Method and apparatus for agglomerating fine snow particles

摘要

A device for forming snow from pressurized fluids comprises a supply conduit for delivering a flow of pressurized fluid, an expansion member containing several channels which is attached to the conduit, and an agglomeration chamber attached to several channels. A device for forming snow from pressurized fluids comprises a supply conduit (12), an expansion member (b), and an agglomeration chamber (c). (12) delivers a flow of pressurized fluid. (b) contains several channels which reduces pressure on the gas and converts the fluid with reduced pressure into a mixed-phase stream of gas and fine snow particles. The channels have an average diameter and length of at least twice its average diameter. (c) is attached to several channels for agglomerating the fine snow particles by contacting the particles together. An independent claim is also included for producing large snowflakes from pressurized fluid comprises sending the fluid to a low pressure chamber through channels to create a mixture of fine snow particles and gas and agglomerating the fine snow particles into the snowflakes.