EP0787960A2 - High performance snowmaker - Google Patents

High performance snowmaker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0787960A2
EP0787960A2 EP97830031A EP97830031A EP0787960A2 EP 0787960 A2 EP0787960 A2 EP 0787960A2 EP 97830031 A EP97830031 A EP 97830031A EP 97830031 A EP97830031 A EP 97830031A EP 0787960 A2 EP0787960 A2 EP 0787960A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
snowmaker
high performance
pressure
high pressure
fact
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97830031A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0787960A3 (en
Inventor
Luciano Marcantoni
Ivano Marcantoni
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
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0787960A2 publication Critical patent/EP0787960A2/en
Publication of EP0787960A3 publication Critical patent/EP0787960A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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 present invention has as its object a high performance snowmaker which functions to make snow in skiing establishments.
  • snowmakers can be classified in two basic categories: low pressure snowmakers, also called low pressure snowmaking “guns” and high pressure snowmakers, also called high pressure snowmaking “guns”.
  • Low pressure snowmakers are generally composed of a fan powered by an electric motor, a manifold tube to convey the air generated by the fan and a nozzle-bearing crown located at the outlet from the manifold tube and used to spray the water in the direction of the air flow generated by the fan.
  • nozzles are installed external to the nozzle-bearing crown, called nucleators and which spray a mixture of water and compressed air. These nozzles function to generate high level atomization of a certain amount of water so as to create the seeding germs for crystallization of the mass of water exiting from the inner nozzles in the crown.
  • the compressed air necessary for these nozzles can be furnished by a compressor mounted on the machine or by a central compressor that supplies the entire snowmaking system where the snowmaker is working.
  • Snowmakers with fans are called low pressure snowmakers because they exploit the air generated by the fan and which has very low pressures.
  • High pressure snowmakers consist of a special supply valve that compressed air and water are delivered to. Water is broken up by the compressed air present in the valve, generating very small water droplets which freeze when they come in contact with the external ambient and transform into ice crystals. These snowmakers are also called high pressure snowmakers because they use compressed air.
  • the quantity of water that can be used to produce snow depends on the external ambient temperature: the lower the temperature the more water that can be transformed into snow.
  • the flow of water consequently varies depending on the temperature.
  • the purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the limits encountered by the two known snowmaking systems and to combine their positive qualities, creating a new snowmaker that includes the advantages offered by a low pressure snowmaker and those offered by a high pressure snowmaker, achieving a first fundamental advantage by which the flow of air generated by the low pressure fan greatly lengthens the trajectory of the jet exiting from the high pressure snowmaker, permitting the water to remain suspended for a longer time and consequently have more time available for crystallization.
  • a second advantage is the fact that the flow of air created by the fan absorbs heat from the jet of water. This means that snow production can be increased while temperature remains the same.
  • the innovation in question also has the advantage of being able to increase the delivery rate of high pressure snowmakers by introducing water from the outside through the crown of a low pressure snowmaker which also maintains its nucleators and, obviously, its fan. In this way we obtain simultaneous operation of two machines.
  • a high performance snowmaker characterized by the fact that it is composed of a particular combination between a low pressure snowmaker and a high pressure snowmaker and by the fact that it includes a manifold tube, at least one fan, at least one nozzle-bearing crown which is in part composed of nucleating nozzles and is installed at the outlet from the manifold tube and at least one high pressure snowmaker placed in the center of the aforementioned manifold tube.
  • the compressed air from the nucleating nozzles can be taken from that introduced in the aforementioned high pressure snowmaker, and part of the water introduced into the snowmaker is controlled by a pressure reducer for subsequent delivery to the high pressure snowmaker where it is mixed with compressed air.
  • the remaining part of water is filtered to feed the crown segments and nucleators, these latter being controlled by a pressure stabilizer/reducer.
  • fig. 1 gives a schematic and perspective view of the overall snowmaker according to the present invention.
  • 1 is used to indicate a complete assembly of a snowmaker according to the invention which is principally used in high pressure snowmaking systems, including already existing systems, where it substantially increases performance.
  • Snowmaker 1 is composed of manifold tube 2 which conveys the air produced by fan 3, situated in its rear section, towards outlet opening 4 where crown of nozzles 5 is located.
  • Nozzles 5 installed on the crown are used to spray water in the direction of the flow of air generated by the fan.
  • the crown can be composed of a variable number of nozzles 5 depending on design choices even though the number of nozzles should preferably be high, for example 156, subdivided into three independent rings.
  • nucleating nozzles 6 are installed external to nozzle-bearing crown 5. These generate a mixture of water and compressed air. These nozzles function to generate a high degree of atomization of a certain quantity of water, creating the seeding germs for crystallizing the mass of water exiting from internal nozzles 5 of the crown.
  • the number of nucleators 6 can also vary depending on design choices.
  • the compressed air necessary for nucleating nozzles 6 can be furnished by a compressor mounted on the machine or by a centralized compressor that supplies the snowmaking system of which the machine is a part.
  • High pressure snowmaker 7 is installed in the central section of manifold tube 2. Compressed air and water, respectively supplied by pipelines 8 and 9, are delivered to the inside of this snowmaker.
  • the snowmaker In order to function the snowmaker according to the invention requires electrical energy to drive fan 3 and sensors for parts subject to freezing. It also requires water at a pressure of approximately 10-30 bar and compressed air at a pressure of approximately 5-10 bar. Water and air are furnished by a centralized pump in the snowmaking system or by auxiliary pumps mounted directly on the snowmaker.
  • a small part of air is used to operate nucleators 6 on the crown.
  • the air that goes to nucleators 6 can be controlled by pressure reducer 10, used when the system functions with air pressures that are too high. Water comes to the snowmaker under pressure. Part of the water is checked by pressure reducer 11 and then sent to nozzle 7 where it is mixed with the compressed air. The remaining water is filtered and sent to nozzles 5 and to nucleators 6. Water sent to nucleators 6 on the crown is controlled by pressure reducer 12 that stabilizes its pressure.
  • Crown segments are opened or closed depending on the external ambient temperature. Consequently it is possible to start making snow at relatively high temperatures and achieve higher performance at lower temperatures.
  • Another advantage is represented by the fact that the entire system can be automated and monitored by an electronic control unit or a similar device.
  • the aforementioned high pressure snowmaker can be simply combined with a manifold tube and a fan to convey its jet.
  • the snowmaker in question combines the production principles of high pressure and low pressure snowmaking, achieving simultaneous operation of two machines that collaborate with each other and achieving all the consequent advantages.
  • the snowmaker in question has been described and illustrated according to a preferential solution but several variants can be forecast, technically equivalent to the aforementioned components and machine parts, and which are therefore to be held to be included within the limits of protection of the present invention.
EP97830031A 1996-02-02 1997-01-31 High performance snowmaker Withdrawn EP0787960A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT96VR000004 IT241283Y1 (it) 1996-02-02 1996-02-02 Generatore per l'innevamento ad elevato rendimento
ITVR960004U 1996-02-02

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0787960A2 true EP0787960A2 (en) 1997-08-06
EP0787960A3 EP0787960A3 (en) 1998-10-14

Family

ID=11428113

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97830031A Withdrawn EP0787960A3 (en) 1996-02-02 1997-01-31 High performance snowmaker

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0787960A3 (un)
IT (1) IT241283Y1 (un)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2774610A1 (fr) * 1998-02-06 1999-08-13 York Neige Dispositif de pulverisation d'eau sous pression
EP1710519A1 (en) * 2005-04-08 2006-10-11 Lenko Snow AB A method and device for snow making
EP2682692A1 (de) * 2012-07-03 2014-01-08 Phillip Skacel Schneeerzeuger
EP3040657A1 (en) * 2014-12-09 2016-07-06 Robert Krajnc Apparatus for making artificial snow
CN107543347A (zh) * 2017-10-24 2018-01-05 北京宾度明德滑雪设备有限公司 造雪机
CN107726688A (zh) * 2017-10-24 2018-02-23 北京宾度明德滑雪设备有限公司 一种造雪机的造雪系统
CN112984884A (zh) * 2021-05-17 2021-06-18 北京建筑大学 一种适用于正温环境的造雪机造雪方法
CN113028695A (zh) * 2020-12-16 2021-06-25 长沙中联重科环境产业有限公司 车载造雪机的供水、供气控制系统及采用其的车载造雪机
CN113155432A (zh) * 2021-04-28 2021-07-23 北京建筑大学 造雪机雾化构件检测方法
CN114251887A (zh) * 2022-01-14 2022-03-29 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
CN115218574A (zh) * 2022-07-26 2022-10-21 西安交通大学 一种气液供应模式可切换的造雪机及控制方法

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3945567A (en) * 1975-07-17 1976-03-23 Gerry Rambach Snow making apparatus
EP0004803A2 (fr) * 1978-03-31 1979-10-17 Pasquier, Armand René Procédé et dispositif de fabrication automatique de neige
US4593854A (en) * 1984-04-25 1986-06-10 Albertsson Stig L Snow-making machine
US4711395A (en) * 1985-06-19 1987-12-08 Louis Handfield Method and apparatus for making snow
JPH04295574A (ja) * 1991-03-22 1992-10-20 Shiyooshin:Kk 人工造雪方法および人工造雪装置
US5180106A (en) * 1990-04-24 1993-01-19 Turbines S.M.S. Inc. Snow making machine
WO1994003764A1 (en) * 1992-07-31 1994-02-17 Tazzari Sport Division S.R.L. Low-pressure automatic programmable artificial snow making plant
US5400966A (en) * 1993-08-05 1995-03-28 Holimont, Inc. Machine for making artificial snow and method

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3945567A (en) * 1975-07-17 1976-03-23 Gerry Rambach Snow making apparatus
EP0004803A2 (fr) * 1978-03-31 1979-10-17 Pasquier, Armand René Procédé et dispositif de fabrication automatique de neige
US4593854A (en) * 1984-04-25 1986-06-10 Albertsson Stig L Snow-making machine
US4711395A (en) * 1985-06-19 1987-12-08 Louis Handfield Method and apparatus for making snow
US5180106A (en) * 1990-04-24 1993-01-19 Turbines S.M.S. Inc. Snow making machine
JPH04295574A (ja) * 1991-03-22 1992-10-20 Shiyooshin:Kk 人工造雪方法および人工造雪装置
WO1994003764A1 (en) * 1992-07-31 1994-02-17 Tazzari Sport Division S.R.L. Low-pressure automatic programmable artificial snow making plant
US5400966A (en) * 1993-08-05 1995-03-28 Holimont, Inc. Machine for making artificial snow and method

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 017, no. 106 (M-1375), 4 March 1993 & JP 04 295574 A (SHIYOOSHIN:KK), 20 October 1992 *

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2774610A1 (fr) * 1998-02-06 1999-08-13 York Neige Dispositif de pulverisation d'eau sous pression
EP1710519A1 (en) * 2005-04-08 2006-10-11 Lenko Snow AB A method and device for snow making
EP2682692A1 (de) * 2012-07-03 2014-01-08 Phillip Skacel Schneeerzeuger
EP3040657A1 (en) * 2014-12-09 2016-07-06 Robert Krajnc Apparatus for making artificial snow
CN107543347A (zh) * 2017-10-24 2018-01-05 北京宾度明德滑雪设备有限公司 造雪机
CN107726688A (zh) * 2017-10-24 2018-02-23 北京宾度明德滑雪设备有限公司 一种造雪机的造雪系统
CN113028695B (zh) * 2020-12-16 2022-11-22 长沙中联重科环境产业有限公司 车载造雪机的供水、供气控制系统及采用其的车载造雪机
CN113028695A (zh) * 2020-12-16 2021-06-25 长沙中联重科环境产业有限公司 车载造雪机的供水、供气控制系统及采用其的车载造雪机
CN113155432A (zh) * 2021-04-28 2021-07-23 北京建筑大学 造雪机雾化构件检测方法
CN113155432B (zh) * 2021-04-28 2022-06-10 北京建筑大学 造雪机雾化构件检测方法
CN114623635A (zh) * 2021-05-17 2022-06-14 北京建筑大学 一种适用于正温环境的造雪机
CN112984884A (zh) * 2021-05-17 2021-06-18 北京建筑大学 一种适用于正温环境的造雪机造雪方法
CN114623635B (zh) * 2021-05-17 2023-05-23 北京建筑大学 一种适用于正温环境的造雪机
CN114251887A (zh) * 2022-01-14 2022-03-29 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
CN115218574A (zh) * 2022-07-26 2022-10-21 西安交通大学 一种气液供应模式可切换的造雪机及控制方法
CN115218574B (zh) * 2022-07-26 2023-10-31 西安交通大学 一种气液供应模式可切换的造雪机及控制方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT241283Y1 (it) 2001-05-03
ITVR960004U1 (it) 1997-08-02
EP0787960A3 (en) 1998-10-14

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