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Hundfjället.

In 2006 Lenko Snow initiated cooperation with Skistar Hundfjället. On the basis of a long-term plan we have, together with Skistar, developed the system in stages. Today the result of the long-term plan is really beginning to take shape. By means of automation we have achieved a more efficient and faster snow covering with significantly fewer man-hours. In 2010 the system started on 14/10 and achieved 183 000m3 snow, for the most part without manual input, until the snow layers started on 11/11.

The snow system’s water requirement is met, in the first instance, from the River Tandån. In 2006 we constructed a dam there which consists of a sluice door and a water level gauge which we employ in order to measure how much water passes through the river and, on that basis, we can extract the amount of water allowed under the water rights. All data is saved in Lenko’s control system SnowNet which makes it possible to go back and see how much water we have used, per hour, per day of per season with regard to the snow laying. All of this is in order to be able to meet the requirements imposed under the water rights.

We take the water from the dam to the feed pumping station where we pressurise the water by means of 2 feed pumps which push the water up further to the pressure pumping station via a 1 000 metres long, butt welded, plastic pipe.

The water enters a basin beneath the floor in the pressure pumping station from where it is lifted up by means of 2 floodable pumps, via an automatic coil filter which extracts dirt particles and then further on in 3 pressure pumps.  These pressure pumps then pressurise the water to 55 bar and have a capacity of 600 m3/h.

In the pumping station you then choose, by means of automatic valves, which piste you want to send the water to.

The pistes are fitted with various pieces of snow equipment, depending upon breadth, priority and accessibility. All snow units stand on a concrete foundation which is equipped with water and air valves, power points, heating and lighting. Automatic lances and fan guns on the ground, towers and hoist arms are connected to Lenko’s control system SnowNet which controls all snow units and the entire pumping station.

SnowNet regularly receives and transmits weather data from the weather stations. When the right weather conditions are present the pumps start up at the request of a connected snow gun, after which the system fills with water. When the correct pressure is present in the pipe trench the snow units start to produce snow.  All this takes place automatically and the snow layers can follow the process via sms from SnowNet.

When the system is running at full capacity 1400 cubic metres of snow/hour can be produced. This represents c. 117 lorry-loads of snow/hour.