Snow environment test apparatus and snow environment test method

A snow environment test apparatus for creating a snow environment in a test chamber, the apparatus comprising:

• an injector configured by a two-fluid nozzle and configured to inject water and air;
• a temperature setting section configured to set a temperature in the test chamber;
• an air conditioner configured to cool an inside of the test chamber;
• a pressure regulator configured to regulate a pressure of air to be supplied to the injector;
• a water temperature regulator configured to adjust a temperature of water to be supplied to the injector;
• a temperature controller configured to control the air conditioner to make the temperature in the test chamber be the temperature set by the temperature setting section;
• a water flow rate setting section configured to set a flow rate of the water to be supplied to the injector;
• a snow quality selector configured to select one of dry snow, wet snow, or sleet as a snow quality;
• a related information storage section storing information in which a temperature in the test chamber, a flow rate of water to be supplied to the injector, a temperature of water to be supplied to the injector, a pressure of air to be supplied to the injector, and a snow quality including dry snow, wet snow, and sleet are related with each other;
• wherein
• the pressure regulator includes a pressure controller configured to derive the pressure of the air to be supplied to the injector using the temperature in the test chamber set by the temperature setting section, the flow rate of the water set by the water flow rate setting section, the snow quality selected by the snow quality selector, and the information stored in the related information storage section,
• the pressure regulator is configured to make the pressure of the air to be supplied to the injector become the pressure of the air derived by the pressure controller;
• the water temperature regulator includes a water temperature controller configured to derive the temperature of the water to be supplied to the injector using the temperature in the test chamber set by the temperature setting section, the flow rate of the water set by the water flow rate setting section, the snow quality selected by the snow quality selector, and the information stored in the related information storage section, and
• the water temperature regulator is configured to make the temperature of the water to be supplied to the injector become the temperature derived by the water temperature controller.

A snow environment test method for creating a snow environment in a test chamber, the method comprising:

• setting a temperature in the test chamber;
• selecting one of dry snow, wet snow, or sleet as a snow quality by a snow quality selection section;
• setting a flow rate of water to be supplied to an injector including a two-fluid nozzle by a water flow rate setting section;
• controlling an air conditioner to make the temperature in the test chamber be the set temperature;
• deriving a pressure of air to be supplied to the injector using the set temperature in the test chamber, the flow rate of the water set by the water flow rate setting section, the snow quality selected by the snow quality selection section, and information in which a temperature in the test chamber, a flow rate of water to be supplied to the injector, a pressure of air to be supplied to the injector, and a snow quality including dry snow, wet snow, and sleet are related with each other, the information being stored in a related information storage section;
• supplying water having a predetermined temperature and the flow rate set by the water flow rate setting section to the injector;
• supplying air having the derived pressure to the injector;
• and
• injecting the water and the air from the injector.

A snow environment test method for creating a snow environment in a test chamber, the method comprising:

• setting a temperature in the test chamber;
• selecting one of dry snow, wet snow, or sleet as a snow quality by a snow quality selection section;
• setting a flow rate of water to be supplied to an injector including a two-fluid nozzle by a water flow rate setting section;
• controlling an air conditioner to make the temperature in the test chamber be the set temperature;
• deriving a pressure of air to be supplied to the injector and a temperature of the water to be supplied to the injector using the set temperature in the test chamber, the snow quality selected by the snow quality selection section, the flow rate of the water set by the water flow rate setting section, and information in which a temperature in the test chamber, a flow rate of water to be supplied to the injector, a temperature of water to be supplied to the injector, a pressure of air to be supplied to the injector, and the snow quality including dry snow, wet snow, and sleet are related with each other, the information being stored in a related information storage section;
• supplying water having the derived temperature and the flow rate set by the water flow rate setting section to the injector;
• supplying air having the derived pressure to the injector;
• and
• injecting the water and the air from the injector.