Snowfall Bowl

Abstract

A snow bowl collector for environmental monitoring includes a snow bowl, a snow sensor, a snow receiving cover, receiving holes, a spring, an insulation layer, a central control module, a filtration module, a temperature control module, an electrical supply module, a temperature sensor, a liquid level sensor, a filter layer, a filtration conduit, and a liquid collection cup. The outer layer of the snow bowl body is surrounded by an insulation layer, the upper portion of the snow bowl is covered by a snow receiving cover, the snow sensor is located at the top of the snow receiving cover, and the snow receiving cover is evenly distributed with receiving holes. The receiving holes are closed by springs during normal operation and opened by the springs during snowfall, allowing the receiving holes to receive snow into the snow bowl. The present invention can achieve automated, multi-angle collection of atmospheric snowfall, and can melt snow while collecting according to the sampling method in accordance with GB13580.2-92, and automatically process snowmelt water according to test items. It is suitable for collecting atmospheric snowfall in extremely cold regions and complex field environments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of environmental monitoring and is a bowl-shaped collector for collecting atmospheric snowfall. Background Art

[0002] The annually issued "National Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Program" for ecological and environmental monitoring requires monitoring of acid rain indicators, covering both atmospheric precipitation and snowfall. Monitoring factors include pH, conductivity, sulfate, nitrate, fluoride, chloride, ammonium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. While there are a wide variety of precipitation samplers on the market, and the technology is relatively mature, there is less research on automatic snowfall samplers. According to GB13580.2-92, pH and conductivity in precipitation (snowfall must be melted into an aqueous solution) can be measured directly in solution. However, monitoring factors such as sulfate, nitrate, fluoride, chloride, ammonium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium must be filtered through a 0.45μm filter membrane before testing, and the sample must be stored for only 24 hours.

[0003] Currently, all snow samplers on the market collect raw snow, which monitoring personnel need to take back to the laboratory to melt before filtering and analyzing. Based on the average indoor temperature of 25°C in Northeast China, the time required for natural melting of the minimum amount of snow sample required for the 11 items tested is about 20 hours. Under the 24-hour time limit, the time left for laboratory personnel to extract, filter and analyze is stretched. Therefore, the development of an atmospheric snow sampler that is different from precipitation samplers and suitable for cold regions such as Northeast China, which can collect snow while melting and automatically filter, is of great practical significance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to develop an automatic snow collector suitable for cold regions such as Northeast China. This device allows for simultaneous snow collection and melting, automatically filtering snowmelt water. The filtered aqueous solution is analyzed for indicators such as sulfate, nitrate, fluoride, chloride, ammonium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium ions, while the raw water is analyzed for pH and conductivity. This snow collector can be assembled and carried at any time, meeting the needs of field environmental monitoring and is simple and practical.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0006] A snowfall bowl collector for use in the field of environmental monitoring, comprising a snowfall bowl, a snow sensor, a snowfall receiving cover, receiving holes, shrapnel, an insulation layer, a central control module, a filtration module, a temperature control module, an electrical supply module, a temperature sensor, a liquid level sensor, a filter layer, a filtration duct, and a liquid collecting cup; wherein the outer layer of the snowfall bowl body is surrounded by the insulation layer, the upper part of the snowfall bowl is covered by the snowfall receiving cover, the snow sensor is located at the top of the snowfall receiving cover, and the snowfall receiving cover is evenly distributed with receiving holes, which are closed by shrapnel on a daily basis and opened by the shrapnel when snow falls, and the receiving holes receive the snowfall into the snowfall bowl.

[0007] Furthermore, a snow sensor is provided on the top of the snow receiving cover, a liquid level sensor is distributed on the top of the snow bowl, and a temperature sensor is distributed in the middle.

[0008] Furthermore, the snow sensor transmits the snowfall signal to the central control module when snowfall occurs. The central control module controls the spring to open and the receiving hole to receive the snowfall. When the snowfall stops naturally or the liquid level sensor senses that the liquid level in the snow bowl has topped out, the central control module controls the spring to close to the receiving hole and the snowfall receiving cover stops working.

[0009] Furthermore, the snow sensor can be a suitable design that can meet the functions of the patent of the present invention, and transmit the snowfall signal and the snow stop signal to the central control module based on wireless or limited transmission, and open and close the spring clip on the snow receiving cover.

[0010] Furthermore, the snow receiving cover, receiving hole and shrapnel are made of suitable materials that can meet the requirements of the present invention. The size of the receiving hole should match the shrapnel and be positively correlated with the volume of snow collected by the snow bowl. When there is no snow, the closed gap between the receiving hole and the shrapnel should not affect the thermal insulation effect of the snow bowl as a minimum requirement.

[0011] Furthermore, the outer layer of the snow bowl is surrounded by an insulation layer. The space between the bottom of the snow bowl and the insulation layer is designed as a slot, which houses the central control module, filtration module, temperature control module, power supply module, filtration conduit, and liquid collection cup. The slots do not interfere with each other, allowing for both wired and wireless transmission connections.

[0012] Furthermore, the central control module is the central control system of the entire snow bowl collector, which controls the snow sensor, the receiving hole and shrapnel on the snow receiving cover, the filtration module, the temperature control module, the power supply module, the temperature sensor, the liquid level sensor, and the filtration duct through wired, wireless and other suitable connection and transmission methods.

[0013] Furthermore, the snow bowl can be made of suitable materials that can meet the heating function and have thermal insulation effect. The external thermal insulation layer is a suitable material such as solid, liquid, gas, etc. that can achieve the thermal insulation effect. The specific thermal insulation effect is defined as minimizing the output power of the temperature control module to achieve the melting of snow in the snow bowl and the non-condensation of the melted snow water in the liquid collection cup.

[0014] Furthermore, the snow bowl can be heated by the temperature control module, and the heating temperature can be transmitted to the central control module by the temperature sensor. After the snow is completely melted, the central control module controls the temperature control module to stop heating.

[0015] Furthermore, the power supply module can be directly supplied by the mains, or indirectly supplied by a new energy type battery pack such as solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, etc. Any form that can meet the power supply needs of the patent of this invention is allowed.

[0016] Furthermore, a filter layer is installed at the bottom of the snow bowl, allowing some meltwater to pass through the filter layer and into the collection cup via a suction duct. This snow collection method, based on the spring-loaded springs and the receiving holes, automatically removes dust and large impurities from the air into the snow bowl collector, while small particles and impurities mixed in with the snow are trapped in the filter layer.

[0017] Furthermore, the filter layer is composed of a 0.45-micron filter membrane that meets the requirements of GB13580.2-92 covered on a sand core filter bottom, and the filter membrane is regularly replaced based on the frequency of collecting a snowfall cycle.

[0018] Furthermore, the liquid level sensor transmits the collected snowmelt water volume signal to the central control module, and the central control module controls the filtration module to perform filtration. Half of the snowmelt water can enter the liquid collection cup through the filtration tube for analysis and testing of sulfate, nitrate, fluoride, chloride, ammonium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium ions; the remaining half of the original snowmelt water in the snow bowl is used for pH and conductivity testing.

[0019] Furthermore, the materials of the filtration tube and the liquid collection cup can be suitable materials that can complete the filtration operation and do not affect the analysis of sulfate, nitrate, fluoride, chloride, ammonium, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium ions.

[0020] Furthermore, the main body of the filtration module is composed of a filtration pump and circuits to realize the filtration operation of snowmelt water.

[0021] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0022] First, it can realize the automated and multi-angle collection of atmospheric snowfall.

[0023] Secondly, the sampling method of GB13580.2-92 can be used to collect and melt snow at the same time, and the snowmelt water can be automatically processed according to the test items. The samples can be transported back to the laboratory for direct testing, reducing the time pressure on the laboratory technicians for analysis and testing.

[0024] Third, the internal space of the bowl adopts a card slot design. The whole device is simple, efficient, easy to carry, practical and highly malleable. It is suitable for cold regions such as the Northeast and can be used in complex and harsh outdoor climate environments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a snow bowl collector used in environmental monitoring.

[0026] Figure 2 Transmission control diagram.

[0027] The numbers in the figure are: 1 is the insulation layer, 2 is the central control module, 3 is the filtration module, 4 is the temperature control module, 5 is the power supply module, 6 is the temperature sensor, 7 is the liquid level sensor, 8 is the snow receiving cover, 9 is the snow sensor, 10 is the receiving hole, 11 is the shrapnel, 12 is the snow bowl, 13 is the filter layer, 14 is the filtration duct, and 15 is the liquid collecting cup. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples, but is not limited to the contents of the present invention.

[0029] A snow bowl collector for use in the field of environmental monitoring, characterized in that it comprises a snow bowl (12), a snow sensor (9), a snow receiving cover (8), a receiving hole (10), a shrapnel (11), an insulation layer (1), a central control module (2), a filtration module (3), a temperature control module (4), an electric supply module (5), a temperature sensor (6), a liquid level sensor (7), a filter layer (13), a filtration conduit (14), and a liquid collecting cup (15); wherein the outer layer of the main body of the snow bowl (12) is surrounded by the insulation layer (1), the upper part of the snow bowl (12) is covered by the snow receiving cover (8), the snow sensor (9) is located at the top of the snow receiving cover (8), the snow receiving cover (8) is evenly distributed with receiving holes (10), and the daily receiving holes (10) are closed by the shrapnel (11).

[0030] Place the snow bowl on a 1.2-meter-high bracket according to the sampling specifications, open the snow receiving cover (8), replace the microporous filter membrane of the filter layer (13), check the connection between the filter layer (13), the filtration tube (14), and the liquid collection cup (15), and close the snow receiving cover (8) after ensuring that the connection is airtight; debug the transmission and connection of the snow sensor (9), snow receiving cover (8), receiving hole (10), shrapnel (11), central control module (2), filtration module (3), temperature control module (4), power supply module (5), temperature sensor (6), and liquid level sensor (7) to ensure normal signal transmission.

[0031] When snow falls in the atmosphere, the snow sensor (9) transmits a signal to the central control module (2). The central control module (2) controls the spring piece (11) on the snow receiving cover (8) to open, and the receiving hole (10) begins to receive snowfall. The spring piece (11) adjusts its direction under the control of the central control module (2) according to the wind speed and the direction of snowfall, on the one hand accelerating the collection of snowfall, and on the other hand preventing dust and large impurities in the air from entering the snowfall bowl (12).

[0032] After the shrapnel (11) is opened, the central control module (2) controls the temperature control module (4) to heat the snow bowl (12), and the collected snow will melt in the snow bowl (12). 24 hours is used as a snow collection cycle. After a collection cycle ends or the liquid level sensor (7) detects that the liquid level in the snow bowl (12) has reached the top, the snow collection is stopped, and the central control module (2) controls the shrapnel (11) and the receiving hole (10) on the snow receiving cover (8) to close.

[0033] After the spring (11) on the snowfall receiving cover (8) is closed, the central control module (2) synchronously starts the extraction and filtration module (3). The liquid level sensor (7) automatically extracts half of the snowmelt water from the snow bowl (12) through the extraction duct (14) to the liquid collection cup (15) according to the volume of the snowmelt water. Small particles and impurities in the snow are trapped on the filter layer (13). If the amount of snowfall is very small and the amount of snowmelt water in the snow bowl (12) is lower than the minimum detection value of the liquid level sensor (7), the extraction and filtration module (3) stops working and a snow collection cycle ends.

[0034] After the snowfall ends, manually open the snowfall receiving cover (8) and simultaneously collect the remaining snowmelt water in the snowfall bowl (12) and the filtered snowmelt water in the collection cup (15) into corresponding containers and bring them back to the laboratory for testing. Clean the filter layer (13) and the suction duct (14), and replace the 0.45 micron filter membrane. Check the power supply module (5) to ensure that the power is sufficient to maintain the next snowfall sampling cycle.

[0035] Technical features not described in the present invention can be achieved by or using existing technologies and will not be described in detail here. The above examples and drawings are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, which will be understood by those skilled in the art. Any reproduction or improvement made by those skilled in the art without creative work shall still fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A snow bowl collector for environmental monitoring, characterized by: The invention comprises a snow bowl (12), a snow sensor (9), a snow receiving cover (8), a receiving hole (10), a shrapnel (11), an insulation layer (1), a central control module (2), a filtration module (3), a temperature control module (4), an electric supply module (5), a temperature sensor (6), a liquid level sensor (7), a filter layer (13), a filtration conduit (14), and a liquid collecting cup (15); wherein the outer layer of the main body of the snow bowl (12) is surrounded by the insulation layer (1), the upper part of the snow bowl (12) is covered by the snow receiving cover (8), the snow sensor (9) is located at the top of the snow receiving cover (8), the snow receiving cover (8) is evenly distributed with receiving holes (10), and the daily receiving holes (10) are closed by the shrapnel (11); A filter layer (13) is provided at the bottom of the snow bowl (12), and part of the melted snowwater passes through the filter layer (13) and enters the liquid collecting cup (15) via the suction filtration conduit (14); A liquid level sensor (7) is distributed on the top of the snow bowl (12), and a temperature sensor (6) is distributed in the middle; The snow bowl (12) is heated by the temperature control module (4), and the heating temperature is transmitted to the central control module (2) by the temperature sensor (6). After the snow is completely melted, the central control module (2) controls the temperature control module (4) to stop heating; The snow bowl (12) is covered with a snow receiving cover (8), and the snow receiving cover (8) is evenly distributed with receiving holes (10). When there is no snowfall, the receiving holes (10) are closed by the springs (11). The snow sensor (9) transmits the snowfall signal to the central control module (2). The central control module (2) controls the springs (11) to open, and the receiving holes (10) receive the snowfall. The snow receiving cover is conical. The size of the receiving hole (10) should match that of the shrapnel (11) and be positively correlated with the volume of snow collected by the snow bowl (12). When there is no snow, the gap between the receiving hole (10) and the shrapnel (11) should be such that it does not affect the insulation effect of the snow bowl (12). The angle at which the shrapnel (11) opens to receive snowfall is controlled by the central control module (2). The tilt angle of the shrapnel (11) is adjusted according to the snowfall wind speed and the falling angle of the snowflakes. The snowflakes fall to the shrapnel (11) and enter the snowfall bowl (12) through the receiving hole (10), completing the collection. The shrapnel (11) adjusts its direction under the control of the central control module (2) according to the wind speed and the direction of snowfall, on the one hand accelerating the collection of snowfall, and on the other hand preventing dust and large impurities in the air from entering the snowfall bowl (12).

2. The snow bowl collector for environmental monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer layer of the main body of the snow bowl (12) is surrounded by a thermal insulation layer (1), and a central control module (2), a filtration module (3), a temperature control module (4), an electric supply module (5), a filtration conduit (14), and a liquid collection cup (15) are distributed between the bottom of the snow bowl (12) and the thermal insulation layer (1).

3. The snow bowl collector for environmental monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The snow bowl (12) is in airtight connection with the snow receiving cover (8), and the snow receiving cover (8) is the only snow collecting device.

4. The snow bowl collector for environmental monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The snow sensor (9) transmits the snowfall signal and the snow stop signal to the central control module (2) based on wireless or limited transmission, and opens and closes the spring (11) on the snowfall receiving cover (8).

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