Patent ID: 12228324

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the reference number100denotes in its entirety a snowmaking plant on which the planning method and system according to the present invention acts.

In particular, the artificial snowmaking plant100comprises a plurality of snowmaking apparatuses1,2,3arranged along a ski slope and connected to a common line of communication.

In particular, each snowmaking apparatus1,2,3comprises a snowmaking device (for example a “snow cannon” or a “snow gun”) and a respective supply member (commonly called a “reservoir”) for supplying a snowmaking liquid connected to the snowmaking device. Each supply member is connected to one or more snowmaking devices by means of conduits in which the snowmaking liquid flows.

In particular, the snowmaking device is positioned in proximity to a respective snowmaking liquid supply member and covers a predetermined geographical snowmaking area of the slope.

The control system comprises a control unit10connected to the various snowmaking apparatuses1,2,3by means of said line of communication.

At least one apparatus1,2,3comprises at least one temperature sensor4configured to detect the temperature at the apparatus1,2,3itself and to send a temperature signal STto the control unit10. In particular, the temperature sensor4could be present on all of the apparatuses1,2,3or only some of them.

In addition, at least one apparatus1,2,3also comprises other sensors, such as, for example, a humidity sensor configured to detect the humidity at the apparatus1,2,3itself and to send a humidity signal SUto the control unit10.

Furthermore, the apparatus1,2,3can comprise a means for detecting the pressure and flow rate of water supplied to the snowmaking device. The detection means is configured to send a water pressure and flow rate detection signal SRto the control unit10.

In other words, the control unit10is configured to receive:1. the temperature signal ST; and/or2. the humidity signal SU; and/or3. the water pressure and flow rate detection signal SR.

Furthermore, the control unit10is configured to send to each apparatus1,2,3a control signal SC1,2,3for managing the water and compressed air supply means so as to manage the production of snow based on the atmospheric conditions of the slope.

In addition, the control unit10is configured to receive a forecast signal SMof said parameter (preferably temperature and/or humidity) from one or more area weather stations and to manage the supply means based on the data contained in said forecast signal SM.

Furthermore, the system comprises a historical memory11connected to the control unit10and containing historical data relating to past weather forecasts and the temperature and humidity values realistically measured in the past at each apparatus1,2,3. The historical memory11can be included in the control unit10, or physically separated from it but electrically connected to it, for example a cloud type memory set up online.

In detail, the historical data comprise:4. historical values of forecasts of a weather parameter (e.g. temperature or humidity) that were provided before a reference moment in time (for example real time) by at least one weather station in relation to a predefined geographical area of said slope;5. historical values of the weather parameter that was realistically measured at said one or more snowmaking apparatuses1,2,3arranged in said predefined geographical area, for example by means of the sensors of the apparatus1,2,3itself.

It should be noted that the term “historical” or “historical values” means past values (preferably of past years) before a moment in the present time.

The term “future”, by contrast, will indicate forecasts regarding future time (preferably days or months) following the present moment in time.

FIG.1schematically illustrates a snowmaking plant100to which the system according to the present invention has been applied.

In particular, the weather station is a station set up by third parties, which is preferably located in proximity to a slope, more or less near. The weather station is connected to the control unit10and sends to the latter a future forecast signal of the parameter of interest (for example temperature and humidity) in relation to a predefined geographical area of the slope. The predefined geographical area covers at least part of the slope and thus at least part of the snowmaking apparatus1,2,3installed there.

The weather station can also be used to memorise past weather forecasts in relation to a certain area and send such data to the control unit10for defined historical forecast values of a weather parameter VSP.

Alternatively, the historical forecast values of a weather parameter VSPare stored locally in the above-mentioned historical memory.

Hereinafter, the following terminology will be used to indicate the forecast values and the realistically measured values:6. “historical forecast values of a weather parameter VSP”, which indicate the weather forecast values provided by the weather station relating to the past;7. “historical values of the realistically measured weather parameter VSR1,2,3”, which indicate the historical values of the parameter that was realistically measured at the snowmaking apparatuses1,2,3;8. “historical difference value D1,2,3”, which indicates the difference between the historical forecasts and the realistically measured values in relation to every single apparatus1,2,3;9. “future forecast values VFP”, which indicate the weather forecast values provided by the weather station relating to the future;10. “realistic future forecast parameter values VFR1,2,3”, which indicate the future weather forecasts of the parameter realistically forecast for the future days or months.

Said weather parameter is preferably the atmospheric temperature at the snowmaking apparatus1,2,3. Even more preferably, said parameter is the wet bulb temperature.

However, alternatively, the weather parameter could be humidity or another parameter not expressly specified here, or else a combination of several parameters.

In accordance with the present invention, the control unit10is configured to perform the following operations, which substantially correspond to the steps of the method:providing the historical values of the realistically measured weather parameter VSR1,2,3that were forecast before a reference moment in time by at least one weather station20in relation to a predefined geographical area of said slope;comparing said historical forecast values VSPof said parameter with respective one or more historical values of the realistically measured weather parameter VSR1,2,3at said one or more snowmaking apparatuses1,2,3arranged in said predefined geographical area;determining a historical difference value D1,2,3for each snowmaking apparatus1,2,3for predefined moments or periods of time corresponding to moments or periods of time of said historical forecast values, wherein said historical difference value D1,2,3is representative of the difference between a historical forecast value VSPof said parameter and a corresponding historical value of said realistically measured parameter VSR1,2,3at said snowmaking apparatus1,2,3;detecting one or more future forecast values VFPof said weather parameter forecast following said reference moment in time by a weather station20in relation to said predefined geographical area of said slope;correcting said future forecast values VFPof said parameter as a function of said historical difference value D1,2,3determined at one or more apparatuses1,2,3so as to determine one or more realistic future forecast parameter values VFR1,2,3at each snowmaking apparatus1,2,3on which the historical difference value D1,2,3has been determined;supplying each snowmaking apparatus1,2,3with a respective amount of snowmaking liquid suitable for producing artificial snow as a function of said one or more realistic future forecast parameter values VFR1,2,3that have been determined at each apparatus1,2,3.

It should be noted that one or more of said steps can be performed by the control unit10in the cloud (not necessarily on the plant). In particular, the calculation of the temperature forecast and/or production forecast model can be performed in the cloud. In other words, the control unit can be at least in part implemented in the cloud so as to perform at least part of the above-mentioned steps.

The correction step preferably comprises at least one step of adding or subtracting said historical difference value D1,2,3to or from the future forecast value VFPof said parameter.

In particular, observingFIG.2it is possible to see a graph in which several curves of temperature trends over time are represented. The continuous curves represent the historical values, whereas the broken curves represent the future forecast values VFP. The two types of curves are separated by a vertical line which represents a reference moment in time, preferably the present time.

As regards the historical value part, the thickest curve represents the past trend in the historical forecast temperature values VSP, whilst the thinner curves represent the trend in the historical values of the realistically measured temperature VSR1,2,3at three snowmaking apparatuses1,2,3(schematically represented with circles inFIG.1).

The historical difference value D1,2,3indicated inFIG.2indicates the temperature difference present between the area forecast and the real temperature VSR1,2,3measured at the apparatus1,2,3.

In fact, whereas the weather forecasts provided by the weather station20usually regard a large area, with the present invention it is advantageously possible to know the temperature difference in the specific area in which each apparatus1,2,3is located.

Again observingFIG.2, following the present moment in time, the thickest dotted line indicates the future forecast temperature values VFPprovided by the weather station20, whereas the other thinner dotted lines correspond to the real temperature forecasts VFR1,2,3for the same period of the year.

Therefore, the step of correcting said future forecast values VFPof said parameter as a function of said historical difference value D1,2,3determined at one or more apparatuses1,2,3comprises adding or subtracting the historical difference value D1,2,3corresponding to an analogous time period of one or more previous years.

The method according to the present invention envisages creating a model of realistic future forecasts of the parameter for each apparatus1,2,3as a function of said historical difference values.

Furthermore, the control unit10is configured to supply the snowmaking liquid and/or compressed air as a function of the real temperature forecasts VFR1,2,3at each apparatus (reservoir). In other words, the control unit10governs the water and/or compressed air supply means as a function of the real temperature forecasts VFR1,2,3. In this manner, it is possible to optimise the consumption of water and electricity according to the snow to be produced.

In detail, the control unit10is configured to detect a historical snow production value VPSrelating to one or more apparatuses1,2,3at a given moment or period of time at a historical value of the realistically measured parameter VSR1,2,3. The historical snow production value VPSis tied to the amount of water that was supplied to an apparatus1,2,3on a certain date in the past and for a certain temperature in the past.

Therefore, the control unit10is configured to predict and calculate a future snow production value VPF1,2,3relating to one or more apparatuses1,2,3at which a realistic future forecast temperature value VFR1,2,3that is equal or similar to the realistically measured historical temperature value VSR1,2,3is provided.

In other words, by knowing the amount of snow (from the liquid supplied) produced in the past by a certain apparatus1,2,3and at a certain realistically measured historical temperature value VSR1,2,3, it is possible to calculate the amount of snow VPF1,2,3that will be produced in the future by the same apparatus1,2,3for a realistic temperature forecast value VFR1,2,3.

The control unit10is therefore configured to send a control signal SC1,2,3to each apparatus1,2,3for the supply of an amount of snowmaking liquid corresponding to the historical snow production value VPSdetected for a same forecast temperature.

Therefore, the control unit10generates a model of snow production for the future as a function of the future forecast temperatures and the historical snow production.

In other words, the control unit10is configured to calculate snowmaking time windows as a function of:future snow production value VPF1,2,3calculated in relation to one or more apparatuses1,2,3;realistic future forecast parameter values VFR1,2,3calculated in relation to one or more apparatuses.

Therefore, the calculated snowmaking time windows make it possible to plan the production of snow for the future (at least for the upcoming days).

It should be further noted that the method comprises managing the production of snow based on characteristics of the plant (not only of the amount of water able to reach the reservoir) such as, for example, the production capacity of the machine room, the maximum capacity of the electric power lines and/or other characteristics of the plant not expressly mentioned here.

In other words, the control unit10is configured to receive data relating to the characteristics and limits of the snowmaking plant (and also of the snowmaking apparatuses1,2,3making it up) and to plan future snow production taking into account the characteristics and limits of the plant (for example, it might be possible to have an estimated production that is greater than the plant capacity or vice versa).

FIG.4shows a diagram of production planning over time for various snowmaking apparatuses1,2,3, wherein it is possible to note that the planned production varies depending on the apparatus1,2,3concerned.

In fact, every apparatus1,2,3is subject to different future temperature forecasts depending on the area it is located in.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the steps of providing historical forecast parameter values VSPand comparing said historical forecast values of said parameter with respective one or more realistically measured historical parameter values VSR1,2,3, envisage that said historical forecast and realistically measured values relate to one or more snowmaking plants other than the plant100for which the steps of detecting one or more future forecast values VFPof values of said parameter and correcting them are carried out.

In other words, the control unit10envisages using data coming from other plants in order to be able to recognise similar temperature and snow production situations. In detail, the control unit10is configured to:compare the data of realistically detected historical temperature values VSR1,2,3in a first plant100with realistically detected historical temperature values in a second plant100;compare the historical production data VPS1,2,3of an apparatus1,2,3of the first plant100with the historical production data of an apparatus1,2,3of the second plant at the same realistically detected temperature;correct the future production values VPF1,2,3foreseen for the apparatus1,2,3of the first plant100on the basis of that comparison.

Therefore, the system and method according to the present invention make it possible to also take into consideration similar information belonging to a second plant with apparatuses1,2,3in weather conditions similar to those of the apparatuses1,2,3of the first plant100.

The subject matter of the present invention further relates to a computer program for managing the production of an artificial snowmaking plant100, which is configured to execute the instructions according to the previously described steps of the method.

FIG.3schematically summarises the operation of the system and method according to the present invention. In particular, the historical temperature and production values are represented on the left side, whereas the future temperature and production values VFP forecast based on a comparison with realistically measured historical data such as temperature and water are represented on the right side.

It should be noted that the management of production according to the present invention is specific for every apparatus1,2,3and not generic for an area (as was the case in the prior art), since the weather forecasts of one area are compared by the system with historical, real temperature values detected by every specific snowmaking apparatus1,2,3.

The present invention achieves the set aims.

In particular, the invention achieves the object of reducing uncertainty in managing the production of artificial snow. This is obtained by combining the knowledge about the plant100acquired in previous years with an accurate weather forecast on a reduced scale for every single snowmaker of the plant100. This specific forecast is based on one or more weather forecasts for the positions in or in the vicinity of the skiing district, as well as measurement data that are measured over time by the sensors of the snowmaking apparatuses1,2,3.

One of the advantages of the invention is that it enables the possible production time windows in the upcoming days to be calculated for every single snowmaker of the plant100. In this manner it is possible to calculate an hourly production programme at the level of single components which takes account of all the internal limitations of the plant100and the external (forecast) limitations. Furthermore, managing production for every component of the plant100enables an accurate forecast of water and energy consumption, and thus enables production to be optimised with respect to water or energy consumption.

A further advantage of the invention is that having a production plan for every single component of the plant100makes it possible to obtain a more accurate assessment of the current production status (compared to the seasonal objective) than when a comparison is only made between the current production status and the production of the previous year.

Finally, the invention makes it possible to take into consideration the replacement or addition of components for assessing the current production status. That is, if a component/apparatus1,2,3is replaced by a more recent model, the greater production capacity and efficiency can be taken into consideration in the planning.

It should further be noted that the present invention is relatively easy to implement and also that the cost for implementation of the invention is not very high.