Measurement and analysis of the critical snow formation height of an internally mixed nucleonator

In order to investigate the critical snow formation height of the mixed single-aperture nucleator within the artificial snow machine, an industrial microscope was used to observe the microstructure of the snow crystals, measure the critical snow formation height threshold, and analyse the effect of the air-to-water pressure ratio (0.4MPa:0.4MPa, 0.5MPa:0.45MPa, and 0.5MPa:0.4MPa) and the ambient temperatures (-5℃, -10℃, and -15℃) on the critical snow formation height. The results showed that under the working condition of air-water pressure ratio of 0.4MPa:0.4MPa, when the temperatures were -5℃ and -10℃, the threshold of critical snow formation height did not exist, and when the temperature was -15℃, it was able to form snow, and the threshold of critical snow formation height was 50~55cm; when the air-water pressure ratios were 0.5MPa:0.45MPa, 0.5MPa:0.4MPa, the three ambient temperatures can form snow. And the gas-water pressure ratio and ambient temperature will have a certain effect on the critical snow height, under the same ambient temperature, the larger the gas-water pressure ratio, the smaller the critical snow height; The critical snow formation height increases as the ambient temperature increases from -15°C to -5°C while keeping the air-water pressure ratio constant. When the gas-water pressure ratio is 0.5MPa:0.45MPa, the trend of critical snow formation height with temperature is larger, and the temperature has a greater impact on the critical snow formation height. The results of the study can provide a basis for the design of the optimized arrangement between the nucleator and the nozzle of the snow-making machine.