Wind and Laminar

I am sure the answer to my question is obvious, but I will ask anyway..

In your experiences of using your nozzles outside, can the laminar flow
be maintained with any wind, or do they need perfect calm conditions?

Thanks ken

Magic is probably the best person to answer this, and I am sure he will at some time, but my experience is that it doesn't take much for the stream to get ruined by wind or vibrations etc. For example, when my laminar stream is on the cement floor it can be disturbed simply by stomping your foot lightly on the cement. You can easy disturb the stream by blowing on it. Small annoyences like this probably aren't exactly what you had in mind, but I just wanted to make you aware of it.

My guess is that low winds are probably just fine, if there are gusts of wind then it will probably too much for the stream. It all depends on how laminar you want it. If you want it perfectly laminar all the time. I would probably say just low winds. I don't exactly know since all of my testing for the most part has been indoors.

Remember these fountains are in a number of places that are outdoors( i.e. Disneyworld).

Hi John, Hi Ken
Yes wind will fuck up the hole stream, you will have anywhere water but not in your destination area, small arches are better, bigger looks really bad. I solve this problem by making a wind accelerometer, a microcontroller is measuring how much wind, if there is too much wind, the stream is switch off. measuring in 5 min again, if the wind now is not that strong, let run the laminar nozzle again, and so on.

Magic-nozzle wrote:Hi John, Hi Ken
Yes wind will fuck up the hole stream, you will have anywhere water but not in your destination area, small arches are better, bigger looks really bad. I solve this problem by making a wind accelerometer, a microcontroller is measuring how much wind, if there is too much wind, the stream is switch off. measuring in 5 min again, if the wind now is not that strong, let run the laminar nozzle again, and so on.

I`m very impressed with that wind shut-down function !!
That is something I also will try someday

If you like, i can make a explanation later.

juggle5 wrote:I am sure the answer to my question is obvious, but I will ask anyway..

In your experiences of using your nozzles outside, can the laminar flow
be maintained with any wind, or do they need perfect calm conditions?

Thanks ken

Ken, your Webpage and your Sculptures are fantastic, really, Wonderful work. The Videos take extreme long till it plays, but everything looks amazing fantastic. I would love to see how it looks from inside. Do you have a hint for me, you must know, i am a enthusiast for mechanical things and how they work. I am driving crazy when i look at "Stepping Stones". How do you do that? Its just driven by the wind? Really, No! Or Yes?. Amazing, i love it that much.

Hey Guys have look here, just Great!:
http://www.kensmithsculpture.com/Kinetic.html

Mario

Guys

Thanks for all the nice comments on the sculptures... All the kinetic sculptures
work with just bearings (inside the tubes) and counter balance weights. The trick (and
a major source of frustration) is getting all the components to balance perfectly so a
light breeze gets them to move. Stepping Stones is just a series of tubes welded at
45 degree agles with bearing inside.

The reason I brought up this topic is that I want to integrate the water with the metal.. As I
feared the stream is impacted considerably. I also was thinking of using a wind meter to stop
the water when the wind comes up, but unfortunately where I live the wind is usually present
most of the day..

Ken

Ken, Thank you, this was verry interresting. I can imagine, that the the Combnation of the laminar stream and your sculptures are pretty nice.
Cheers
Mario

juggle5 wrote:I am sure the answer to my question is obvious, but I will ask anyway..

In your experiences of using your nozzles outside, can the laminar flow
be maintained with any wind, or do they need perfect calm conditions?

Thanks ken

Yesterday I traveled to Thanksgiving Point gardens to see the Tulip Festival. I learned that they used to have a laminar fountain in the childrens discovery area but haven't operated it for three years because of the problems with wind. It should be noted that the garden is located in a narrow valley that is known for wind and infact has two commercial wind powered generator towers near the gardens and it was certainly breezy during our visit.

Maybe I need to go back to get a look at the device they use. I'm pretty sure it has a cutter. I did open a couple of the pump boxes they use for some small waterfalls and streams. Nothing was locked or protected. but I didn't findout about the laminar fountain until we were on our way out and my wife had a meeting that we had to hurry to.

Therons
Yes go back! This would be interesting, to see inside a laminar nozzle. But i think you only will get a look on the outside of the nozzle. When you got a chance to break it apart .. make some Pictures for us!

Yea yea.. do it do it

Open it up and show us the secret inside

Guys! There's no secret! ......


It's ....MAGIC!

I have just assembled my "new" test today..
I sitting now and wait for the silicone to get hard so I can go out and do a quick test

new on the test today is:

New test on a "sponge" filter on the bottom.
New AWESOME sharp brass ring (did cut my finger on it..oohps)
New 900 straws with No bending !

I hope it`s a success.. if not I will cry

Sounds like you've nailed it! I think you got it in the bag! Just make sure to be patient enough for the silicone to set up.

What is patient?? haha