Efficient Snowmaking with Polymer Drag Reduction

A method for reducing the drag on an aqueous solution in a pipe or hose system such as a snow making system includes the introduction of drag reducing polymers into the aqueous solution prior to circulating the solution in a pipe or hose. In a preferred embodiment, the drag reducing polymers are a m...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Philips, Richard B, Baus, Theresa A
Other Authors: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON DC
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2002
Subjects:
Snow
Ice and Permafrost
Fluid Mechanics
*POLYMERS
*SNOW
*MANMADE
*DRAG REDUCTION
PATENT APPLICATIONS
WATER PIPES
POLYETHYLENE
MUZZLE VELOCITY
HOSES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
SNOWMAKING EQUIPMENT
Ice
permafrost
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADD020027
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADD020027
Description
Summary:A method for reducing the drag on an aqueous solution in a pipe or hose system such as a snow making system includes the introduction of drag reducing polymers into the aqueous solution prior to circulating the solution in a pipe or hose. In a preferred embodiment, the drag reducing polymers are a mixture of polyethylene oxide in a carrier solution. The introduction of the polyethylene oxide in a carrier solution reduces the overall frictional drag and therefore increases the snow making efficiency by reducing the power needed to pump the water. As a result, it is easier for greater quantities of snow to be made using existing equipment due to the increased flow rate as a result of the lower drag friction. In a preferred embodiment, the polyethylene oxide is approximately 20-30% by weight and is introduced into the water pipe so resulting concentrations are approximately 30-100 weight parts per million (WPPM).

Similar Items