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Funäsdalen

In 2007, Funäsdalens Alpina Ski Resort made Sweden's largest single year capital investment in the mountains by acquiring $130 MSEK in new ski runs, lifts, snow making system and service buildings. Over 20 MSEK of that total was   invested in snowmaking equipment built and installed  by Lenko Snow AB.

The project was a turnkey solution that included all facets of the snowmaking system and is completely automatic. Together with the weather stations, which are strategically placed in the facility, the snowmaking system senses when the right weather conditions occur  and then sends a signal to Lenko’s own command and control system, SnowNet, that starts up the snow making system.

The water for the snowmaking system is taken from the Ljusnan River. The water goes into the pumping station where it is pressurized and transferred 500 meters (1640 ft.) by 2 submersible pumps, via a 400 mm (15.75”) diameter pipe, to a secondary pressure pumping station. Water enters the second pump station via an automatic filter system that removes any particles that might clog the fan gun nozzles. After pressurizing the water to 48 bar (696 PSI) it is circulated through various pipes to hydrants on the uphill slopes. When the pumping station knows that the system is pressurized and ready for snow, the snow guns go through their start-up procedure and begin to make snow and maximize their efficiency. Meanwhile, as all this is taking place, the staff gets all the information about the operation of the system via SMS.

When the system is in full production, utilizing 10-FA 540 and 12-NA2202 snow guns which can produce approximately 1000 m³ ( 1307 ft³) of snow per hour, or about 84 lorry loads. Throughout the entire system, there are about 100 hydrant locations can be linked to the snow guns. Each snow gun uses a Lenko EPH that works with the system to open and close the hydrant it is mounted on. .
Funäsdalens Alpina has chosen to use the Lenko WT-6 winch tower that with it’s 6 meter ( 19.6’) height provides better production.. The placement of the gun at that height allows it to throw the snow further and produce up to 30% more snow due to the long time that the snow is in the air before it reaches the hill also known as ‘hangtime’.

The complete system includes approximately 7000 meters (22,965 ft.) and 1500 steel pipe fittings. All the couplings are assembled by hand and insulating tape is installed at each joint to avoid getting back flow so that no dirt can be sucked into the pipes.
The system also includes 500 meters (1640 ft.) of PE pipes, 10,000 meters (32,808 ft.). of power cables, 2000 meters (6561 ft.) of signal cable, 2 Lenko S9 weather stations which feature motion free readings, 100  electrical pedestals and water hydrants and 2 valve wells from where you can select where you want to distribute water.

Pump house at the water intake, containing 2 feed pumps, is in a small 6m³ (65 ft²) structure. The secondary pump house, at the foot of the hill, with an area of approx. 75m³ (800 ft²),  contains 2 pressure pumps, water filter assembly, electrical rooms, pump controls and the main SnowNet computer which governs all snow guns, pumps, weather stations and valves.

There are a total of 10 FA540 and 12 NA220 snow guns which secures Funäsdalens Alpina Ski Resort with snow.