Water Screen in Gülhane Park

A hundred steps from the southern entrance to the park is an interesting structure, a screen, images on which are created by drops of falling water.

Water screen in Gülhane Park, Istanbul

The principle of operation of this design is similar to the carriage of an inkjet printer, only instead of a sheet of paper, drops fall freely under the influence of gravity.

Water screen in Gülhane Park, Istanbul

Looking under the upper frame of the screen, you can see a lot of nozzles, which are supplied with water from the pump. The nozzles are controlled by the computer, opening briefly and forming large water droplets. The computer sets the sequence of operation of each nozzle, creating an image from the falling drops

Water screen in Gülhane Park, Istanbul

The drop velocity is determined by the acceleration of gravity and the aerodynamic drag of the air, so the nozzle diameter is designed so that the drops have the largest possible size and at the same time do not break up when falling. Thus, the speed of falling at the top and bottom is not too different and the image is practically not stretched at the bottom.

Water screen in Gülhane Park, Istanbul

On the screen, you can see geometric patterns and even complex images of vegetation.

Water screen in Gülhane Park, Istanbul

Sometimes the text appears. You have time to read it, but taking a photo is already a problem. I only succeeded with the fifth frame.

Water screen in Gülhane Park, Istanbul