Artificial Snow Jet Layout for Lower Fan Power Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snowmaking devices require high ventilation power to mix air and water effectively, leading to increased energy consumption and costs.
Innovation Solution
A device that produces artificial snow by combining a central air or water jet with a peripheral jet of the opposite fluid, arranged to have parallel contours and distributed nucleation jets, optimizing energy use and reducing power requirements through the protection and delayed mixing of jets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a turbine is used to produce air flow for mixing with water jets, then the air/water mixture quality is improved, but the ventilation power consumption increases significantly (12 to 20 kW)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the air flow into a central jet and multiple peripheral jets that are projected separately and then mixed. This segmentation allows each jet to be optimized independently, reducing the total power required while maintaining effective mixing for snow production.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral jets are projected at specific locations around the central jet, creating localized regions of high-velocity flow that enhance mixing efficiency. This local optimization of flow characteristics reduces the overall power requirement compared to a uniform turbine-driven flow.
2Productivity
If high ventilation power is used to carry water and mix droplets, then the artificial snow production is improved, but the energy consumption and structural costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines a central air jet with peripheral air jets and water jets in a coordinated manner, creating an integrated flow system that achieves effective snow production. The merging of these multiple streams at controlled locations improves productivity while reducing the energy required compared to a single high-power turbine system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-axis turbine flow to a multi-dimensional jet configuration with central and peripheral components projected in different spatial directions. This dimensional expansion allows for more efficient use of energy by creating multiple mixing zones throughout the projection path.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device produces high-quality artificial snow with reduced fan power consumption, achieving optimal output while minimizing energy usage and material costs.
Implementation Method 1
nucleation means for the production of at least one nucleation jet intended to form crystals of ice, to favour the production of artificial snow from the cooperation of the central and peripheral jets
Implementation Method 2
means for producing a peripheral jet consisted by a second fluid chosen among water or air and different from said first fluid, which peripheral jet has a generally tubular shape defining an internal contour and an axis of projection, which peripheral jet is intended to be projected over the whole or substantially the whole periphery of the central jet
Data Source
AI summary
A device for producing artificial snow includes: elements (100) for producing a central jet (101) consisted by a first fluid chosen among air or water; elements (110) for producing a peripheral jet (111) consisted by a second fluid chosen among water or air and different from the first fluid; and nucleation elements (120) for the production of at least one nucleation jet (121). The elements for producing the central jet and the elements for producing the peripheral jet are arranged in such a manner that the opposite contours (103, 114) of their respective jets each define a generating line, which opposite generating lines extend parallel or at least approximately parallel to each other; moreover, the nucleation elements (120) are distributed over the external periphery of the elements (110) for producing the peripheral jet (111).