CS199243B2 - Method of deformation of internal structure of clouds and equipment for execution of this method - Google Patents

Abstract

1434112 Influencing meteorological conditions PHILAGRO 15 June 1973 [16 June 1972 20 Nov 1972 29 May 1973] 28591/73 Heading A1X A process for transforming the interior structure of clouds to prevent hail-storms comprises igniting an explosive mixture of acetylene and air in burner 13 fitted with an upwardly directed open chimney 14, thus producing a shock wave, which, when directed to hail forming clouds, modifies their internal structure. The explosions are repeated every 8-15 seconds to achieve optimum efficiency of transformation and coils. Acetylene either from cylinders or produced from the reaction of calcium carbide and water, cleaned and purified in a scrubber 3 and purifier 6 is passed to a three way valve 8, one outlet passing to a gasholder 10, another to the burner 13 and the third to a pilot jet 11. The heavy gauge steel cylinder burner 13 of diameter D has an air inlet 13a in the lower casing covered by an internal, pivoted, counterweighted or spring loaded flap arranged to close to an angle of 20‹ with the wall. A chimney 14 of inverted frusto-conical shape is fixed to the upper conical portion of burner 13 forming a cylinder 30 of diameter "d" at the junction. In operation, gas fed from valve 8 to holder 10 is exhausted into burner 13, where it mixes with air drawn in from inlet 13a. Pilot jet 11 then ignites the mixture and an expolsion occurs, producing an upwardly directed shock wave. The explosion also causes the flap over inlet 13a to rebound, and permit a sudden entry of air, which contributes to satisfactory shock wave formation and propagation, improved by the presence of cylindrical portion 30. Optimum results are obtained when the expolsions are repeated at 8-15 second intervals, and where a burner of height 3D, the ratio D/d is between 4:1 to 2.5:1. Embodiments using automatic gas supply and ignition timing valves which operate on batteries Figs. 4, 5 (not shown), and the use of alternative and premixed explosive mixtures and alternative ignition mechanism i.e. spark plugs, pietzo-electric crystals, electrical resistances are described.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for reshaping the inner structure of clouds, allowing hail to turn away from crops; the invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out this method.

The use of anti-hail guns is known. Their activity is to ignite an explosive that fires into the sky against a cloud rocket. This rocket has a sealed explosive that acts. The diesel system explodes late in the hail-bearing kumtilonimb.

The use of this method is to some extent dangerous - and secondly, it is not always sufficiently effective. The anti-barrel cannon must be operated by special fireworks. When using the hitherto known anti-herring gun, it is necessary to know exactly the height of the clouds in order to ensure that the explosion has the desired effect.

The aforementioned drawbacks have no method of reshaping the inner structure of the clouds according to the invention, which consists in producing shock waves at the cloud level resulting from - explosions repeated at intervals of less than 25 seconds and generated by a flash of a substance or mixture selected from acetylene methane, butane, propane and an explosive which is capable of explosion by itself or by contact with another substance or mixture such as air and rapid transport. the energy generated upwards.

Between the following - explosions - an interval of - 8 to 15 - seconds is preferably used.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned method, which consists in that it consists of a burner for the ignition of the above-mentioned substance or mixture, which consists of a cylindrical part in which the said substance or mixture is ignited and parts connected to the narrower end of the conical chimney which is arranged above said burner.

In the aforementioned apparatus, the ratio of the large diameter of said cylindrical portion of the burner to the small diameter of the narrowest portion of the burner portion of the burner is preferably in the range of 2.5 to 4, particularly preferably in the range of 2.7 to 3.5.

Between the narrowest point of said burner portion of the burner and the lower portion of said chimney there is preferably a cylinder whose length is 4 to 20 cm.

The small diameter of the narrowest portion of the burner portion of the burner and the diameter of the adjacent lower portion of the chimney are preferably 13 to 20 centimeters.

Preferably, a mixture of acetylene and air is used in the process of the invention.

The device according to the invention also comprises a system for supplying air and cetylene in a predetermined amount allowing an optimal explosion of the above mixture.

The device according to the invention also preferably comprises an acetylene feed line and a spark plug for igniting it. are controlled by a two-position timer with automatic switching.

The principle of the method of deforming the inner structure of the clouds according to the invention and the apparatus for carrying out this method is illustrated by the attached drawings in which:

ohr. 1 shows a simplified general diagram of the device according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment, the device according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows the three possible positions of the distribution valve of the device according to the invention, FIG. an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the device according to the invention consists of:

an acetylene gas generator 1 comprising water and calcium carbide which react with each other according to the following reaction:

ГСг-2 H2O .—- C22H + Ca (OH) 2 calcium hydroxide is periodically removed by outlet '56; the new cartridge is inserted through the inlet 57;

a pipe 2 through which raw acetylene is fed to the scrubber 3; a flexible rubber connecting hose is threaded on the tube 2. 21;

a washer 3 in which the acetylene passes through a forced water bath and is guided through the walls of the syphon 4; the scrubbed gas exits from the scrubber - 3 through line 5 the water level in the glass watermark 35 - indicates the state of the water as it is forced through the gas;

syphon 4, - at the bottom of which there is a drain plug 28, - which permits periodic flushing of the apparatus and removal of - waste products such as ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and lime dust;

a conduit 5 for transferring the gas from the scrubber 3 to the cleaning device 6;

a cleaning device - 6 in which there is water; the funnel 36 allows the water level to be maintained at the desired level and the test tap 37 allows the water level to be checked to see if it is maintained at the desired level; gas is bubbled through water and then fed to the inlet pipe 7;

a supply pipe 7 for supplying the purified gas to a valve 8 for controlling its flow rate;

a valve 8, which can be directed by a crank to transfer the gas both through the pipe 9 to the gas tank 10 and to the burner 13, on the one hand, through a nozzle 11 to produce an igniting flame and on the other hand by a tube 12 k; the switching of the valve 8 can be controlled thermoelectrically, mechanically or electronically;

a conduit 9 extending from the valve 8 to the gas tank 10;

gas tank 10; the gas tank 10 has an upper bell which allows the gas to be kept under constant pressure; the gas pressure rises - that is, the bell from bottom to top; line 9 provides gas supply, return and return to the valve 8; it should be noted that the combustion of the gas in the burner begins with the ignition of the gas supplied to the burner 13 through the tube 12 with an igniting flame formed at the end of the nozzle 11 and ends with the exhaust of the flue gas from the burner 13; this phase is repeated as necessary;

nozzles 11 for - generating an igniting flame; this flame ignites once each time the storm approaches;

a tube 12 which allows a sharp and sudden supply of a large volume of gas through the valve 8;

a burner 13 having a fresh air inlet 31 at the lowest point and a chimney 14 at the top; the chimney 14 has a conical steel sheet structure of relatively large thickness capable of withstanding the intermittent stresses caused by explosions caused by ignition of acetylene;

a truncated cone-shaped chimney 14, opened upwards towards the sky by an open portion. .........

The burner 13 and the chimney 14 are preferably very robust and are anchored to the ground, for example with steel anchor bolts. There are violent explosions in the burner 13, whereby - the energy released in this way is abruptly expelled - to a great height by a tapered chimney 14 connected to the upper part of the burner 13.:

The explosions are preferably obtained by combustion of a mixture of ethylene and air.

The first and most important prerequisite for the successful implementation of the method of the invention is the achievement of a suitable interval between successive explosions. The efficiency of the device according to the invention depends directly on meeting this condition.

Practical experiments have led to the finding that - the maximum time interval separating - the two subsequent explosions must be less than -25 seconds, preferably less than 15 seconds. If the interval is longer than 25 seconds, the desired effect is not achieved. Optimum results are obtained at an interval between subsequent explosions of 8 to 15 seconds. For example, repeated explosions every 12 seconds during - hail, result in a gradual transformation of the hail structure into rain.

Of course, it is also possible to use intervals of less than 8 seconds; however, this leads to excessive and unnecessary consumption of flammable gases. However, such short intervals can be used to achieve a rapid effect when the danger is particularly severe.

In general, - - an interval of up to 15 seconds gives optimum results, ie.

provides a relatively high effect at relatively low cost.

At least one fresh air inlet 31 is provided in the lowest part of the burner housing. This inlet 31 is closed during the explosion. The inlet 31 may consist of a flap that is freely rotatable about its horizontal axis or vertical axis and which has dimensions somewhat larger than the aperture provided in the housing of the burner 13, wherein. with the inlet 31 closed, this flap is pressed against the inner surface of the burner housing 13.

The purpose of this fresh air inlet 31 is to introduce an oxidant,. needed for the combustion of acetylene; This inlet 31 can also be used when an acetylene / air mixture is injected into the burner.

In the rest position, said flap thus covers an opening formed in the housing of the burner 13 on which it normally rests due to its weight. When the air / acetylene mixture ignites, the explosion hits the flap violently on. • the flap is then bounced off due to impact and is ejected sharply · upwards, which. it allows a sudden supply of air contributing to the formation of a burst of air in the burner 13 and further in the flue 1.4 leading to the desired generation of a shock wave. Then the flap bends back again, oscillates several times, and finally assumes a rest position in which it is ready for a new explosion.

The flap in the resting position · preferably not held tightly to the skin but forming with _t 'him an angle, typically an angle of between 10 and. 45 ° and preferably an angle between 15 and 30 °.

For this purpose, the damper may be provided with a counterweight system or a coil spring mounted on the damper axis and positioned. so as to maintain the flap in the rest position, forming an angle with the jacket of the burner 13 as described above.

From Figure 2 it is clear. that another important element of the device according to the invention is, at a given height of the burner 13, the ratio of the large diameter 38 of the burner 13 (i.e. the diameter of its cylindrical portion 22 in which it explodes) to the small diameter 55 at the narrowest point a chimney 14 is connected to the burner 13.

It has been found to achieve good. the efficiency of the device according to the invention with the necessary safety needs to be:. this ratio had a value for the height of the burner 13, about three times its diameter, in the range of 2.5 to 1.5

4. If the ratio is greater than 4, it decreases. with efficiency. created by shock waves, decreasing. the energy of this wave by reflection on the too sloping walls of the como-conical part 25.

If the ratio is less than 2.5, then it is not. . shock wave produced satisfactory sharpness.

Between the summit. of the burner 13 of the burner 13 and the lower part of the chimney 14 is preferably a cylinder 30, which provides a connection between the two parts. Was found, . that this. the cylinder 30 guarantees. higher efficiency of the obtained shock wave.

Gas. burned in the burner. 13 can be. into the burner. 13. Supplied via at least one nozzle of the classical type,. such as used for oxy-fuel burners. In this case, the nozzle or nozzles may be connected directly to the source. acetylene by a line into which a suitable metering device is built,. such as an electric valve, a pressure valve or any other automatic valve,. . by which the gas flow is adjusted after the appropriate volume has already been injected into the burner.

The combustion gas can also be injected into the burner 13 without prior art. mixing with air; mixing can only take place in the burner 13, to which the air is supplied by means of a flap, the task and operation of which have already been described above.

Preferably, the gas to be burned is blown. to. burner ⁴ 13 guide, which. protrudes inside the burner. 13 and pointing from top to bottom, with the lower end. this protruding guidance. se. located. approximately at the air inlet level, which. allows. obtaining a homogeneous gas-air mixture.

Ignition. the device may be any suitable. mechanical, electrical, piezoelectric, and any device that is capable. invoke. ignition. gas. at the desired time. If the mixture is well ignitable, it will reach. with a spark very easily sparked, for example, on a candle that. is similar to a candle. internal combustion engines, or piezoelectric. crystal. or resistance heated to the red heat. . Another. system . .posts. maintaining a constant pilot flame outside the burner powered, for example. acetylene. . This one. ignition flame. is placed a few centimeters in front of the small opening made in the burner housing and, if necessary, developed. . an amount of acetylene that gives rise to a longer flame that enters the burner. 13 and ignite the mixture.

Essential. advantage of method a. device according to the invention versus. the prior art is that the application of the device according to the invention. is within the reach of all who want to protect their property from the harmful consequences of hail. Operating the device according to the invention does not require specially trained persons, such as pyrotechnics. . There is no need to know either. the exact height of the hail clouds is not even. necessary to spray anti-hail. means. from plane. .

For assurance. efficiency of equipment according to. invention. were with this. equipment held. Numerous practical. attempts. The devices according to the invention have been placed in agricultural areas. that are often. destroyed by hail. During one year it was. 122,000 rounds were fired by 32 devices according to the invention. with a total shooting time of 350 hours; during this year, 2424 storms and only 32 hailstorms were recorded in that year.

The following year, a total of 78,630 rounds were fired by 28 devices according to the invention at a total shooting time; during this time, 35 hailstorms were recorded in the area. and 148 thunderstorms.

The following table shows the results achieved within a few months of this year within a radius of 500 m and within a radius of 1506 m from the shooting site.

Moon Number of shots considerably Damage incurred. hail · v radius 500 m considerably within a radius of 1500 medium small medium small April 2 May 35 1 3 4 2 June 52 3 1 1 July 23 1 2 August 31 2 2 September 14 1 1 October 2

In addition, an interesting observation was made within a radius of 3 km from the two devices according to the invention. Although the devices according to the invention were started with a delay while the hail had already fallen, it was found to have occurred within a radius of 100 m from the gun according to the invention. 'k. only 20% of crop crops were damaged, while 80% of crop crops were damaged within a radius of 1500 m · Because it is not common for hailstorm epicenter to fall in smaller amounts This observation is evident the beneficial effect of the process according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary device for carrying out the method. according to the invention.

This device consists of a burner 13 made of steel. 10 cm thick sheet having a cylindrical portion 22 of large diameter 38 equal to 45 cm to which the bottom 23 is welded, provided in its center portion with a small diameter aperture 24 which allows automatic drainage of water; accumulates at the bottom of the burner 13.

The height · of the cylindrical portion · 22 is equal to 100 · cm. At the apex of this cylindrical portion 22 is attached, for example, by welding, a frusto-conical portion 25 whose narrow end has a small diameter 55 equal to 16 cm; a circular flange 28 is welded to the conical part, provided with holes for insertion of the necessary connecting screws which secure the holder 27 and the chimney 14 provided with the flange 29 on its lower part.

The height of the chimney 14 is 4 m and the shape of the interior is such that it forms a cylinder 30 with a height of approximately 12 cm.

At the bottom. of the burner 13 is a circular opening 31 having an area of 120 cm 2. Inside the burner, a flap (not shown) is rotatable about a horizontal axis located above the circular opening 31. When the flap falls into its lower position, it covers the said circular opening 31. This flap further has a counterweight system positioned so that the flap closes in the flap. in its lower position with the torch jacket 13 an angle of 21 °.

On the burner housing 13. there are two further side openings 32 and 33, the first of which is located opposite the ignition flame 34 on the burner housing 13 and serves to ignite the mixture at a suitable moment. A second side opening 33 serves to pass the acetylene feed tube 12 which extends obliquely down into the burner 13, extending into the burner in length. about 20 cm.

This tube 12 is connected at its other end to the gas tank 10 via a three-way valve 8, which is also connected to the ignition flame 34 and to the gas generator 1. . cetylene. The valve 8 has a single channel for the continuous flow of acetylene that allows a direct connection between the acetylene gas generator 1 and the tube 12, providing a continuous supply of the ignition flame 34.

The gas reservoir 10 consists of a bell 39 immersed in water contained in a tank 40 whose inner diameter is greater than the outer diameter of the submerged. bell 39.

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the device according to the invention in the three possible positions I, Π and III of the valve 8.

When valve 8 is set to position I, it supplies power. The acetylene gas exchanger 1 is disposed by a gas tank 10. The bell 39 is raised by a certain height corresponding to the volume of acetylene to be injected into the burner 13 (5 to 10 · 1). The visible tag system allows the observer to see when the required volume has been reached. In position II of valve 8, the volume of acetylene accumulated in the gas tank 10 is blown into the burner 13 through the tube 12. In position III of valve 8, an additional amount of acetylene is rapidly injected into the ignition flame 34 so that the longer flame thus enters the burner. aperture 32 and ignites a mixture of air and acetylene. This will cause an explosion to send a shock wave to the sky through chimney 14, the repetition of which at these intervals allows the internal structure of the clouds to be reshaped, leading to the hailstorm being averted. After this explosion, the device is ready to repeat the next cycle.

According to another embodiment of the method of the invention shown in FIG. 4, acetylene is guided through a constriction 41 in which an air-acetylene mixture is automatically formed; this constriction 41 is connected to an acetylene source (not shown) by connection 42 on which an electric valve 43 is actuated, controlled by a timer 44, which simultaneously controls the acetylene supply and its ignition.

In said case, the timer 44 is electronic with automatic switching; which in the first position to open the electric valve at a given time releases acetylene flow and in the second position closes the power circuit, causing a spark on spark plug 47 (car spark plug) to be ignited when the breaker 45 and transform coil 46 are used.

It will be appreciated that the timer 44, the electric valve 43, and the spark plug 47 are powered by a suitable power source either from the accumulator 48 or from another conventional power source.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows another possible embodiment of the device according to the invention. This embodiment corresponds to an automatic alternative of the embodiment of Fig. 2.

Acetylene flows through the connection 49, supplying the pilot flame 34 through the nozzle 11,

Claims (10)

1. A method of reshaping an internal cloud structure to prevent hail, characterized by the formation at the cloud level of shock waves caused by explosions repeated at intervals of less than 25 seconds and produced by a flash of a substance or mixture selected from acetylene, methane , butane, propane and explosive, which are capable of explosion on their own or by contact with another substance or mixture, such as air, and the rapid transport of the energy generated upward towards hail clouds. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that an interval of successive explosions of 8 to 15 seconds is used. 3. A process as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that an air-flammable mixture of air and a gaseous combustible substance is used as the ignition mixture. 4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that acetylene is used as the gaseous combustible substance. . 5. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a burner (13) comprising a cylindrical portion (22) and a comic-cone portion (25) connected to a narrower portion in which a non-return flap 52 is provided. and, on the one hand, one or more constrictions 41,. A three-way electric valve 8 is inserted into the acetylene feed connection 49, which is rotated by a motor 57 controlled by a timer 44 supplied from a power source 59. . Both the devices shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 have the advantage that they operate completely automatically. Their power supply from an independent power source, such as a battery, allows them to be easily installed in areas not powered by normal AC power, such as in terrain on crops to be protected from hail (orchards, vineyards, tobacco) plantations, grain fields and the like). The method according to the invention must be used at the moment when the hail clouds are detected approaching the space to be protected from hail. When explosions are triggered every 8 to 15 seconds, rapid cloud structure remodeling and the healing of the hail hazard can be observed. The explosions continue until all the hail threats disappear. The protected area has an area of at least 50 to 100 ha. Larger surfaces can be protected by causing more powerful explosions. LOAD the end of the conical chimney (14) which is arranged above the burner (13). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the ratio of the large diameter (38) of the cylindrical portion (22) of the burner (13) to the small diameter (55) of the narrowest point of the conical portion (25) of the burner (13) is 2. , 5 and 4, preferably 2.7 to 3.5. Device according to Claims 5 and 6, characterized in that a cylinder (30) having a length of 4 to 20 cm is arranged between the narrowest point of the conical portion (25) and the lower part of the chimney (14). 8. Apparatus according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the small diameter (55) of the frusto-conical portion (25) and the diameter of the adjacent lower part of the chimney (14) is equal to 13 to 20 cm. Device for carrying out the method according to Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the burner (13) is equipped with an air supply system (acetylene), preferably comprising a tube (12) and a valve (8). 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises an acetylene feed line (42) and a spark plug (47) which are connected to an automatic two-position time switch (44).