How to make a snow gun. Ice sculptures, Ice figures, Ice towns in the winter season. Recipe for good snow

54 years ago at the VII winter Olympic Games in the Italian city of Cortina d'Ampezzo, when an active entrepreneur proposed to put his invention on the slope - a snow cannon, the businessman was accused of fraud. Meanwhile, the weather did not at all favor skiing and slalom competitions. Therefore, military personnel had to take the rap for her whims : at night, conscripts delivered snow from nearby areas.Now snow cannons are a mandatory attribute of many competitions.A rare skier has not observed their work.At first glance, the action of miracle machines may seem too simple: huge blades spray water, which turns into snow in the cold.On in fact, everything is much more complicated.

STEEL ARMS

The principle of dispersal of clouds with the help of water condensation around artificial centers of condensation, successfully approached the formation of mechanical snow. For snowmaking, a crystallizing agent is now increasingly used - a special natural protein Snowmax, which perfectly copes with the task of attracting water molecules.

In older snow gun installations, water was mixed with compressed air and forced through nozzles at high pressure into a stream of air produced by a strong fan. Compressed air carried out three tasks at once: it sprayed water, threw the resulting droplets into the air, and additionally cooled the water. The latter effect is based on the fact that gases cool during adiabatic expansion. If you open a can of carbon dioxide, it will immediately cool down to sub-zero temperatures.

The disadvantage of such a scheme is excessive waste of air. It was in connection with this that the old guns were modernized, now they operate according to a two-stage process. First, by mixing compressed air and a small amount of water, tiny ice crystals are formed - the “embryos” of mechanical snow. Then they fall into a stream of water sprayed by powerful fans, which, crystallizing on them, quickly forms snow.

A characteristic feature of all guns is a strong fan that releases a water-air mixture over tens of meters. During the period of this flight, crystals of mechanical snow have time to form, in addition, due to the range of the snow cannon, it is possible to cover vast areas with snow.

SNOW GUN WORKING CONDITIONS

The modernized system of mechanical snow formation is a complex engineering structures and devices, which includes:

• water intake facility;
• filtration system;
• pumping and/or compressor stations;
• quick-assembly pipeline;
• special fittings (hydrants, valves);
• measuring and diagnostic devices;
• sleeves high pressure;
• automatic tracking and control system;
• snow guns and guns;
• weather station.

To fan snow guns low pressure could function, it needs electricity and water supply from the pumping station. Liquid under pressure is directed to the ring with nozzles located in the outlet nozzle of the gun fan. The nozzles spray water, and small drops, picked up by the air jet of the fan, turn into small snowflakes during the flight. The movement of the blades provides a "range of fire" of about thirty meters.

Different guns produce different quantity snow, from 10 to 150 cubic meters per hour. The quality of snow depends on the temperature of the air and the size of the water droplets fired: the further they fly and the colder it is outside, the better the quality of the snow. Upgraded guns very compact. They are made not only from steel, but also from lightweight materials: aluminum and composite plastic. This greatly facilitates the transportation of guns.

In the normal configuration, the guns are mounted on a stationary tripod, and to increase the snowmaking area and transport along the slopes, they can be equipped with wheels, sleds or a tower with a lifting mechanism, since the weight of the heaviest models is several hundred kilograms.

True, there are also very small units. For example, the Swiss mini-gun weighing only 98 kg can be used anywhere, even in the country. For it to function, all you need is two standard sockets and a faucet. True, it will be necessary to wait until the air temperature drops to 1-3 degrees below zero. The unit, called "Home Snow", is capable of producing from 1 to 1.5 cubic meters of snow per hour using a 1800-watt compressor, which can be used as a high-pressure vacuum cleaner or pump in summer.

The existence of snow cannons does not solve all problems. There are aspects that depend on the circumstances of snow formation. The most important parameters here will be temperature and relative humidity (the ratio of water vapor actually contained in the air to the amount of water vapor corresponding to the state of saturation). It turns out that water is cooled by its own partial evaporation, in other words, the transition of part of the liquid into vapor. But the higher the relative humidity, the slower will be the evaporation process, and hence the cooling.

Because of this, at low relative humidity snow formation is possible at temperatures above 0°C. If the humidity is high and the temperature is low, it will rain instead of snow.

In the case when the relative humidity is 30%, snow guns can only be started at a temperature of -1°C, such conditions are considered positive for the formation of snow. If the temperature drops below -6.7°C, then snow can be created even at a relative humidity of 100%. At temperatures below -10 ° C, humidity can be completely ignored.

In fact, the circumstances of snow formation can differ not only on different tracks. The conditions for the formation of snow may also be different for several nearby standing guns. It often happens that one unit is already actively producing snow, while for another, located 200 m away, the conditions are still unsuitable. Previously, the operation of "cold weapons" was observed by professionals who checked the equipment and decided when and which unit to turn on. Now they are being replaced by computer systems controlled from a mobile center.

COMMON MODELS

Often in our country you can see the Super Wizzard cannon on the snowy hills, it is mounted on a support or a trolley on three wheels. The water spray system includes 20 nozzles, the circuits include 5 rings with 75 nozzles each. The unit is capable of turning 360 degrees, there is also a vertical adjustment from -10 to 60 degrees, it is possible that the gun can be equipped with a rotary device. We also have self-propelled snow guns Kashiyama KB 911-Z, which are capable of moving at a speed of 8 km / h. They work on a diesel engine, which, together with the hydraulic system, makes the snow gun move, so you can do without electricity, only water is needed to produce snow. Also common are the FA-540-W automatic snow guns, which can adapt to unique working conditions by providing the right amount of snow.

AT last years Europe is quite warm even in winter. “There is no snow” - in the mountains this is no longer a joke, but the harsh truth of life. Because of this, starts are postponed, training camps are canceled, training is postponed. Moreover, “no snow” does not always mean that it really does not exist at all. It just doesn’t lie where it’s supposed to, or doesn’t cover the entire track, or even covers it, but it’s unsuitable for skiing - it’s too damp ... It happens that ski tournaments are held in a city park or in a square where there is never so much snow at all, how much is needed for this, and there have never been mountains: instead of slopes, an artificial track several floors high is being built, and real snow can lie on it - just not local.

We had a similar experience: they brought snow from Siberia, 4,000 kilometers by car, ”says Ekaterina Selyametova, president of the New League sports directorate, to RR. - We negotiated with the leadership of local ski slopes, they willingly went forward. In this case, the snow is pressed so that it does not melt, it is folded into special polyethylene containers - big bags - and on truck delivered to the place.

Last year, the New League in several stages carried snow to Moscow, which was needed by the organizers of the Freestyle World Cup stage. The tournament was supposed to be held in the center of the city, in Gorky Park, the weather turned out to be very cold - minus fifteen, but completely dry. The organizers did not count on this, they did not set up snow cannons, and the participants have already gathered from all over the world. There was not a single snowflake in the air, and the snow parcel brought from Siberia on the last day before the tournament came in handy. Athletes and coaches themselves dragged the bags to the top of the artificial track - to the height of an eight-story building.

water volley

In general, natural snow is much less suitable for professional competitions - they usually use only artificial snow. Simply because it is much easier to drive it into the right quality framework to provide all athletes with a perfect glide.

Artificial does not mean synthetic. Nothing to do with sparkling polyethylene, snowdrifts lying around Christmas trees in apartments. Artificial means created not by nature, but by technology. But otherwise, this snow is no different from the present.

We are talking about the so-called snow guns - the most common means of correcting weather shortcomings. Today, such guns (officially they are called snow guns) are at all ski resorts.

The principle of their operation from the outside seems not very complicated, but one such generator is served by a huge expensive system. It includes not only the cannon itself (mast, in the form of a high stick, or fan, like a large turbine), but also devices for taking water, filters, good resorts even bactericidal, a high pressure pump, pipes for supplying water to each gun and an electrical cable. At the same time, pipes are usually buried in the ground so that they do not freeze.

Snow is made from pressurized water, said Is-SpoRt, a manufacturer and trader of ski slope equipment, to PP. - The system has two types of nozzles, mechanical atomizers. One is nucleators: here, water supplied by a high-pressure pump is mixed with compressed cooled air from a compressor, and a "snowflake germ" is obtained. The second is ordinary water nozzles, through which water is simply sprayed under high pressure.

Water particles, mixed with air in the nucleator, are ejected with force from tiny holes - with a sharp expansion, the air cools and freezes the water. At the same time, the smallest drops of ordinary water from another nozzle are glued to the “embryo”. The fan of the cannon drives all this away, the water freezes, falling to the ground with snow. The further the water flies away from the generator, the more time it has, the better the snow will turn out. That's all. No chemistry.

As a result, the banal spraying of water turns into a real science. It is easy to check its ingenuity, you just have to try to spray water from a spray bottle on a frosty night. Even if it has time to freeze, there will be no snow - there will be ice. And all because to get the perfect snowflake, you need to take into account the temperature of air, water, humidity and the necessary pressure.

Many conditions must be strictly observed, - says Ekaterina Selyametova. - If you need a large amount of snow, then necessary condition- the air temperature is minus five and below, and the temperature of the water that is poured into snow cannons should not be higher than plus three. If you do not need a very large volume or have a lot of time left for preparation, then you can use guns that create ice chips - it can be used even at high positive temperatures: up to plus thirty. However, there is a nuance: ice chips are not suitable for professional competitions. It can be used as a base for snow or for recreational skiing.

The quality of snow is determined by its density. If for tourist routes a suitable density is from 380 to 420 kilograms per cubic meter, then for high-speed descent of snow it should be 500 kilograms per cubic meter. Its density depends on the structure of the snowflake: the less fluffy it is, the denser it is. All this can now be controlled on the snow machine, automatically setting the quality of the snow. For example, I ordered “snow quality No. 5” - and the equipment itself will do everything so that the output has a certain density. The weather station will determine the air temperature and humidity, and then the required water temperature and the desired pressure. Hypothetically, now all this can be done without human intervention, but after all, pressing the button should not be thoughtless.

Unfortunately, nothing can be solved by pressing a button, and the person responsible for the quality of the snow must be there, Selyametova assures. - They call him snowman. His task is to fully study a particular route, delve into its features, calculate what problems, including weather problems, may arise, and be ready for their prompt solution. And the quality of the snow is checked by hand.

Snowing a slope is not a cheap pleasure: 1 km of the route for a good European resort costs 1 million euros. The price depends on the time for which it is necessary to achieve the result: the more it is, the cheaper it is. Therefore, our resorts prefer to stretch the process for two weeks, while abroad they fit in a couple of days - before the change weather conditions. After all, artificial snow must be protected from direct sun rays and rain, and it is rain that is especially terrible.

And yet, despite all the difficulties, artificial snow is wildly popular. The installation of such a system allows you to extend tourist season for several months and almost always carry out the necessary starts. And if something is covered, you can bring snow from afar. The only condition is that sub-zero temperatures are still desirable for all this. So to hold a snowboard contest in the middle of the Sahara is not yet possible. But in the city center in winter or even in spring - no problem.

Rice. 18. Snow gun ESG-260

The key factors affecting the quality of artificial snow are:

air and water temperature,

Air humidity,

Features of artificial snow system (By cooling the water, the production and quality of artificial snow can be greatly improved)

In addition, the slope angle plays important role: the steeper the mountain, the farther the particles are sprayed, respectively, the snowmaking of the slope is better.

On average, the initial level of snow cover on the slope is 0.29–0.30 m, at an air temperature of -4 -6 C°, water temperature of +4 C°. With such parameters for snowmaking one square meter slope requires 0.45 cubic meters. water and 0.388 kWh of energy.

The quantity and quality of artificial snow produced directly depends on air and water temperature, water pressure, etc. When using snow equipment, on average, the temperature can be from -1.5 C° to -13 C°. At T= -13 C°, the equipment will work with the greatest efficiency, but even if the temperature drops below, the guns will continue to produce high quality artificial snow.

Classification of snow guns

Propeller snow guns

the productivity of a propeller snow gun is 5 times higher than a mast one

the ability to direct the flow of snow even in strong winds

high snow range

high snow quality at 8-35 bar water pressure

the equipment will operate at a water pressure from 11 to 660 l / s.

snow quality can be adjusted automatically

high performance at – 6 -7 С°

Mast guns

for work in calm area/weather

in the presence of high water pressure (30-40 Bar)

with a width of slopes of medium size

easy transportation

for slopes where the snow cover needs to be updated frequently

Multifunctionality of snow cannons is possible, for example, it is possible to connect snowmaking and trail lighting systems. which is the advantage of this type of ice generators.

Characteristics of high-quality artificial snow produced by snow guns

Snow quality is an interesting and controversial issue. The weight of the snow (eg 400-450 kg/m) is the weight of the water in the snow, in addition, the level of density and the structure of the crystals are important characteristics. Snow weight is not the only indicator of its quality. The most important indicators of high-quality artificial snowmaking are:

high resistance to melting

snow that does not roll off the slope when skiing

minimum energy use in snow production

For high-quality slope snowmaking, the particle flight distance plays an important role because:

freezing of droplets continues even during the flight of particles in the air

the possibility of producing snow with the required level of humidity

guns can work in dry air

the first snow is soft

Principle of operation

Stage 1: Initial droplet size 100µm

Stage 2: Small chilled droplets combine with large droplets

Stage 3: Droplets reach their final size, water cooling with minimal evaporation

Stage 4: The removed particles are combined and frozen

Stage 5: Snow distribution occurs without adding water

Outcome: The fundamental disadvantage of a snow gun is seasonality. Accordingly, it is not possible to use this type of ice maker at any time of the year, except for winter. Thus, the snow gun meets the regulatory requirements, but is completely impractical to use.

We have the lowest prices!

Below is a list of snow guns offered for sale, their brief characteristics and photos. All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

1. Nivis® Ecostick snow gun

Special offer!!!
LLC "VS Park" is the only official dealer of the Italian company Nivis in Russia. Only our company offers Nivis® Ecostick snow guns for sale.

The Nivis® Ecostick snow gun is the only snow gun in the world with injection technology that does not require an air compressor or central compressed air supply. Special patented Nivis® injectors, using directly atmospheric air, create a water-air mixture, which is then sprayed through the nozzles of the head. Nivis® snow guns of the Ecostick series operate without the use of electricity.

Specifications for the Nivis® Ecostick Snow Gun

Benefits of compressorless snowmaking with Nivis® Ecostick

– Energy savings of about 4 kW per gun, which is usually consumed in compressor snowmaking systems.
– Cost savings on the purchase of compressors and air ducts.
– Savings on service and maintenance costs for compressors (eg oil change).
– Savings in service work due to the simple, static design of snowmaking systems.
- Favorable for environment resource saving technology.
– Due to the fact that Nivis® systems are compressorless, the use of Ecostick guns when expanding existing systems snowfall is possible without problems. Nivis® systems are compatible with any installation.
– Possibility of using many single-stage guns at limiting temperatures instead of fewer multi-stage guns, since the need for compressed air, regardless of the number of guns, always remains zero.
– Easy maintenance of manual installations.
– Possibility of a snow system with zero electricity consumption when connected to a water supply with its own pressure.
– The most efficient, reliable and innovative snowmaking method thanks to savings in energy, equipment weight and materials, as well as reducing noise pollution and operating costs.

2. Snow gun Vector SGS-8

This snow gun is produced in-house. During the 2016-2017 season. at the ski complex "Zayachya Gora" 2 such snow guns were operated. Currently, the number of these snow guns has been increased to six. They have established themselves as reliable and productive snow guns.
All components are in stock and, if necessary, can be sent within a day.

Technical characteristics of the snow gun Vector SGS-8

We have the lowest price!

And if you find somewhere else cheaper - we will make a discount!

3. Snow gun Demac SET-AMK

Technical characteristics of the snow gun DEMAC SET-AMK

Country of origin: Austria.

Artificial snow is very popular in our time for shows, various holidays, events, weddings and anniversaries. It is used in performances as scenery, for decorating shop windows, and in the interior of bars and restaurants, snow will also find application. It does not stain clothes, is non-toxic, and looks exactly like the real thing.

How to make artificial snow with your own hands

Most importantly, you will need a liquid concentrate or a special powder. It is mainly produced by foreign manufacturers.

To make artificial snow with your own hands, you need to add ordinary water to this powder or concentrate, and after that it increases in its volume by almost a hundred times. Such artificial snow is stored for several days. After the confluence of time, it begins to dry out and decrease in volume. If you collect it all and add water again, it will return to its previous state. Artificial snow is easily washed off and does not stain the surface.

snow cannon

It will be very easy to cover beautiful snowdrifts in just a few seconds. In order to get the effect of a blizzard or falling snow, an air gun and a special snow generator are used. The generator is a special device, the weight of which is from eleven to twenty kg. But there are still installations for artificial snow big size- from forty kg. Such a snow generator works on a concentrate that is previously diluted with water. The concentrate is supplied from America, and it is certified. One liter of water is enough for an hour of operation of such an installation. The size and shape of snowflakes can be programmed in advance. The dispersion of snowflakes is up to fifteen meters.

Video: Comparative test of snow guns.

The price of a snow cannon is 150.000-1.000.000 rubles. The cost depends on its performance. They are mainly used for ski slopes. To begin with, it is better to buy the most inexpensive snow generator. It can also be rented out. The cost of rent per hour of work ranges from two to five thousand rubles.