SNOWMAKING APPARATUS
A snowmaking apparatus having a housing having an inlet and an outlet through with fluid is propelled into which liquid droplets and ice crystals are injected to form artificial snow is disclosed. The liquid droplets and ice crystals are injected into the propelled fluid by a structure disposed within the housing proximate the outlet. The snowmaking apparatus also includes an outer ring system that injects additional liquid droplets into the propelled fluid at an inclined angle around the housing outlet.
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This application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/953,036, entitled SNOWMAKING APPARATUS, filed Jul. 31, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThis application generally relates to a snowmaking apparatus. This application relates more specifically to a snow making apparatus having a fluid delivery system configured to deliver liquid into a fluid stream to make artificial snow.
Snowmaking is critical to winter sporting resorts because the amount of snow and the length of time that snow is present on the active terrain portion, for example, slopes of a resort property dictates whether a resort has a financially successful season. Generally, as the amount of snow increases, so does the length of time the snow is present. The longer the length of time snow is present on the slopes, the longer skiers, snowboarders, and the like are able to use a resort. However, unpredictable weather patterns can produce winters with low production of natural snow.
Therefore, winter sporting resorts have long recognized the need for making artificial snow. However, snowmaking is both capital and labor intensive. Generally, two different types of snowmaking systems exist, namely, fluidless systems and fluid/liquid systems. However, both fluidless and fluid/liquid systems typically require outdoor operating temperatures below 28 degrees F. (−2 degrees C.) (wetbulb) to operate properly.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment of the disclosure, a snowmaking apparatus is disclosed that includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet and an axial center, an air moving device disposed within the housing configured to propel fluid from the inlet through the outlet, and a structure disposed proximate the outlet and extending from the housing towards the axial center. The structure includes at least one snow particle generator for providing ice crystals and at least one nozzle for providing liquid droplets to the propelled fluid.
In another embodiment of the disclosure, a method of producing artificial snow is disclosed that includes providing a mass of propelled fluid through a housing having an inlet and an outlet, forming ice crystals and liquid droplets, and injecting the ice crystals and liquid droplets into the mass of propelled fluid from a structure disposed within the housing proximate the outlet.
Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims.
In one embodiment, the pressurized liquid may be water and the compressed fluid may be air. However, the liquid and fluid are not limited to water and air, respectively. That is, both liquid and fluid may be composed partially or entirely of other materials. The term ice, as used herein, refers to a solid state of a substance resembling ice, and is not limited to water in a solid state.
As shown in
Referring to
The distribution system 85 includes a plurality of peripheral nozzles 78, such as V-jet nozzles, arranged concentrically in three concentric circles at outlet 56 of housing 36. In one embodiment, nozzles 78 may be arranged in one, two, three or more than three concentric circles. In another embodiment, nozzles 78 may be arranged in two concentric circles. Distribution system 85 is in fluid communication with a pressurized liquid supply through a valve assembly 82 and a manifold 81 attached to a rear surface (not shown) of distribution system 85. In one embodiment, peripheral nozzles 78 in distribution system 85 are inclined inward at an angle between about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees so that during operation of snowmaking apparatus 10 the spray pattern of each nozzle 78 is directed into the fluidflow exiting housing 36 to inject the formed liquid droplets into the fluidflow. In another embodiment, the nozzles 78 are inclined inward at an angle of about 15 degrees. In another embodiment having a distribution system 85 having three concentric circles of nozzles 78, the nozzles 78 on the inside circle are inclined inward at an angle between about 10 degrees and about 18 degrees, and preferably about 12 degrees, and the nozzles 78 on the middle circle are inclined inward at an angle between about 8 degrees and about 15 degrees, and preferably about 10 degrees, and the nozzles 78 on the outside ring are inclined inward at an angle between about 5 degrees and about 10 degrees, and preferably about 8 degrees. For reference, a 0 degree inclination would be parallel to the fluidflow, and a 90 degree inclination would be perpendicular to the fluidflow.
In one embodiment, nozzles 78 produce a flat spray pattern in the shape of a triangle having a spray angle of between about 25 degrees to about 65 degrees. In another embodiment, nozzles 78 produce a flat spray pattern in the shape of a triangle having a spray angle of between about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees. In yet another embodiment, nozzles 78 produce a flat spray pattern in the shape of a triangle having a spray angle of about 50 degrees. In still another embodiment, the spray pattern may be in a shape other than a flat triangle, for example, the spray pattern may be in a cone or cylindrical shaped pattern.
During operation of snowmaking apparatus 10, liquid is supplied to nozzles 78 under a pressure between about 175 pounds per square inch (psi) and 600 psi to form liquid droplets, which are injected into the propelled fluid. In another embodiment, liquid is supplied to nozzles 78 at a pressure of between about 250 psi and about 500 psi. In yet another embodiment, liquid is supplied to the nozzles 78 at a pressure of about 300 psi.
Still referring to
Inner liquid ring 108 is in fluid communication with inner ring peripheral nozzles 78A, middle liquid ring 110 is in fluid communication with middle ring peripheral nozzles 78B, and outer liquid ring 112 is in fluid communication with outer ring peripheral nozzles 78C. Inner liquid ring 108 is also in fluid communication with inner fluid ring connection 126A, middle fluid ring 110 is also in fluid communication with middle fluid ring connection 126B, and outer fluid ring 112 is also in fluid communication with outer fluid ring connection 126C. In one exemplary embodiment peripheral nozzles 78A, 78B, and 78C are radially oriented inward towards housing central axis 121 along spray direction 120 by an inclination angle as discussed above.
In an alternative embodiment, liquid rings 108, 110, and 112 are each made from three independent circular pipes (not shown) that form distribution system 85. In yet another embodiment, each of three liquid rings 108, 110, and 112 may be operated independently of one another, with or without simultaneous operation of structure 84.
In one embodiment, valve assembly 82 is configured to regulate pressurized liquid to the middle liquid ring connection 126B and inner liquid ring connection 126A while permitting pressurized liquid to flow to the structure 85 and outer liquid ring connection 126C unregulated, or in other words without valving.
While only certain features and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art (for example, variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, such as, but not limited to temperatures, pressures, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc., without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described (that is, those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode of carrying out the invention, or those unrelated to enabling the claimed invention). It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.
Claims
1. A snowmaking apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having an inlet, an outlet and an axial center;
- an air moving device disposed within the housing configured to propel fluid from the inlet through the outlet;
- a structure disposed proximate the outlet and extending from the housing towards the axial center;
- wherein the structure comprises at least one snow particle generator for providing ice crystals and at least one nozzle for providing liquid droplets to the propelled fluid.
2. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing and the air moving device are configured to propel fluid at a rate between about 6,000 cfm and about 25,000c fin through the housing.
3. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fluid compressor configured to provide compressed fluid to the at least one snow particle generator.
4. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises at least two pressurized liquid channels and a compressed fluid channel, the at least two pressurized fluid channels and compressed fluid channel configured to provide pressurized liquid and compressed fluid, respectively, to the at least one snow particle generator, and wherein the at least two pressurized liquid channels are further configured to provide pressurized liquid to the at least one nozzle.
5. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle produces a flat spray pattern in the shape of a triangle having a spray angle of between about 15 degrees to about 65 degrees.
6. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a distribution system having at least one nozzle configured to spray additional liquid droplets into the propelled fluid.
7. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one nozzle of the distribution system is inclined inward toward the propelled fluid at an angle of about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees.
8. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 6, wherein the distribution system comprises an inner liquid ring, a middle liquid ring and an outer liquid ring.
9. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inner liquid ring is in fluid communication with at least one nozzle inclined inward at an angle between about 10 degrees and about 18 degrees, and the middle liquid ring is in fluid communication with at least one nozzle inclined inward at an angle between about 8 degrees and about 15 degrees, and the outer liquid ring is in fluid communication with at least one nozzle inclined inward at an angle between about 5 degrees and about 10 degrees.
10. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a manifold configured to provide pressurized liquid and compressed fluid to the structure and to provide pressurized liquid to the distribution system.
11. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a valve assembly configured to regulate pressurized liquid to the middle liquid ring and inner liquid ring while providing pressurized liquid to the structure and outer liquid ring unregulated.
12. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle is a V-jet nozzle.
13. The snowmaking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one snow particle generator is at least one nucleator.
14. A method for producing artificial snow, comprising:
- providing a mass of propelled fluid through a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
- forming ice crystals and liquid droplets; and
- injecting the ice crystals and liquid droplets into the mass of propelled fluid from a structure disposed within the housing proximate the outlet.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mass of propelled fluid is provided at between about 6,000 cfm and about 25,000 cfm.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- forming additional liquid droplets around the perimeter of the propelled fluid; and
- injecting the additional liquid droplets into the propelled fluid.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the additional liquid droplets are injected into the propelled fluid at an inclination angle between about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the additional liquid droplets are injected into the propelled fluid from at least two concentric circles surrounding the perimeter of the propelled fluid.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the additional liquid droplets are injected into the propelled fluid from three concentric liquid rings, and the three concentric liquid rings inject fluid from a nozzle at an inclined angle between about 10 degrees and about 18 degrees in fluid communication with an inner liquid ring, a nozzle at an inclined angle between about 8 degrees and about 15 degrees in fluid communication with a middle liquid ring, and a nozzle at an inclined angle between about 5 degrees and about 10 degrees in fluid communication with an outer liquid ring.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the liquid droplets, additional liquid droplets and ice crystals inject liquid into the propelled fluid at a rate of 150 gal/min max at 18 degrees F. (wet bulb) to form artificial snow.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 30, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 5, 2009
Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY (Holland, MI)
Inventor: Craig D. KINCADE (Stuarts Draft, VA)
Application Number: 12/182,371
International Classification: F25C 3/04 (20060101);