EP3425311A1 - Method and device for producing artificial snow - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of producing artificial snow. In this case, water is taken from a storage lake 30 and a first circle 100 comprising at least one snow generator 10 for snowmaking a winter sports locality 1 supplied. The water in the Speichersee 30 is cooled. For cooling, water is supplied to a second circuit 200 comprising at least one or more second snow generators 20. With the second circle, snow and / or water droplets are generated. The snow generated with the second circle 200 and / or the water drops are supplied to the storage lake 30 to cool this.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing artificial snow according to the preambles of the independent claims.

For the production of artificial snow, it is generally known to provide a snow gun, which generates artificial snow by means of compressed air and water or by means of ventilated air and water. Typically, an air-water mixture is released into the atmosphere, with the drops of water in the air-water mixture cooling down and falling to the ground as snow. Such a device is for example with the EP 2 232 171 known. The EP 2 232 171 is aimed at a snow lance. For snow production, however, conventional snow cannons can also be used.

For the production of artificial snow, the snow producers, that is typically snow lances or snow cannons, in particular devices for generating drops or a water mist, are supplied with water. The water is typically taken from a reservoir, for example a storage lake. The removal of water from a flowing water is also conceivable.

The production of artificial snow is, as in the EP 2 232 171 depending on the temperature in the atmosphere but also dependent on the water temperature of the water, which is needed to produce the artificial snow. In the prior art, therefore, attempts were made to cool the water from the respective storage lakes, for example, with cooling towers, so that the water is supplied to the snow lances with a lower temperature compared to the reservoir lake. With this cooled water is applied to the snow guns. This makes it possible, even at relatively higher outside temperatures, to put the snow guns into operation and to produce artificial snow.

Such systems are expensive to produce and expensive to maintain.

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome these and other disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a method and a device for the production of artificial snow is to be provided, which is operable even at relatively higher temperatures, individually adjustable, easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture. In addition, the maintenance and operating costs are preferably reduced.

This object is achieved by the devices and methods defined in the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims.

In a method according to the invention for producing artificial snow, water is taken from a reservoir and fed to a first circuit. The first circle comprises at least one snow gun and in particular at least one snow lance. The first circle is intended for snowmaking a winter sports locality, especially a ski slope.

• Zuführen von Wasser zu einem zweiten Kreis, umfassend zumindest einen oder mehrere zweite Schneeerzeuger, insbesondere Schneilanzen,
• Erzeugen von Schnee und/oder Wassertropfen mit dem zweiten Kreis,
• Zuführen des mit dem zweiten Kreis erzeugten Schnees und/ oder der Wassertropfen zum Speichersee.

The water is cooled in the storage lake with the following steps:

• Supplying water to a second circuit, comprising at least one or more second snow generators, in particular snow lances,
• Generating snow and / or water droplets with the second circle,
• Supplying the snow generated with the second circle and / or the drops of water to the storage lake.

Here and below, a circle is understood to mean a subsection of the system which typically has a connection from a reservoir, such as a storage lake, to the snow lance. The reservoir can be, for example, a flowing water, the water is removed. The circle can be open or closed. An open circle means that, for example, the snow that is applied to a ski slope will seep into nature at the latest, in spring at the latest. A closed circle is characterized by the fact that essentially the largest part is led back to the reservoir, in particular to the reservoir lake.

Here and in the following, the term snow-making also means applying a locality to water droplets produced by a snow gun. At high ambient temperatures, typically only a portion of the generated water droplets are converted to snow or freezing of the water droplets is not possible.

In the present method, snow or water droplets are generated with the second snow guns. This means that the second snow producers produce drops of water that are exposed to the atmosphere. The atmosphere removes heat from the drops of water so that the drops of water are cooled. At desired conditions (for example for the snow lance from the EP 2 232 171 at a wet bulb temperature of approx. -3 ° C), the water droplets are given so much energy that they perform a phase transformation and thereby freeze. The phase transformation releases extra energy to the atmosphere. This snow and / or the supercooled water drops are fed to the reservoir lake. In the case when only cooled drops of water are supplied to the reservoir lake, they are warmed up by the energy stored in the storage lake and at the same time the storage lake is cooled. Between the water droplets and the storage pond, an equilibrium is established in relation to the temperature. In the event that at least some or all drops of water are frozen, the storage lake is additionally deprived of energy for melting the snow crystals, so that also sets an equilibrium. This means that in addition the melting enthalpy for melting the snow or ice crystals is withdrawn from the storage lake. The storage lake is additionally cooled.

In a preferred embodiment, the second snow guns are arranged such that a surface of the reservoir lake is snowed directly for supplying the snow generated by the second circle and / or the water drops.

This allows a simple and efficient introduction of snow and / or water droplets in the storage lake. Simple cooling is thus possible.

However, the second snow guns can also be arranged such that the snow generated with the second circle and / or the water drops are stored in a depot before being fed to the storage lake.

This makes it possible to fill the storage lake only then and thus to cool when the cooling in the storage lake is needed. For example, it is possible that the conditions for blinding the reservoir lake are favorable, the cooling of the reservoir lake but not desired because, for example, the lake already has a low temperature or the winter sports locality already has a good condition and snowing the winter sports locality is not necessary.

This means that the medium needed to cool the lake is stored temporarily. It may be provided to store the required for cooling the lake medium over a longer period, for example, from spring to fall.

It is advantageously provided that the content of the reservoir is circulated and preferably continuously circulated, so that the individual layers of water of the reservoir lake are mixed with one another.

This makes it possible to reduce the temperature in the storage lake as a whole and to achieve a uniform temperature level.

It is also conceivable that the contents of the reservoir are in particular continuously circulated in such a way that the water located in the reservoir lake is supplied to a region of the reservoir reservoir snowed with the second snow gun.

This ensures that the entire contents of the reservoir are snowed with snow / water droplets over time, that is, the snow gun is charged.

Preferably, the water of the second circle is taken from the storage lake.

This creates a closed circle. The water in the storage lake is continuously circulated and cooled further and further.

It may be provided to remove the water with a removal device near the surface in the reservoir. This is cooled first when snowing. The near-surface water typically has a temperature that goes to 0 °. As stated herein, the temperature of the water has a high impact on the snowmaking efficiency.

It may be provided to variably arrange the position of the removal device of the first and / or the second circle in the storage lake, so that their position in relation to a surface of the storage lake is adjustable. These can be arranged, for example, floating or on a float.

It is also conceivable to circulate the contents of the reservoir as a function of the snowmaking progress. In order to accelerate the cooling, the storage lake can not be recirculated at the beginning of the process in order to cool only an uppermost layer of the storage lake with supercooled water droplets or ice (snow).

By sucking in this cooler water in the upper part of the reservoir lake, more ice can be reached faster during snowfall, resulting in faster and more efficient cooling.

Depending on the progress of the cooling, the circulation can be used at a later time to start the storage cooling.

It is also conceivable that the water supplied to the second circuit is taken, for example, from another reservoir, for example a flowing body of water. This makes it possible to fill the storage lake ever further. Alternatively or in addition also allows such an arrangement to replace the water taken with the first circle, which is applied to the winter sports locality as snow, so that in the storage lake essentially a constant level of water is maintained.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a device for producing artificial snow, in particular a device for carrying out the method described herein. The device comprises a first circle with at least one snow generator, in particular a snow lance, for snow-making a winter sports locality, in particular a ski slope. The first circle can be connected to a reservoir and can be supplied with water from it. The device furthermore has at least one second circle with at least one second snow generator, in particular a snow lance.

The second circuit can be brought into contact with a water source and preferably with the storage lake and can be acted upon by it with water. The second circle is arranged or can be arranged such that the snowmaking of the reservoir lake is made possible.

Preferably, the apparatus for producing artificial snow comprises a storage lake. Also preferably, the first circle is connected to the reservoir lake. Alternatively or additionally, the second circle is also in communication with the storage lake.

Such a device makes it possible to cool a storage lake without having to provide elaborate cooling towers.

Preferably, the snow guns of the second circle are locatable or arranged on an edge of the reservoir lake, such that the snow generated by the snow gun of the second circle is supplied directly to the reservoir lake. This arrangement is less sensitive to wind influences. Unwanted shipments of the generated snow or the generated water droplets can be avoided.

This allows a simple and reliable cooling of the reservoir. Transmission losses are minimized.

In a preferred embodiment, the snow guns of the second circle can be arranged or arranged within and preferably centrally of the reservoir lake, such that the generated snow is supplied directly to the reservoir lake.

It is conceivable that the snow gun is rotatably mounted, for example, on a platform or on a drehbahren platform within the reservoir, so that the surface of the reservoir is applied evenly or continuously with snow.

By arranging the snow generators within the storage lake and a corresponding cooling advantageous temperature distributions can be achieved within the storage lake, which favor a circulation of the reservoir lake.

The device described here preferably has at least one compressed air generator for operating the snow guns. Also preferably, one or more pumps may be disposed in the first and / or second circuits for conveying water for operation of the snow guns.

This makes it possible to provide a complete device that allows the complete snowmaking of a winter sports locality. The tuning of the individual components with each other is simplified.

The device may have at least one circulation device for circulating the water in the storage lake. As a circulation device, for example, pumps, turbines, propellers or air streams, which are introduced into the reservoir, may be provided.

The individual layers of water of the reservoir can be mixed together. This makes it possible to reduce the temperature in the storage lake as a whole and to achieve a uniform temperature level.

The device may include a conduit for the second circuit and a conduit for the first circuit. The line for the second circle is shorter than the line for the first circle, and preferably shorter than 500m, especially shorter than 100m.

For conveying the water in the second circuit and for the operation of the second circuit is required by shorter lines with unchanged cross-sectional geometry of the lines less energy.

Figur 1:

Eine Wintersportlokalität mit einer Vorrichtung zum Erzeugen von Kunstschnee.

Figur 2:

Ein Speichersee im Querschnitt

In the following figures, an inventive device is described by way of example. It shows:

FIG. 1:

A winter sports locality with a device for producing artificial snow.

FIG. 2:

A storage lake in cross section

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for producing artificial snow. The device has a first circle 100 and a second circle 200. These two circles are located in a winter sports locality 1, which has a ski slope 2. In the vicinity of the winter sports locality 1 there is a storage lake 30. The storage lake has a surface 31. On one side of the ski slope 2 first snow gun 10 are arranged, which are connected to a conduit 11 for water and compressed air. The line 11 is supplied with a pump assembly 12 with water and compressed air. The pump assembly 12 may include one or more water pumps and one or more compressed air pumps. The water pumps receive the water from the Speichersee 30.

The second circuit of the device has a lance 20 and a line 21. The line 21 is also acted upon by means of a Pumpenanordung 23 with water and / or air. The pump assembly 23 is formed like the pump assembly 12 and may include a plurality of water and / or air pumps. A water pump of the pump assembly 23 supplies water from the storage lake 30 to the snow lance 20. A compressed-air pump of the pump arrangement 23 supplies compressed air to the lance 20. Of course, all pumps can be designed separately.

Another second circle 200 'is shown. This also includes a pump assembly 23 and a snow lance 20. In contrast to the second circle 200, the second circle 200 'is arranged such that the snow generated by the snow lance 20 is supplied to a depot 22.

The snow generated by the lance 20 of the second circle 200 is fed directly to the surface of the reservoir.

The snow generated by the lance 20 of the second circle 200 'is removed from the depot 22 at the desired time and fed to the storage lake 30.

The feeding of snow generated by the snow lances 20 to the storage lake 30 cools the storage lake. This makes it possible to generate snow with the first circle 100 even at higher outside temperatures, since the water of the reservoir lake 30, in contrast to an uncooled storage lake has a lower temperature and this freezes faster after leaving the nozzles of the snow lances 10 because the temperature difference is lower , Especially when using the snow lances, as in the EP 2 232 171 described, allows the lower temperature of the water, that this is cooled after leaving the nozzle faster than 0 ° C and can freeze on the encounter with nucleation rather than melting away these nucleation nuclei.

However, it can also be provided in the second circuits 200 and 200 'to remove the water not the storage lake 30, but for example, a separate reservoir or even a flowing body of water.

Of course, several first circles 100 and several second circles 200 and 200 'are conceivable, which can also be combined differently.

Theoretical experiments were carried out. These were based on the following material data: material data Density of water r _W 1000 kg / m ³ Specific heat capacity of water c _pW 4.2 kJ / kg * K Solidification enthalpy of water h _WE -334 kJ / kg Specific enthalpies: reference temperature T _ref 0 ° C Water at the temperature T _W1 h _W1 42 kJ / kg = c _pW × (T _W1 -T _Ref ) Water in the snow at 0 ° C h _{Sch_N} 0 kJ / kg = c _pW × (0 ° CT _Ref ) Ice in the snow at 0 ° C h _{Sch_E} -334 kJ / kg = C _pW × (0 ° CT _Ref ) + h _WE Water at the temperature T _FK h _{W_TFK} -16.8 kJ / kg = c _pW × (T _FK -T _Ref )

Two cases have been considered, on the one hand, when the second snow lances snow snow in the storage lake (case a) on the other hand, when only chilled water is snowed into the reservoir lake. Speichersee Water volume in the lake V _W1 100,000 m ³ Mean water temperature in the lake T _W1 10 ° C Body of water in the lake m _W1 100,000,000 kg Cooling of the reservoir lake with snow lances Number of snow lances n _L 20 Volume flow per lance V ° _L 90 l / min Resulting mass flow of all lances m ° _{L_tot} 30 kg / s = n _L × V ° _L × r _W Mass losses (transport, evaporation) x _V 20% - Schneidauer t _L 120 H Feeding from the same lake? SP Yes Remaining water mass in the lake at T _W1 m _W2 87'040'000 kg = m _W1 -m _Schn (for SP = yes); = m _W1 (for SP = no) a) Snow lances are snowing in the lake Average ice mass fraction in the snow (snow quality) x _E 50% - Estimation over the entire cutter Resulting snowmass m _Sch 12'960'000 kg = m ° _{L_tot ×} t _L of which water mass at 0 ° C m _{Sch_W} 5'184'000 kg of which ice mass at 0 ° C m _{Sch_E} 5'184'000 kg of which losses (shipment, evaporation) m _{Sch_V} 2'592'000 kg Water mass in the lake after snowmaking m _W3 97'408'000 kg = m _W2 + m _{Sch_W} + m _{Sch_E} Total resulting enthalpy in the lake H _{W3_a} 1'924'224'000 kJ = m _W2 × h _W1 + m _{Sch_W} xh _sch _ _w + m _sch _ _E xh _sch _ _E Resulting mean water temperature T _{W3_a} 4.7 ° C = H _{W3_a} / (m _W3 * c _pW ) + T _ref Resulting mean cooling of the lake DT _a 5.3 ° C = T _W1 - T _{W3_a} Water volume in the lake after snowmaking V _W3 97'408 m ³ = m _W3 / r _W3 b) Snow lances are raining in the lake Mean wet bulb temperature, ambient air T _FK -3 ° C Estimation over entire cutter Resulting body of water with T _FK m _{W_TFK} 10'368'000 kg Total resulting enthalpy in the lake H _{W3_b} 3'525'043'200 kJ = m _W2 × h _W1 + m _{W_TFK ×} h _{W_TFK} Resulting mean water temperature T _{W3_b} 8.6 ° C = H _{W3_b} / (m _W3 * c _pW ) + T _ref Resulting mean cooling of the lake DT _b 1.4 ° C = T _W1 - T _{W3_b} Water volume in the lake after sprinkling V _W3 97'408 m ³ = m _W3 / r _W3

If the water is not taken from the same storage lake, the resulting temperatures are slightly higher, but also the water mass in the lake is higher.

In this calculation, the withdrawals of water by the operation of the first circle were not considered. The (ongoing) removal results in a slightly lower cooling, as over time less and less water must be cooled.

From the available data, it can be shown that additional cooling of the lake can be generated when it is exposed to water droplets from snow lances that have cooled in the atmosphere (with the above data approx. 1.4 °). An additional cooling is achieved when the lake is exposed to snow from snow lances (with the above data about 5.3 °).

The FIG. 2 shows a storage lake 30 in cross section. Centrally in the storage lake 30, a platform 32 is arranged. On this platform 32 is a lance 20 of a second circle 200 (see FIG. 1 ) arranged. In contrast to FIG. 1 is the snow lance 20 within the memory lake 30. The following statements also apply to the arrangements of the second circles 200 and 200 'from the FIG. 1 ,

The second circle of the device according to the FIG. 2 has a lance 20 and a conduit 21. How to FIG. 1 explained, the line 21 is acted upon by a pump assembly 23, not shown here with water and / or air. The line 21 is relatively short, usually shorter than 100m. This means that pumping water, in contrast to the first circuit, where lines can typically be several kilometers long, requires significantly less energy.

That is, elements of the second circle are regularly dimensioned smaller than elements of the first circle.

The snow lance 20 of the FIG. 2 is the platform 32 rotatably formed, that is, during operation, this can rotate 360 ° about its own axis, so that the entire surface 31 of the memory lake 30 can be snowed. Additionally or alternatively, a circulation device 40 is provided in the storage lake 30, which preferably circulates the water opposite to the direction of rotation of the snow lance 20.

However, the circulation device can also be arranged such that water layers, which are already cooled or cooled on the surface of the lake, with lower layers in the storage lake be mixed. A combination is also possible.

Claims (15)

A method for producing artificial snow, wherein water is taken from a storage lake (30) for water and a first circle (100) comprising at least one snow generator (10), in particular a snow lance, for snowing a winter sports locality (1), in particular a ski slope ( 2), characterized in that the water in the storage lake (30) is cooled, with the steps Supplying water to a second circuit (200) comprising at least one or more second snow generators (20), in particular snow lances, Generating snow and / or water drops with the second circle (200) - Supplying the snow generated with the second circle (200) and / or the water drops to the storage lake (30). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the second snow generator (20) are arranged such that for supplying the snow generated with the second circle (200) and / or the water drops, a surface (31) of the storage lake (30) is snowed directly , A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the second snow generator (20) are arranged such that the snow generated with the second circle (200) and / or the water drops before feeding to the storage lake (30) stored in a depot (22) becomes. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the content of the reservoir lake (30) is in particular continuously circulated, so that the individual Water layers of the reservoir lake (30) mix together. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the content of the storage lake (30) is circulated in particular continuously, so that the water in the storage lake (30) located in a snowy with the second snow guns (20) region of the reservoir lake (30) is supplied. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the water of the second circle is taken from the storage lake. Device for producing artificial snow, in particular for carrying out a method according to claim 1, comprising a first circle (100) with at least one snow generator (10), in particular a snow lance, for snow-making of a winter sports locality (1), in particular a ski slope (2) the first circuit (100) is connectable to a storage lake and can be supplied with water by it,
a second circuit (200) with at least one second snow generator (20), in particular a snow lance, wherein the second circuit (200) can be connected to a water source and preferably to the storage lake (30) and supplied with water therefrom,
characterized in that
the second circle (200) can be arranged such that the snowmaking of the reservoir (30) is made possible. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the snow generator (20) of the second circle (200) at the edge of the storage lake (30) can be arranged such that the generated snow is fed directly to the storage lake (30). Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the snow generator (20) of the second circle (200) within and preferably centrally of the storage lake (30) can be arranged, such that the snow generated directly to the storage lake (30) is supplied. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, comprising at least one pressure generator for compressed air for operating the snow gun. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, comprising at least one pump (12, 23) for conveying the water in the first circle (100) or in the second circle (200) for operating the snow gun. Device according to one of claims 7 to 11, comprising at least one circulation device (40) for circulating the water in the storage lake (30). Device according to one of claims 7 to 12, comprising a conduit (2) for the second circuit 200 and a conduit (11) for the first circuit (100), wherein the conduit (21) is shorter than the conduit (11) and in particular shorter than 100m. Device according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that at least one snow generator (21) on a platform (32), preferably rotatable, is arranged. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the second snow generator (20) are arranged such that the snow generated with the second circle (200) before the Beschneien the memory lake (30) in a depot (22) can be introduced.

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