EP2071258A1 - Nucleator nozzle, use of a nucleator nozzle, snow cannon, snow blower and method for producing ice nuclei and artificial snow - Google Patents

Abstract

The nozzle (20) has a nozzle channel (25) with a compressed air inflow opening (24), where cross-section of the channel in a section is reduced in a direction of an outflow opening (23) of the channel up to a smaller diameter. The cross-section of the channel in another section (27) expands in the direction of the outflow opening. A water inflow opening (22) temporally opens out into the channel, where a ratio of cross-sectional surfaces of the outflow opening to cross-sectional surfaces of the channel in a region of the smaller diameter amounts to 4:1 preferably 9:1. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a snow blower comprising a nucleator nozzle (2) a method for producing artificial snow.

Description

The invention relates to a nucleator nozzle, the use of a nucleator nozzle, a snow gun, a snow lance and a method for producing ice nuclei or artificial snow according to the preamble of the independent claims.

The production of artificial snow has been known for a long time. Snow cannons or snow lances are today used in a variety of forms, especially in winter sports areas. According to a known method, a jet of ice nuclei is produced in a so-called nucleator nozzle which is brought into contact with a jet of water droplets. This so-called germination creates snow from the cooling water droplets.

To produce the ice nuclei, water is cooled and atomized using compressed air. An essential parameter for the economic operation of such nucleator nozzles is the amount of compressed air that must be used to achieve the desired effect. The amount of compressed air determines the energy input and ultimately the operating costs. Another essential operating parameter concerns the wet bulb temperature of the environment. Artificial snow can be produced with known snow lances up to minus 3 to minus 4 degrees. It is desirable, if possible, to be able to produce artificial snow even at higher temperatures without a large input of energy.

For generating ice nuclei, for example, convergent nucleator nozzles are known, in which the cross-section in the nozzle channel narrows continuously in the direction of the outlet: Corresponding For example, nozzles are off FR 2 617 273 . US 4,145,000 . US 4,516,722 . US 3,908,903 or FR 2 594 528 known. There are also known convergent-divergent nucleator nozzles according to the Laval principle. Such nucleator nozzles are for example in US 4,903,895 . US 3,716,190 . US 4,793,554 or in US 4,383,646 shown. However, all of these known nucleator nozzles require a relatively large energy input for generating the germs.

For generating artificial snow nucleator nozzles are also known, which are combined directly with water jets. Corresponding solutions are out US 2006/0071091 . US 5,090,619 . US 5,909,844 . WO94 / 19655 or US 5,529,242 such as WO90 / 12264 known.

US 5,593,090 shows an arrangement in which a plurality of water nozzles are arranged side by side.
Commonly used are snow lances, in which nucleator nozzles and water nozzles are arranged adjacent to one another on a lance body, so that the ice nuclei and water droplets produced are brought into contact with one another in a germination zone adjacent to the lance body. Such solutions are for example in DE 10 2004 053 984 B3 . US 6,508,412 . US 6,182,905 . US 6,032,872 . US 7,114,662 . US 5,810,251 shown.

Further snow lances are in US 5,004,151 or FR 2 877 076 described.

However, the known nucleator nozzles and snow lances are subject to disadvantages. In particular, they can only be used at relatively low outside temperatures or water temperatures.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the known, in particular a nucleator nozzle, a snow gun, a snow lance and a method for producing ice nuclei or artificial snow to create the production of artificial snow with minimal Allow energy input and the highest possible outdoor or water temperatures.

According to the invention, these and other objects are achieved according to the characterizing part of the independent claims.

The nucleator nozzle according to the invention serves to produce ice nuclei. The nucleator nozzle has a nozzle channel which is provided with at least one compressed air inlet opening and with at least one water inlet opening. The introduced through the water inlet opening into the nozzle channel water is accelerated with the compressed air and discharged through an outlet opening of the nucleation nozzle and thereby atomized.

The cross section of the nozzle channel tapers in a first section in the direction of the outlet opening to a core diameter. Subsequently, the cross section of the nozzle channel expands in a second section in the direction of the outlet opening again. Thus, the nucleator nozzle is a convergent-divergent nozzle.

According to the invention, the ratio between the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening and the cross-sectional area of the nozzle channel in the region of the core diameter is at least about 4: 1, preferably about 9: 1. It has been shown that with such a nozzle geometry, the effectiveness of the nucleator nozzle can be significantly increased or the necessary energy input can be significantly reduced. The geometry of the nozzle is in the widening second section is selected so that during operation in this section, a negative pressure is established. As a result, a lower temperature of the compressed air is achieved in the nozzle, whereby the water temperature can be further lowered. This has the advantage that even at high water temperatures up to 10 ° C still enough cooling in the nozzle is achieved without the ratio of air to water mass flow would need to be increased. At the same time, the geometry causes bumps to form in the escaping medium after the outlet opening due to pressure equalization. Bumps always occur when the discharge pressure of the nozzle does not correspond exactly to the ambient pressure. The high area ratio ensures that the bumps only occur when the compressed air is optically exploited.

It is believed that with the novel Nukelatordüse the conversion energy to produce the ice nuclei arises only from a slight supercooling. At the same time, the bumps formed deliberately after the outlet opening serve to trigger the solidification of the ice nuclei.

Nucleator nozzles of various area ratios were exposed to extreme conditions in the air-conditioning duct, i. high ambient temperatures, very high water temperatures and a large amount of water in the nucleator nozzle. With nucleator nozzles with a high area ratio, ice hail was still noticeable under such conditions.

The full angle of the nozzle channel is at most 30 degrees, preferably about 10 to 20 degrees.

It has been found that with such a widening and length of the nozzle channel optimal results are generated. Especially a certain length of the nozzle channel is required in the widening area, so that the compressed air cooling during acceleration can sufficiently cool the entrained water droplets. It takes enough time for this balancing process.

According to an alternative aspect of the invention, the nozzle channel of a nucleator nozzle is formed in the widening section so that a pressure of less than 0.6, preferably about 0.2 bar, is established during operation of the nozzle in the widening section. At the same time, the nozzle channel is designed such that set pressure surges in the outflowing medium after the outlet opening. With a nucleator nozzle specifically designed to achieve this operating condition, compressed air consumption can be massively reduced.

Depending on the application, the nucleator nozzle can be designed as a round jet nozzle or as a flat jet nozzle.

Typically, in the nucleator nozzle according to the invention, the water inlet opening is arranged laterally on the nozzle channel. Preferably, the water enters the nozzle channel at an angle of 90 degrees.

Another aspect relates to the use of a nucleator nozzle as described above for producing ice nuclei for an apparatus for producing artificial snow. Accordingly, yet another aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus for producing artificial snow, such as e.g. a snow lance or snow cannon with at least one such nucleator nozzle.

Another aspect of the invention also relates to a lance with at least one nucleator nozzle and at least one water nozzle for generating water droplets. typically, but not necessarily a nucleator nozzle is used in the form described above. Ice nuclei can be produced with the nucleator nozzle. With the water nozzle a drop of water droplets can be generated. After passing through an ice germ line or after passing through a drop section, the ice germ jet and the droplet jet meet in a germination zone. According to this aspect of the invention, the snow lance is formed so that the ice germ line is at least 10 cm, preferably about 20 to 30 cm. Alternatively, or at the same time, the drop distance is at least 20 cm, preferably about 40 to 80 cm.

The relatively long in comparison to the prior art Eiskeimstrecken or drop paths allow a better freezing of the exit from the Nukleatordüse only externally slightly frozen ice nucleus droplets or a better cooling of the water droplets produced from the water nozzle. The longer drop range allows a greater energy dissipation to the environment through convection and evaporation. Because the drops of water can be cooled comparatively strongly in this way (optimally below 0 ° C), the ice nuclei do not melt in contact with the water drops. While in experiments a drop distance of 20 to 80 cm has been found to be particularly advantageous, a further extension of the drop line would be conceivable in principle. In general, it is attempted to make the distance of the drop as long as possible, whereby it should be ensured that the droplet jet does not expand too much.

It has surprisingly been found that the maximum snow temperature (wet bulb temperature) can be increased by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius with the inventive arrangement. Typically, the cutting edge is with the inventive snow lance about minus 1 degree compared to a cutting line of minus 3 to minus 4 degrees in snow lances according to the prior art. In addition, with the arrangement according to the invention and the nucleator nozzle according to the invention, it was possible to achieve a massive reduction in air consumption by at least 50% compared with the prior art.

Preferably, the snow lance has a lance body with a substantially cylindrical shape. The nucleator nozzle is radially arranged relative to the axis of the lance body or up to an angle of 45 degrees obliquely upward, ie away from the lance body directed. Here and in the following is spoken in each case by a nucleator nozzle or by a water nozzle. Of course, the following explanations also relate to arrangements with more than one nucleator nozzle or more than one water nozzle.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the water nozzle is arranged at an angle to a vertical plane to the axis of the lance body. The water nozzle is directed towards the Nukelatordüse out. This results in approximately lying on a conical surface drop jets. Because the droplet jets are delivered in a preferred direction, the air surrounding the droplet jet is entrained. Due to the increased air exchange, the energy required for solidification can be better dissipated. This results in a further increase in the effectiveness of the inventive snow lance.

If several nucleator nozzles are used, these are advantageously arranged evenly over the circumference on the cylindrical lance body. At the same time in this case, when using multiple water nozzles, these are also over the circumference arranged distributed on the lance body. With such arrangements, particularly homogeneous Schneiersultate can be achieved.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, the lance body is provided with two different groups of water nozzles. The water nozzles of the two groups are arranged in two different axial positions on the lance body. The different axial position causes the droplet paths of the water droplets produced with the water nozzles of the different groups to be different. Such an arrangement makes it possible to consciously select longer or shorter drop paths depending on the outside temperature. It is particularly advantageous if the groups of water nozzles in the different layers are individually acted upon with water. At lower ambient temperatures, relatively short drops are sufficient. Then, in addition, the water nozzles are supplied with water, which are closer to the nucleator nozzles. At higher temperatures, water is applied to the group of water nozzles further away from the nucleator nozzle. This creates a larger drop zone. There is therefore more time to cool the water drops.

In particular, when multiple nucleator nozzles are used, for example, when using six nucleator nozzles, it has proved to be advantageous to arrange the nucleator nozzles in relation to the water nozzles in the circumferential direction on the lance body offset from one another. This results in a particularly effective mixing in the germination zone.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing ice nuclei for the production of artificial snow. In particular, a nucleator nozzle as described above is used. A stream of water and compressed air is thereby passed through a nozzle channel. The nozzle channel is reduced in a first section down to a core diameter. In a second section, the nozzle channel widens against an outlet opening back on. According to the process of the invention, the flow in the widening region is conducted at a pressure of less than 0.6, preferably about 0.2 bar. In addition, pressure surges are generated after exiting the outlet opening in the escaping medium. It is assumed that these pressure surges serve to trigger the solidification of the ice nuclei and therefore make it possible to reduce the energy to be solidified.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method of producing artificial snow. According to this method, ice nuclei are produced in at least one nucleator nozzle and water drops are produced in at least one water nozzle by atomizing water. Typically, a nucleator nozzle as described above is used. The droplet jet generated with the water nozzle and the ice germ jet produced with the nucleator nozzle are combined in a Einkeimungsbereich. According to the invention, the ice germ jet is guided over an ice germ line of at least 10 cm, preferably about 20 to 30 cm. Alternatively or additionally, the droplet jet is guided over a distance of at least 20 cm, preferably about 40 to 80 cm.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, water droplets with water nozzles are produced in a first distance from the nucleator nozzle in a first temperature range as a function of the wet bulb temperature of the environment. In a second, lower temperature range, water drops are produced from water nozzles, which are arranged at a second distance from the nucleator nozzle that is smaller than the first distance are. In this way, depending on the wet bulb temperature of the environment, an optimal drop range can be selected.

Figur 1:

Schematische Darstellung eines Schneiprozesses;

Figur 2:

Querschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemässe Nukleatordüse;

Figur 3:

Verlauf der Wassertemperatur in der Nukleatordüse gemäss Figur 2;

Figur 4:

Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Schneilanze;

Figur 5:

Schnitt durch die Schneilanze gemäss Figur 4 entlang einer Ebene senkrecht zur Achse der Schneilanze;

Figur 6:

Machzahl, homogene Temperatur und homogener Druck am Austritt einer erfindungsgemässen Nukleatordüse in Abhängigkeit des Flächenverhältnisses zwischen Kerndurchmesser und Austrittsöffnung;

Figur 7:

Grafische Darstellung des Eisgehalts in Abhängigkeit der Tropfenstrecke bei einer erfindungsgemässen Schneilanze und

Figur 8:

theoretisch optimale Tropfenstrecke in Abhängigkeit der Wassertemperatur und der Feuchtkugeltemperatur der Umgebungsluft.

The invention is explained in more detail below in exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1:

Schematic representation of a cutting process;

FIG. 2:

Cross section through a nucleator nozzle according to the invention;

FIG. 3:

Course of the water temperature in the nucleator nozzle according to FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4:

Side view of a snow lance according to the invention;

FIG. 5:

Section through the snow lance according to FIG. 4 along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the snow lance;

FIG. 6:

Mach number, homogeneous temperature and homogeneous pressure at the outlet of a nucleator nozzle according to the invention as a function of the area ratio between core diameter and outlet opening;

FIG. 7:

Graphical representation of the ice content as a function of the drop distance in a snow lance according to the invention and

FIG. 8:

theoretically optimal drop distance depending on the water temperature and the wet bulb temperature of the ambient air.

FIG. 1 shows schematically the production of artificial snow with a snow lance. In a nucleator nozzle 20 ice nuclei 28 are generated. In a water nozzle 30 water drops 32 are generated. The water droplets 32 move over a drop path 31 to a germination zone E. The ice nuclei 28 move through an ice germ line 21 to the germination zone E. In the germination zone E, the water droplets 32 come into contact with the ice nuclei 28 and are inoculated. On the way over the drop section 31, the water droplets 32 atomized with the water nozzle 30 cool off. The water droplets inoculated with ice nuclei subsequently solidify in a solidification zone 40 and typically fall to the ground as snow after a drop height H of approximately 10 meters.

FIG. 2 shows in cross-section a nucleator nozzle 20 according to the invention. The nucleator nozzle 20 has a lateral water inlet opening 22 and an axial compressed air inlet opening 24. The water inlet opening 22 opens approximately perpendicularly into a nozzle channel 25. The compressed air inlet opening 24 lies on the axis of the nozzle channel 25.

The nucleator nozzle 20 is designed as a convergent-divergent nozzle. This means that the nozzle channel 25 tapers in a first section to a core diameter 26 in diameter. In a second, widening region 27, the nozzle channel 25 widens again from the core diameter 26 to an outlet opening 23.

At the in FIG. 2 the embodiment shown, the nozzle channel is formed with a round cross-section. The diameter DM of the compressed air inlet opening 24 is 2.0 mm. The diameter DLW of the water inlet opening 22 is 0.15 mm. The cross-sectional diameter DK of the nozzle channel 25 in the region of Core diameter 26 is 0.85 mm while the cross-sectional diameter DA of the nozzle channel 25 in the region of the outlet opening 23 is 2.5 mm. The ratio between the cross-sectional area in the region of the outlet opening 23 and in the region of the constriction 26 is selected to be as high as possible according to the invention. In the present embodiment, the ratio is about 9: 1.

When the nucleator nozzle is operated as intended, air is introduced through the compressed air inlet opening 24 at a pressure of 6 to 10 bar (absolute air pressure) in an amount of up to a maximum of 50 standard liters (Nl) per minute. Using typically 6 nucleator nozzles per lance results in a maximum air consumption of 300 standard liters (Nl) per minute. Water is introduced into the nozzle channel 25 through the water inlet opening 22 at a pressure between 15 and 60 bar (absolute air pressure). With the pressures mentioned, mass flow ratios of air and water mass flow of approximately 0.6 to 1.9 are obtained in the nucleator nozzle.
At the in FIG. 2 shown area ratio between the taper 26 and outlet opening 23 and at a full cone angle α of about 20 degrees in the widening region 27 results in the said operating parameters in the widening region 27, a pressure of about 0.2 bar. If the area ratio remains the same, the angle α can be arbitrarily selected within a certain range, but smaller angles are to be preferred. The associated longer residence time in the nozzle allows the entrained water droplets more time to cool.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the operation of the nucleator 20 from FIG. 2 for producing ice nuclei. In the example adopted in FIG. 3 the water temperature T _{W is} originally about 2 ° C.

Due to the cross-sectional constriction and subsequent expansion, the water is cooled by the compressed air. It is cooled to typically - 1 ° C to - 2 ° C. This cooling is less than the desired cooling with conventional nucleator cooling from - 8 ° C to - 12 ° C. Accordingly, with the inventive nucleator 20, the compressed air consumption is significantly smaller.

Due to the specific choice of the geometry in the widening region 27, a relatively large negative pressure is generated up to the outlet opening 23. At the same time targeted pressure-balancing shocks are formed in the area 29, which supported the formation of ice nuclei or trigger the solidification.

In the FIG. 2 The nucleator nozzle shown can basically be used to produce ice nuclei in snow cannons or in snow lances. FIG. 4 shows a snow lance 1, which is provided with three nucleator nozzles 20 (in FIG. 4 in side view only one nucleator nozzle 20 is visible). The lance 1 has a lance body 10. The lance body 10 is formed substantially with a cylinder geometry. The nucleator nozzles 20 are arranged at one end of the lance body 10 directed radially outward over its circumference.

On the lance body 10 also two groups of water nozzles 30, 30 'are arranged. In FIG. 4 in the side view only one water nozzle of a group is visible. Typically, three water nozzles 30 and 30 'are uniformly arranged at a distance of 120 degrees over the circumference of the lance body 10 per group.

The water nozzles 30 and 30 'are arranged inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis A of the lance body 10. In this case, the angle β which is further from the nucleator nozzle 20 is arranged Water nozzles 30 selected smaller than the angle β 'of the nearer to the nucleator 20 water nozzles 30'. Typically, the angle β of the water nozzles 30 is about 30 degrees and the angle β 'of the water nozzles 30' is about 50 degrees.

Ice nuclei pass through an ice germ line 21 after emerging from the nucleator nozzle 20. The water droplets produced with the water nozzles 30 and 30 ', after passing through a drop section 31 or 31' in the germination zone E, coincide with ice nuclei.

In the embodiment shown, the drop gap 31 is about 70 cm. The drop gap 31 'is about 50 cm. The ice germ line 21 is about 25 cm.

The fact that the water nozzles 30 and 30 'are arranged relatively far from the nucleator nozzles 20 results in comparatively large drop sections 31 and 31'. Therefore, the water drops formed with the water nozzles 30 and 30 'have sufficient time to cool to the necessary temperature. The drop zone 31, 31 'or the ice germ line 21 can in principle be selected arbitrarily long above a lower limit of typically about 20 cm. The upper limit is given by the fact that the rays still have to meet in the germination area E. Depending on the field of application, it may therefore also be expedient to form the nucleator nozzle 20 as an omnidirectional nozzle (that is, with a circular cross-section in the exit region) or as a flat-jet nozzle (that is, with an elliptical cross-section in the exit region).

The arrangement of the water nozzles 30 and 30 'in two groups with different distances to the nucleator nozzle 20 allows different operating modes depending on the wet bulb temperature of Surroundings. Typically, at lower wet bulb temperatures, both groups of water nozzles 30 and 30 'are used. At lower temperatures, a shorter drop distance 31 'is sufficient. At higher wet bulb temperatures, only the farther water nozzles 30 are used. Nevertheless, due to the longer drop distance 31 sufficient cooling is ensured.

The water consumption of a nozzle 30 or 30 'is at operating pressures of 15 to 60 bar usually between 12 and 24 liters of water per minute. At high wet bulb temperatures of the environment of typically -4 ° C to -1 ° C can be snowed in the embodiment with three water nozzles 30 of the more distant groups with about 36 to 72 liters of water per minute. After switching on the water nozzles 30 'of the closer group below typically -4 ° C results in a consumption of about 72 to 144 liters of water per minute. For even lower temperatures at least one other water nozzle group is provided, which is not shown here.

In the lance body 10, air and water supply lines for the individual nozzles are arranged in a manner known per se. Such feeds are familiar to the person skilled in the art. They are therefore not described in detail here.

The various components described are made of metal. Typically, aluminum, partially anodized, is used for the body of the nucleator nozzle and the water nozzle and also the snow lance.

FIG. 5 shows a section through a plane perpendicular to the axis A of the lance body. The lance body 10 is formed substantially cylindrical. Three water nozzles 30 are at an angle distance of 120 degrees regularly arranged over the circumference of the lance body 10. Inside the lance body 10 different supply lines for air or water not shown in detail are shown.
FIGS. 6 to 8 show different measurement results from which the significantly higher efficiency of the nucleator nozzle or snow lance according to the invention can be seen.

In FIG. 6 are the Mach number, the homogeneous temperature and the homogeneous pressure in the medium in the region of the outlet opening 23 of the nucleator nozzle 20 (see FIG. 2 ) are shown as theoretical values. Homogeneous here means that the temperatures of air and water in the nozzle have already fully balanced. In reality, this will never be the case. Therefore, the temperatures shown here are much lower than the expected water temperatures. The geometry of the nucleator nozzle 20 is chosen such that the Mach number is in the range of at least about 2 to 2.5. In the area of the outlet opening, the pressure in the exiting medium is about 0.2 to 0.6 bar. The indicated pressure and temperature values as well as the Mach number depend on the area ratio A _A / A _K between the cross-sectional area in the area of the outlet opening 23 and in the region of the constriction 26. The area ratio found to be preferred on the basis of tests is approximately 9: 1.

In the lowest representation in FIG. 6 In addition, two different curves are shown as a function of the air pressure in the nucleator nozzle 20. At 6 and at 10 bar air pressure results comparable results.

In all three representations according to FIG. 6 there are also curves for two different mass flow ratios ALR between air and water. These correspond to the above Limits of the operating range, which results from the typically prevailing pressure ranges of water and air.

FIG. 7 shows the mean ice content in percent in a range of about 3.5 m horizontal distance after the nozzle exit. The ice content increases with increasing drop distance. In the case of a fixed ice germ line 21 of 25 cm and a water temperature of 1.7 degrees Celsius, the ice content at a wet bulb temperature in the environment of -2 ° C is about 4.5% to about 6% for a drop of 10 resp 50 cm. The effect is even more pronounced at a lower wet bulb temperature of - 7 ° C. Here, the extension of the drop distance from approx. 10 to 50 cm results in an increase of the ice content from approx. 12 to almost 15%.

FIG. 8 also shows the theoretical optimal, experimentally determined droplet distances as a function of different water temperatures for different wet bulb temperatures. Theoretically optimal drop path is understood to be the path with which the water drops of the water nozzles 30 and 30 'can be cooled to just 0 ° C. When they meet in the germination zone, no ice nuclei will be melted, which means that the best snow results can be expected. As FIG. 8 shows that with a water temperature of 1 degree Celsius with a drop distance in the range of 50 cm to 1 m at a wet bulb temperature of the environment of up to - 2 ° C can be optimally snowed.

Claims (20)

Nucleator nozzle (20) for generating ice nuclei,
with a nozzle channel (25) with at least one compressed air inlet opening (24) and with at least one water inlet opening (22) and with an outlet opening (23),
wherein the cross section of the nozzle channel (25) in a first portion in the direction of the outlet opening (23) tapers to a core diameter (26) and
wherein the cross section of the nozzle channel (25) subsequently widens in the direction of the outlet opening (23) in a second section (27),
characterized in that the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening (23) to the cross-sectional area of the nozzle channel (25) in the region of the core diameter (26) is at least 4: 1, preferably about 9: 1 Nucleator nozzle (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle of the nozzle channel (25) in the widening second portion (27) between the taper and the outlet opening (23) is at most 30 °, preferably about 10 to 20 °. Nucleator nozzle (20) for producing ice nuclei, comprising a nozzle channel (25) with at least one compressed air inlet opening (24) and with at least one water inlet opening (22) and with an outlet opening (23),
wherein the cross section of the nozzle channel (25) in a first portion in the direction of the outlet opening (23) tapers to a core diameter (26)
and wherein the cross-section of the nozzle channel (25) subsequently widens in the direction of the outlet opening (23) in a second section (27),
characterized in that the nozzle channel (25) in the widening portion (27) is designed such that when operating the nozzle in the expanding portion (27) a pressure of less than 0.6 bar, preferably about 0.2 bar sets and that set after the outlet opening (23) pressure surges in the outflowing medium. Nucleator nozzle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the nucleator nozzle (20) is designed as a round jet nozzle. Nucleator nozzle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the nucleator nozzle (20) is designed as a flat jet nozzle. Nucleator nozzle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the water inlet opening (22) opens laterally, preferably at an angle of approximately 90 °, into the nozzle channel (25). Use of a nucleator nozzle (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 for producing ice nuclei for an apparatus for producing artificial snow (1). Device for producing artificial snow (1) with at least one nucleator nozzle (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 6. Cutting lance (1) with at least one nucleator nozzle (20), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 6 and with at least one water nozzle (30; 30 '),
wherein a nucleation nozzle (20) is used to produce an ice germ jet and the water nozzle (30; 30 ') (30; 30') to produce a droplet jet which, after passing through an ice germ line (21) or after passing through a droplet path (31; ) in a germination zone (E),
characterized in that the Eiskeimstrecke (21) is at least 10 cm, in particular about 20 to 30 cm and / or
the drop gap (31, 31 ') is at least 20 cm, in particular approximately 40 to 80 cm. Cutting lance (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the lance (1) has a lance body (10) with a substantially cylindrical shape. Cutting lance (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one nucleator nozzle (20) is arranged at an angle of preferably 0 to 45 degrees to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the lance body (10) so that the nucleator nozzle (20) radially or from the lance body is diagonally upwards court. A snow lance (1) according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the at least one water nozzle (30; 30 ') is perpendicular to the plane at an angle to a plane Arranged axis of the lance body (10) and directed against the at least one nucleator nozzle (20) out. Cutting lance (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that a plurality of nucleator nozzles (20) distributed over the circumference on the lance body (10) are arranged. Cutting lance (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that a plurality of water nozzles (30; 30 ') distributed over the circumference on the lance body (10) are arranged. Cutting lance (1) according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the lance body (10) is provided with at least two groups of water nozzles (30; 30 ') arranged in at least two different axial positions on the lance body (10) , Cutting lance (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that groups of the water nozzles (30, 30 ') can be acted upon individually with water in the different layers. Cutting lance (1) according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the at least one nucleator nozzle (20) and the at least one water nozzle (30; 30 ') are arranged offset relative to one another on the lance body (10) in the circumferential direction. Method for producing ice nuclei for the production of artificial snow, in particular with a nucleator nozzle (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
wherein a stream of water and compressed air is passed through a nozzle channel (25) which tapers in a first section to a core diameter (26) and widens in a second section (27) towards an exit opening (23),
characterized in that the flow in the widening portion with a pressure of less than 0.6 bar, preferably 0.2 bar is performed and
that after the exit from the outlet opening (23) in the exiting medium pressure surges are generated. Method for producing artificial snow, in particular with at least one nucleator nozzle (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 6 and with at least one water nozzle (30, 30 '), wherein a droplet jet of water droplets is produced with the water nozzle (30; 30') and wherein the nucleator nozzle (20) produces an ice nuclei beam with ice nuclei,
and wherein the ice germ jet and the droplet jet are combined in a germination area (E),
characterized in that the ice germ jet over a Eiskeimstrecke (21) of at least 10 cm, in particular from about 20 to 30 cm to Einkeimungsbereich (E) is guided and / or that the droplet jet over a drop distance (31; 31 ') of at least 20 cm , In particular 40 cm to 80 cm to the Einweisimungsbereich (E) is performed. Method according to one of claims 19 or 20, wherein depending on the wet bulb temperature of the environment in a first temperature range water droplets with water nozzles (30) at a first distance from the nucleator nozzle (20) are generated and wherein in a second, lower temperature range additionally water droplets from water nozzles (30 ') generated which are located at a second distance from the nucleator nozzle (20) that is smaller than the first distance.

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