An Experimental Investigation on the Size Distribution of Snow Particles during Artificial Snow Making

Wei Zhao (), Zheng Li (), Hua Zhang, Mingxu Su, Zhenzhen Liu, Pengju Chen and Yaqian Han
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Wei Zhao: Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Zheng Li: Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Hua Zhang: Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Mingxu Su: Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Zhenzhen Liu: Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Pengju Chen: Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Yaqian Han: Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: artificial snow making; snow particle size; laser scattering method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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