An Experimental Investigation on the Size Distribution of Snow Particles during Artificial Snow Making
For artificial snowfall, snow particle size can have a direct impact on snow quality. The operating conditions of the snow-makers and environmental factors will influence the atomization and crystallization processes of artificial snow making, which consequently affect snow particle size. This paper...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/21/7276 |
| _version_ | 1797632031630295040 |
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| author | Wei Zhao Zheng Li Hua Zhang Mingxu Su Zhenzhen Liu Pengju Chen Yaqian Han |
| author_facet | Wei Zhao Zheng Li Hua Zhang Mingxu Su Zhenzhen Liu Pengju Chen Yaqian Han |
| author_sort | Wei Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For artificial snowfall, snow particle size can have a direct impact on snow quality. The operating conditions of the snow-makers and environmental factors will influence the atomization and crystallization processes of artificial snow making, which consequently affect snow particle size. This paper investigates the size distribution of snow particles during artificial snow making under different operating conditions and environmental parameters. For this purpose, an environmental chamber is designed and structured. The laser scattering method was used to measure the size distribution of snow under different parameters in the room. The results show that the distribution of snow crystal particle size aligns closely with the Rosin–Rammler (R-R) distribution. The higher the height of the snowfall, the longer the snow crystals grow and the larger the snow crystal particle size. It has been found that a higher air pressure favors atomization, while the opposite is true for water pressure, which results in a higher air–water pressure ratio, producing smaller snow particle sizes. Additionally, an ambient temperature in the range of −5 °C to −15 °C contributes to the snow crystal form transforming from plates to columns and then back to plates; the snow particle size first decreases and then increases. Snow crystal particles at −10 °C have the smallest size. Outdoor snow-makers should be operated at the highest possible air–water pressure ratio and snow height, and at a suitable ambient temperature. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:31:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e54b3a855dab4e458118dfb255b25e60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:31:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-e54b3a855dab4e458118dfb255b25e602023-11-10T15:02:02ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-10-011621727610.3390/en16217276An Experimental Investigation on the Size Distribution of Snow Particles during Artificial Snow MakingWei Zhao0Zheng Li1Hua Zhang2Mingxu Su3Zhenzhen Liu4Pengju Chen5Yaqian Han6Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, ChinaInstitute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, ChinaInstitute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, ChinaInstitute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, ChinaInstitute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, ChinaInstitute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, ChinaInstitute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, ChinaFor artificial snowfall, snow particle size can have a direct impact on snow quality. The operating conditions of the snow-makers and environmental factors will influence the atomization and crystallization processes of artificial snow making, which consequently affect snow particle size. This paper investigates the size distribution of snow particles during artificial snow making under different operating conditions and environmental parameters. For this purpose, an environmental chamber is designed and structured. The laser scattering method was used to measure the size distribution of snow under different parameters in the room. The results show that the distribution of snow crystal particle size aligns closely with the Rosin–Rammler (R-R) distribution. The higher the height of the snowfall, the longer the snow crystals grow and the larger the snow crystal particle size. It has been found that a higher air pressure favors atomization, while the opposite is true for water pressure, which results in a higher air–water pressure ratio, producing smaller snow particle sizes. Additionally, an ambient temperature in the range of −5 °C to −15 °C contributes to the snow crystal form transforming from plates to columns and then back to plates; the snow particle size first decreases and then increases. Snow crystal particles at −10 °C have the smallest size. Outdoor snow-makers should be operated at the highest possible air–water pressure ratio and snow height, and at a suitable ambient temperature.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/21/7276artificial snow makingsnow particle sizelaser scattering method |
| spellingShingle | Wei Zhao Zheng Li Hua Zhang Mingxu Su Zhenzhen Liu Pengju Chen Yaqian Han An Experimental Investigation on the Size Distribution of Snow Particles during Artificial Snow Making Energies artificial snow making snow particle size laser scattering method |
| title | An Experimental Investigation on the Size Distribution of Snow Particles during Artificial Snow Making |
| title_full | An Experimental Investigation on the Size Distribution of Snow Particles during Artificial Snow Making |
| title_fullStr | An Experimental Investigation on the Size Distribution of Snow Particles during Artificial Snow Making |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Experimental Investigation on the Size Distribution of Snow Particles during Artificial Snow Making |
| title_short | An Experimental Investigation on the Size Distribution of Snow Particles during Artificial Snow Making |
| title_sort | experimental investigation on the size distribution of snow particles during artificial snow making |
| topic | artificial snow making snow particle size laser scattering method |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/21/7276 |
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