Irrigation Additive Delivery With Polygon-Specific Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional irrigation systems face challenges in uniformly applying fluid additives across fields with varying soil textures and topography, leading to inefficiencies and potential waste or toxicity due to non-uniform application rates, especially with high-speed irrigation systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using separate additive carrying conduits with flow control valves and a pumping apparatus to deliver fluid additives precisely to discrete polygon-shaped areas, independent of irrigation water flow, utilizing variable frequency drives for controlled pressure and GIS-based prescriptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fluid additives are added to the available pressurized water supply prior to application by the irrigation system, then the additives can be distributed across the field using existing irrigation infrastructure, but uniform application rates cannot be achieved due to varying soil textures and topography
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the field into multiple discrete polygon-shaped areas and uses separate additive carrying conduits for each area. Each conduit can be independently controlled with flow control valves, allowing precise delivery of fluid additives to specific field sectors rather than uniform distribution across the entire field through a single water supply system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the additive delivery function from the irrigation water supply system by using separate additive carrying conduits that are independent of the water bearing conduit. This allows additive application to be controlled separately from water application, enabling precise additive distribution regardless of irrigation patterns influenced by soil texture and topography variations.
2Productivity
If high-speed irrigation systems are used to increase productivity, then field coverage speed is improved, but uniform additive application becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a pump controller that monitors and controls flow control valves for each additive carrying conduit, enabling real-time adjustment of additive delivery rates. This feedback control mechanism ensures uniform additive application rates even when the irrigation system operates at high speeds, as the controller can compensate for variations in field conditions and maintain precise application rates across different field sectors.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate additive carrying conduits with flow control valves are used for each field sector, then precise and uniform additive application is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single additive pumping apparatus that serves multiple additive carrying conduits through a centralized control system. The pump controller manages flow control valves for all conduits, allowing one pumping unit to perform the function of multiple independent systems. This multi-functionality reduces overall complexity compared to having completely separate pumping systems for each conduit while maintaining precise application capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables uniform and precise application of fluid additives like fertilizers and pesticides across fields, reducing waste and enhancing crop yield by adapting irrigation systems for dedicated additive spraying, leveraging GIS data for site-specific treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The additive pump may be a variable speed pump with a variable frequency drive or a switch reluctance DC motor to provide variable motor speed control for the additive pump to maintain a constant fluid pressure at an additive discharge outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for site-specific application of a fluid additive, with or without irrigation water, wherein a center pivot or lateral move irrigation system is utilized for a dedicated additive spraying system. Said spraying system including an additive pumping apparatus with a pump controller in communication with an irrigation system position sensor, and an additive pump in fluid communication with a reservoir of additive and a plurality of flow control valves. Said flow control valves each in fluid communication with an additive carrying conduit, said conduit terminating with an end-portion of conduit with spray nozzle set. Each said end-portion with spray nozzle set configured to apply additive to a ground surface below said end-portion and within the boundaries of polygon shaped areas of a field based on the position of the pipe spans, said position provided to the pump controller by the irrigation system position sensor.