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Snowmaking Systems

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Snowmaking Systems

We offer several different levels and sizes of snowmaking systems.  We can provide the largest ski areas with a turnkey automatic snowmaking system, large portable snowmaking and small portable snowmaking.  
UPDATED October 2010
All prices don't include shipping or Colorado sales tax.

Ski resort size snowmaking systems:

Are you looking to install a new snowmaking system or expand your current system? CHS Snowmakers can help.  From a simple small manual snowmaking system to a large automatic system, CHS Snowmakers can help you along the way.  CHS Snowmakers can get you started and we can be right there with you for the duration of the project.  With our previous experience and our contacts in the industry we will give you options and help you decide which option is best suited for your needs.  We also believe in doing the job right the first time.  We have seen too many systems that were built to small, not designed to be expandable or to much fire power with very little water and we won't let this happen.

We work with Turbocristal and PFM engineering to consult, design and install your system.  With PFM's experience since 1992 and Turbocristal's experience since 1985 and the numerous systems they have designed and installed you can be sure you will be getting the best system at the best price.  Save time and money and contact us for the best system possible.  Due to an already busy schedule with installations please schedule with us well in advance.

We understand not everyone has the ability to pay for a snowmaking system out of pocket so we have already made contacts for financing options.  These lenders work with the ski industry and can arrange flexible payment options tailored to your seasonal income.  CHS Snowmakers will work with you and these lenders to provide a turn key snowmaking system.

IFS International Financial Services Corporation
Brian Johnson
bjohnson@ifsc.com
847-804-3595 cell

National Lease Financing Services
Chuck Gerni leasefinance@san.rr.com
858 546 4888

Capital Network
Jason Downs jdowns@capnetusa.com 
949.428.8988 EXT 125

We can also refer you to the right people for pipe suppliers and other important parts of a snowmaking system.


Temporary/Portable Snowmaking System: For XC ski trails and tubing hills.
This type of system is perfect for special events and to "test" snowmaking at your site.  This system can can be inexpensive compared to installing pipe and wire, is easy to use and can cover a lot of ground.  All you need is a water source such as: a fire hydrant, lake, stream, well or other source. 
Four options are presented.

1. Crystalizer Portable Snowmaking System - This very simple energy efficient system includes the new Crystalizer with an on board air compressor and a electric booster pump.  You just need to supply water to the booster pump with at least 15 psi and up to 75 GPM.  This snowgun is mounted on either a sled or wheeled carriage.  The 5 HP compressor and 15 HP pump have separate starters, but have a common power cord.  You only need to provide a 30 kW generator or a 30 amp plug.   Available in standard 3 phase 480 volt power, but other voltages available including 220v single phase.  Included is eight 1.5" x 50' Niedner Snowhose 1400 hoses.  2" hose available for extra charge. 10' Crystalizer standard, 20' on wheeled carriage optional.  Water flow range between 15 and 75 GPM.

Crystalizer Portable Snowmaking System 
one 10' Crystalizer
sled with 5 HP Hydrovane compressor and 15 HP booster pump
150' power cord without the plug
$18,000 (shipping not included)
add 3 wheeled carriage for $1000 more.
low pressure electric supply pump add: $3000

2. Supercrystal Portable Snowmaking System - This option uses a Supercrystal snowmaker and a 40 HP portable electric pump.  This system makes the most snow of the portable systems, it spreads out the snow with the fan and with an automatic Supercrystal, it is easy snowmaking.  You will need two 60 amps services or a 100 kW generator to run both the pumps and the Supercrystal.  Water flow range is 20 GPM to 175 GPM.

Basic system includes:
Manual Supercrystal with 150' cord and male plug
Booster pump on two wheeled carriage with 150' cord and male plug
six 2" x 50' Niedner 2000 hose
four 2.5" x 50' fire hose
150' extension cord with male and female plugs
Two female cords for pig tails 
$48,000 (shipping not included)

Options:
Automatic Supercrystal add: $9300
Double head HTM electrical pedestal add: $1600
low pressure electric supply pump for pond add: $3000 (need additional kW to run)

3. The Snow Blaster II

The original portable system

CHS Snowmakers has a portable snowmaking system designed for XC ski trails, sledding hills, special events or even small ski areas that need a little bit of snowmaking.  This system is small, easy to use, inexpensive and has been proven by several of our customers.  We make it easy to order by providing this portable package.  This snowmaking system will use from 5 GPM to 40 GPM of water in temperatures from 28°F (2°C) down below 0°F (-18°C).  GPM increases as temperature decreases, max gpm is reached below 0°F.

  Here is what a portable snowmaking system includes: 

  (2) Cornice II Plus Snowmakers with heavy-duty tripods

  (2) portable air hydrants

  (2) portable water hydrants

  (6) 1.5” x 50’ Niedner Snowhose 2000 with 2" CAM fittings

  (8) 1” x 50’ snowmaking hose

  (1) air-line check valve adaptor

  (2) 2” dust caps

  (1) Davey 9 HP portable fire pump with needed fittings and suction hose

$7500 not including shipping

Add $4200 for a 20 HP Honda Daley portable fire pump.  This pump can run several Cornice II Snowmakers or even a large fan snowmaker.
Add $750 for inline air filter to remove oil and moisture from the air.
Add $150 for 15 gallon fuel tank for the water pump.
Add $750 for 100 gallon fuel tank and 12 volt pump to fill air compressor.

Deduct $2000 to operate without 9 HP pump to make snow from fire hydrant pressure or other pump.  Your water supply will need to be 100 to 300 psi of water pressure at 50 gpm to operate the snowmakers properly.  Water supply needs to be secured before order. 

A 185 cfm or larger tow behind air compressor needs to be rented locally.

4. The Snow Blaster III

We have simplified small portable snowmaking even more.  This is just like the Snow Blaster II, but we use one Cornice III Plus snowmaker.  This eliminates the need for two sizes of hose and the portable air and water hydrants.  This includes one Cornice III Plus Snowmaker on a tripod, eight 1.5" x 50' Snowhose 1400 hoses with 2" cam locks, the air check valve adaptor and the 9 HP Davey fire pump.  You will need to provide the 185 cfm portable air compressor and the water source.

Only $5900 not including shipping.

Add $1000 for a sled for the Cornice III
Add $4200 for a 20 HP Honda Daley portable fire pump.  This pump can run several Cornice II Snowmakers or even a large fan snowmaker.
Add $750 for inline air filter to remove oil and moisture from the air.
Add $150 for 15 gallon fuel tank for the water pump.
Add $750 for 100 gallon fuel tank and 12 volt pump to fill air compressor.

Deduct $2000 to operate without 9 HP pump to make snow from fire hydrant pressure or other pump.  Your water supply will need to be 100 to 300 psi of water pressure at 50 gpm to operate the snowmakers properly.  Water supply needs to be secured before order. 

A 185 cfm or larger tow behind air compressor needs to be rented locally.


Cornice III Snowmaker on sled


Cornice III Plus Snowmaker

This Cornice II Snowmaker made this pile of snow, in two parts, all in one night.  The snowmaker was moved on top of the pile after several hours of snowmaking. 

The Bombardier 180 had no problem pushing this snow out.  This is the pile of snow to the left.  We used a fire hydrant for the water supply with the
9HP Davey fire pump and a Cornice II.

This Cornice II Snowmaker covered this 200' stretch of ski trail in two nights.  The snow is up to 2' deep in the middle of a 20' wide trail.  The pile at the end was up to 6' deep.

This is the same trail looking in the opposite direction after it was groomed.  All of this snow was made using the portable system and after we were done there was not any evidence (except the snow) that we had a snowmaking system in place.

Here is drawing of the portable snowmaking system.  Parts list is below diagram.

1. Water source (fire hydrant, pump from stream or lake, etc.).
2. Water meter and backflow (needed for fire hydrant).
3. Supply hose (maybe 2.5" fire hose from hydrant, could be skipped and go to #4).
4. Reducer (2.5" to 2" or 1.5" snowmaking hose)
5. Supply hose for water, 2" or 1.5".
6. Self draining portable water hydrant with 2" x 2" x 1" tee.
7. 1" snowmaking hose.
8. Cornice II Snowmaker.
9. 2" or 1.5" cap.
10. Check valve for air line (prevents water from getting into air compressor) to 2" or 1.5" cam lock.
11. Portable air hydrant 2" x 2" x 1".
12. 185 cfm (or greater) portable air compressor.
13. Fuel tank on trailer for portable air compressor.
14.  Containment basin under fuel tank to collect spills.
A. X distance between water source/air source and first hydrants.
B. X distance between  hydrants.
C. X distance between hydrants and guns.

                                   

Portable 2" x 2" x 1" air hydrant with dust cap                  Portable 2" x 2" x 1" self draining water hydrant   

Other Facts:

• Cost for a 1” x 6’ air hydrant for parts $70

• Cost for 1.5” x 6’ water hydrant and parts $350

• Friction loss per 100’ of 2” sch. 40 pipe is 8.82 psi at 70 gpm at 6.69 feet per second.

• Friction loss per 100’ of 3” sch. 40 pipe is 5.80 psi at 160 gpm at 6.94 feet per second.

• Friction loss per 100’ of 4” sch. 40 pipe is 3.72 psi at 260 gpm at 6.55 feet per second.

• Friction loss for elevation gain is 1 psi per 2.31’.  Every 10’ gained is 4.33 psi lost.

• A pond that can hold between 50,000 and 75,000 gallons of water can help increase snowmaking production.  A pond this size will cover an area 100’ x 100’ square and it can be dug out of the ground and no dams would be needed.  An onsite well could supply the water or water from a fire hydrant.  Drift™ can be added to the water and an aerator can cool the water in the pond increasing snowmaking production.

• A snowmaking system can also be of benefit for wildland fire protection to help protect homes in the area and the Nordic center itself.  The snowmaking pressure and flow requirements are suitable for a PRO/pak Foam System ($937).  This is a hand operated foam system for structure protection in the wildland/urban fire interface. 

• Snowmaking systems can also be used for irrigation of sports fields and the air compressor also can be used to winterize the sports field irrigation system.

• Cost per 100’ of Trench/Backfill excluding blasting for shallow bury 2’ – 4’.
$? (cost could be less since cross country trails generally are flat).  The air and water lines will be above the frost depth.  The water line will have to be drained and blown out with air in late November or December if not in use to protect from freeze damage.

• Approximate gallons of water converted to snow for a 20’ wide by 1000’ long by 1’ deep ski trail.

20,000 cubic’ x 3.96 = 79,200 gallons (dry snow)

20,000 cubic’ x 5.16 = 103,200 gallons (wet snow)

• Approximate gallons of water converted to snow for a 20’ wide by 1km’ long by 1’ deep ski trail.

1Km = 3,280.8’

20 x 3,280.8’ = 65,616 cubic’ per 1Km of trail

65,616 cubic’ x 3.96 = 259,839 gallons (dry snow)

65,616 cubic’ x 5.16 = 338,578 gallons (wet snow)

• Square feet (or cubic feet) per acre

43,560

• Gallons of water per cubic-foot

7.4805

• Gallons of water per acre-foot

325,850.5

• Gallons of water per cubic-foot of snow

3.96 – 5.16

• Gallons of water per acre-foot of snow

175,000 – 225,000  

Conversion Chart
For more conversions go to Online Conversion.

CFM Cubic meter/min PSI BAR GPM L/min
5.7 0.16 60 4.13 32 0 1 3.785
11.3 0.32 90 6.2 28 -2.2 5 18.92
11.8 0.33 100 6.9 25 -3.8 10 37.85
18.1 0.51 150 10.35 20 -6.6 20 75.70
24.3 0.68 200 13.78 15 -9.4 40 151.41
50 1.41 300 20.6 10 -12.2 60 227.12
75 2.12 400 27.6 0 -17.7 100 378.54
185 5.2 500 34.5 -10 -23.3 110 416.39

Contact us for more information on our snowmaking systems.

 

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