Effect of addition of water on snow compaction

Clément Vigneault and Samuel Gameda

Energy, 1994, vol. 19, issue 2, 187-194

Abstract: There is an abundant supply of snow in cold countries for nearly half of the year. Apart from recreational purposes, very little use is made of it. However, it can provide an opportunity for novel use in pre-cooling, refrigeration and air-conditioning. The main drawback to using snow is its low density. Efficient compaction methods can greatly improve the usefulness of snow as a substitute for energy. We have investigated existing techniques for snow compaction and methods for increasing the response of snow to compaction. A new technique to enhance compactibility was developed and tested. Treated samples were compressed under a maximum pressure of 1.2 MPa (174 psia) which permitted us to obtain samples reaching a density of 920 kg-m−3 (57 lbm-ft−3), equivalent to the density of ice. The energy required for compaction was reduced by 50% while increasing the final density by 47% compared to non-treated samples.

Date: 1994
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:19:y:1994:i:2:p:187-194

DOI: 10.1016/0360-5442(94)90059-0

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