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<br />Fig. 2 - Radio Controlled Cloud Nucleant Generator <br /> <br />r <br /> <br />This generator operates on the same principle as the manually actuated <br />type of generator shown on the cover and described on the cover back, <br />except that it is entirely remotely controlled. A season's supply of <br />silver iodide in acetone solution is stored in the tank located under <br />the flame holders. Another large tank contains a season's supply of <br />propane. When the unit receives a coded radio signal, two solenoidal <br />valves are immediately energized, releasing silver iodide solution and <br />propane at metered rates into a spray nozzle located just beneath the <br />flameholder. A glow coil is energized and ignites the mixture in the <br />flameholder. The microscopic silver iodide smoke particles (the nucleat- <br />ing agent) are produced as the vaporized silver iodide is quenched in the <br />surrounding cold air. <br /> <br />The unit can be interrogated by radio at any time to determine by the <br />read-out from various pressure and temperature sensors whether the unit <br />is properly functioning. In case of a blowout in a strong wind the unit <br />senses its loss of temperature by means of a thermal sensor on the flame- <br />holder and automatically re-lights itself. On receiving a turn-off signal <br />it closes off the liquid flow into the unit, but delays turning off the <br />propane flow for a few minutes in order to purge the line of solution and <br />eliminate future clogging. Nitrogen gas is used to maintain a suitable <br />pressure balance within the system. <br /> <br />There were 15 such units, located at strategic high elevation points on <br />the upwind slopes of the target area and on isolated peaks in the upwind <br />valley. <br /> <br />-7- <br />