swivel unit 11 and is adapted for adjustable angular positioning by a pivoted support 14, enabling the snow generator to be disposed at a desirable angle to the ground surface.
  • a generally cylindrical metal shroud 15 having a downstream or discharge end 16 and an upstream or intake end 17.
  • the intake end is provided with an outwardly flared collar 18 to accommodate a relatively efficient flow of air through the shroud.
  • the shroud Internally the shroud is a support tube 19, which is positioned concentrically within the shroud by means of a plurality of radial fins 20.
  • the support tube 19 has a bearing platform 21 mounted rigidly within, to which are bolted a pair of spaced bearing blocks 22, 23.
  • the bearing blocks journal a shaft 24 which carries, positioned just within the upstream end of the shroud 15 and axial fan 25.
  • the shaft 24 carries at its upstream extremity a pulley 26, which is driven from a turbine motor 27 via the output shaft 28 of the latter, a drive pulley 29 and a flexible belt 30.
  • an axial fan may be a 30,5 cm Vaneaxial fan, as manufactured by Hartzell Propeller Fan Co., Pi- qua, Ohio, designed to move approximately 68 m 3 /min of air at approximately 3500 rpm, with a power input of approximately one horsepower.
  • This level of power is easily derived from a multistage turbine 27 having a water flow- through approximately 125 I per minute at a pressure drop of approximately 10 kg/cm 2 .
  • the turbine 27 was a Gould multistage pump, modified slightly for operation as a turbine motor. Desirably, all of the water flow to the snow generator is supplied through a line 31 leading to the intake of the turbine 27.
  • the use of the water turbine 27 has proven most advantageous in the efficient production of man-made _snow.
  • the discharge outlet 32 of the turbine is connected to a circular manifold 33, mounted at the back of the shroud 15 and connected, in a manner to be described, to a plurality of water atomizing nozzles.
  • a series of nine (for example) atomizing nozzles 34 arranged in a generally circular array, at the forward end of the shroud 15, and, in this illustratedform of the invention, slightly inside the inner wall of the shroud.
  • discharge lines 35 for the outgoing air/water mixture may pass through the wall of the shroud, near the discharge end thereof.
  • the discharge nozzles may be located totally within the confines of the shroud, or slightly in front of the end thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, for example.
  • the water atomizing arrangements comprise an elongated mixing tube 36 for each discharge nozzle, which may be mounted along the outside of the shroud 15, extending axially forward from the water manifold 33.
  • Each mixing tube is of relatively large diameter (e.g., 38 mm or 1.5 inches) than the discharge line leading therefrom and is connected at its upstream end to the water manifold 33 through a short delivery tube 37 provided with a restricted orifice.
  • Also entering the upstream end of the mixing tube 36 is an air nozzle 38 carrying compressed air and discharging through a nozzle or orifice 39.
  • Within the mixing tube there is highly turbulent mixing of the water and compressed air which then exits the mixing tube through the outlet tube 35 leading to the discharge nozzle 34.
  • the discharge nozzle 34 is provided with a plurality (e.g., seven) of discharge orifices, from which issue a plurality of streams of air mixed with highly atomized water particles, expelled at relatively high velocity by the compressed air.
  • valved water and air supplies 40, 41 are provided adjacent the snow making areas, arranged with quick detachable couplings 42, 43 for connection to the snow making apparatus.
  • the water inlet system of the snow maker may include an inlet pressure gauge 44, a flow meter 45, a throttling valve 46, turbine inlet pressure gauge 47 and outlet pressure gauge 48. Downstream of the turbine 27, the water supply divides and enters the manifold 33 from opposite ends, for maximum uniformity of water distribution to the several nozzles. As reflected in the schematic of Fig. 5, all of the incoming water supply is, in the illustrated apparatus, directed through the turbine 27.
  • the compressed air system of the snow making apparatus includes an incoming pressure gauge 49, flow meter 50, throttling valve 51 and manifold pressure gauge 52 on the downstream side of the throttling valve.
  • the air manifold 53 which may be a circular manifold similar to the water manifold 33, is arranged to distribute the incoming compressed air uniformly to the several air injector nozzles 38.
  • the percentage of compressed air required to be mixed with water in the snow making process is highly variable, as a function of both the temperature and humidity. The higher the temperature and/or relative humidity, the greater proportions of air are required to form ice crystals from the water particles.
  • the amounts of compressed air per unit of water required with the apparatus of the invention are significantly lower than with conventional air/water atomizing guns under corresponding conditions.
  • Compressed air is supplied to the generator at pressures in the range of 6 to 7,7 kg/cm 2 .
  • some of the output of the turbine unit 27 may be utilized for other functions, such as driving a small alternator 55.
  • the output of the alternator may be utilized to provide for electrical control functions and/orto effect oscillation of the snow generator for wider distribution of the snow over the area to be covered.
  • a high efficiency turbine unit may readily derive approximately one horsepower via a pressure drop of less than 7 kg/cm 2 at 125 1 per minute, such that the system can easily accommodate the extraction of minor amounts of energy to service an alternator 55.
  • One of the advantageous aspects of the system of the invention is that it enables the production of snow to be maximized under all conditions.
  • one feature of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is that the flow of water to, and its discharge from, the snow generator may be maximized at a constant value, and the primary variable in the process is the amount of air supplied. This, of course, is adjusted to a level as low as the ambient conditions will permit. This feature, which exists in the particular illustrated embodiment, is most advantageous when these particular ambient conditions exist. In general, the volumes of compressed air required to be supplied are significantly less than would have to be supplied to a conventional air/water gun of similar capacity.
  • the arrangement of the atomizing nozzles directly within the distributional air stream issuing from the fan 25 also serves to increase the overall efficient operation of the system. Because the nozzles are continuously bathed in a relatively high velocity flow of air through the shroud, the nozzles remain clean and free of ice build up, which can significantly substantially degrade performance of the nozzles.
  • a rather surprising characteristic of the snow generator of the invention is the fact that it is extremely quiet in operation. Typically, the operation of air/water snow making guns is accompanied by a great deal of penetrating, annoying noise. In the operation of the snow generator of the invention, possibly because of the reduced requirements for compressed air usage, the noise level of the equipment in operation was sufficiently low as to not be disagreeable and annoying even at locations immediately adjacent to the discharge nozzles.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)
  • Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
  • Disintegrating Or Milling (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Motor Or Generator Cooling System (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
  • Window Of Vehicle (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Surgical Instruments (AREA)

Claims (2)

1. Maschine zum Erzeugen von Schnee enthaltend eine offene Ummantelung (15), einen Ventilator (25), um einen Luftstrom durch die Ummantelung (15) zu leiten, sowie eine Vielzahl von Wassersprühdüsen (34), die am Umfang der Ummantelung (15) angeordnet und so ausgelegt sind, daß sie das Wasser in den Luftstrom nach vorne sprühen können, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Düsen (34) Zerstäuberdüsen für Luft und Wasser sind, die zerstäubtes Wasser und Druckluft abgeben und daß eine mit Wasser betriebene Turbine (27) den Ventilator (25) antreibt, und der Einlaß der Turbine (27) an eine externe Druckwasserquelle angeschlossen ist, und daß Abgabemittel (36) vorgesehen sind, um die Zerstäuberdüsen (34) mit Wasser zu speisen, mit denen die Turbine (27) in Serie geschaltet ist, sowie Abgabemittel (38) für Druckluft, die oberhalb der Zerstäuberdüsen (34) an die Wasserabgabe (36) angeschlossen sind, sowie Mittel (50, 51), um die Druckluftflußrate aus der Abgabevorrichtung im Vergleich zur abgegebenen Wassermenge zu steuern.
2. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Mittel vorgesehen sind, um die gesamte Wassermenge, die von den Zerstäuberdüsen (34) für Wasser und Luft ausgestoßen wird, durch die Antriebsturbine (27) zu leiten.
EP83102459A 1982-03-22 1983-03-12 Maschine zum Erzeugen von Schnee Expired EP0089590B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT83102459T ATE24604T1 (de) 1982-03-22 1983-03-12 Maschine zum erzeugen von schnee.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US36061082A 1982-03-22 1982-03-22
US360610 1982-03-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0089590A1 EP0089590A1 (de) 1983-09-28
EP0089590B1 true EP0089590B1 (de) 1986-12-30

Family

ID=23418732

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83102459A Expired EP0089590B1 (de) 1982-03-22 1983-03-12 Maschine zum Erzeugen von Schnee

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0089590B1 (de)
JP (1) JPS58193066A (de)
AT (1) ATE24604T1 (de)
AU (1) AU1253483A (de)
DE (1) DE3368757D1 (de)
NO (1) NO830982L (de)
NZ (1) NZ203640A (de)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1275815C (en) * 1985-06-19 1990-11-06 Louis Handfield Method and apparatus for making snow
AT387277B (de) * 1987-02-03 1988-12-27 Sufag Sport Freizeitanlagen Vorrichtung zur erzeugung von kuenstlichem schnee
CA2015259A1 (en) * 1990-04-24 1991-10-24 Louis Handfield Snow making machine
WO1992009857A1 (en) * 1990-12-03 1992-06-11 Aqua Dynamics Group Corp. Ice making water treatment
JP2581194Y2 (ja) * 1993-04-30 1998-09-21 ヤンマーディーゼル株式会社 人工降雪装置
DE69914182D1 (de) 1998-02-06 2004-02-19 York Neige Sainte Luce Sur Loi Erzeuger für eispartikel, schneepartikel, oder wasser-luft düse integriert im wassersprühkopf
NO982507L (no) * 1998-06-02 1999-12-03 Arne Widar Luros Snökanon
US7290722B1 (en) 2003-12-16 2007-11-06 Snow Machines, Inc. Method and apparatus for making snow
FR3112596B1 (fr) * 2020-07-15 2022-09-09 Technoalpin France Installation de production de neige de culture
CN114251887B (zh) * 2022-01-14 2023-03-14 中国飞机强度研究所 一种造雪机及其在飞机测试中的应用

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3010660A (en) * 1958-10-10 1961-11-28 Barrett Francis Device for making snow
US3298612A (en) * 1964-08-18 1967-01-17 Robert L Torrens Snow-making unit
AT283398B (de) * 1968-04-08 1970-08-10 Linde Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Erzeugung von künstlichem Schnee
US3606971A (en) * 1970-05-28 1971-09-21 Curtiss Wright Corp Gas turbine air compressor and control therefor
US3733029A (en) * 1971-07-23 1973-05-15 Hedco Snow precipitator
US3945567A (en) * 1975-07-17 1976-03-23 Gerry Rambach Snow making apparatus
FR2358917A1 (fr) * 1976-07-19 1978-02-17 Colmant Cuvelier Perfectionnements aux dispositifs d'emulsion a grand foisonnement
FR2376384A1 (en) * 1976-12-30 1978-07-28 Cecil Snow cannon for making ski slopes - has adjustable nozzles for water and air to suit different ambient conditions
FR2421353A1 (fr) * 1978-03-31 1979-10-26 Armand Daniel Procede et dispositif de fabrication automatique de neige

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO830982L (no) 1983-09-23
EP0089590A1 (de) 1983-09-28
ATE24604T1 (de) 1987-01-15
JPS58193066A (ja) 1983-11-10
AU1253483A (en) 1983-09-29
DE3368757D1 (en) 1987-02-05
NZ203640A (en) 1985-07-31

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