Responsible for www.kaldtklima.hin.no: Per-Arne Sundsbø pas@hin.no
Technology related to cold climate is one of the priority research and development areas at Narvik University College (NUC). The cold climate phenomena can be defined as the mutual effects from low temperatures, snow, ice and wind. It is not directly related to latitudes. The absence of daylight in periods when the sun is under the horizon can also be included to this definition. Cold Climate technology is technology developed particularly to reduce disadvantages, or to utilize advantages, with cold climate. The concept covers a broad, multidisciplinary research area that spans over many subjects.
Numerical modelling and simulations of wind and snowdrift around buildings and structures, initiated in 1992 at Narvik Institute of Technology, was the first cold climate research programme that can be related to the activity around NUC. The programme was initiated by a Danish professor, Anker Nielsen. Due to the harsh weather and northern localization, cold climate technology is a natural priority R&D activity at NUC. Now the knowledge and results from the wind and snow drift activity is being utilised as a basis for modelling and simulation of snow avalanches and icing on structures.
Picture gallery:
- Icing observations on Fagernesfjellet in Narvik (Photos: Pål Erik Pedersen)
- Snowdrift in Hammerfest, Norway
- From snowdrift experiments at Antarctica by Meiring Beyers
- Numerical simulations of snowdrift around a road section (Sundsbø/Bang)
- Pictures from the Røysvatn Cabin in Norway
- Numerical simulations of smoke gas dispersion from Incineration Plants (Sundsbø)
Panel used for wind shielding and with that reducing the wind chill in outdoor working environment are tested for its wind penetration characteristics (Sundsbø).
The figures show sections from numerical simulations of wind field around a wind turbine blade without and with ice development near the front, respectively. Inlet wind velocities are 65 m/s (Sundsbø/Homola).
Sections from same simulation as above, showing pressure distribution around the blade.
provides winter clothing to the cold climate research centre at NUC