Irrigation Antimicrobial Dosing With Downstream Residual Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current irrigation systems lack real-time monitoring and precise regulation of antimicrobial agents, leading to overuse or underuse, which impacts crop yield and food safety, and are difficult to scale for large agricultural operations due to varying water conditions in lengthy irrigation lines.
Innovation Solution
An irrigation system with sensors and dosing pumps that automatically adjust antimicrobial doses based on real-time measurements, using amperometric sensors to maintain antimicrobial residuals within predefined ranges, and communicate via network interfaces to control dosing pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual measurement techniques are used to monitor antimicrobial agents, then labor costs and time consumption increase, but the system cannot scale to large-scale agricultural operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement systems with automated electronic sensing systems. Sensors continuously monitor antimicrobial agent concentrations in irrigation water, eliminating the need for manual dipstick testing and enabling scalable automation across large-scale agricultural operations while providing real-time data feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-regulating irrigation water treatment by using sensors to automatically detect antimicrobial agent levels and feeding this information back to control dosing pumps, which automatically adjust dosing rates to maintain optimal concentrations without continuous manual intervention.
2Reliability
If antimicrobial agents are added to irrigation water, then microbial growth is controlled, but the chemicals may be depleted before reaching outlets in lengthy irrigation lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors placed at various points along irrigation lines continuously monitor antimicrobial agent concentrations. This real-time data is fed back to control systems that automatically adjust dosing pump rates to compensate for chemical depletion, ensuring consistent effective concentrations are maintained throughout the entire irrigation network regardless of line length.
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation system is divided into multiple monitoring zones with sensors placed at different locations along the irrigation lines. Each zone can be independently monitored and controlled, allowing the system to detect and respond to local variations in chemical concentration caused by microbial consumption, ensuring reliable microbial control throughout the entire distribution network.
3Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring is implemented, then precise regulation of antimicrobial dosing is achieved, but the initial system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual measurement procedures with automated electronic sensors that continuously and precisely measure antimicrobial agent concentrations. This substitution provides accurate real-time data while simplifying operations, as the automated system requires minimal human intervention and can be integrated with existing irrigation control infrastructure.
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
Ensures consistent antimicrobial levels across large-scale irrigation systems, improving safety and reliability by maintaining desired ppm levels of antimicrobial agents in irrigation water, reducing manual labor, and enhancing agricultural product safety.
Implementation Method 1
The amount of antimicrobial agent can be measured using an amperometric sensor or similar device that measures the electric current flowing between two electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and devices that can automatically apply an antimicrobial dose to irrigation water and monitor the antimicrobial residual of the water flowing downstream. The dose can be adjusted using one or more pumps to add additional antimicrobial dose as desired, for example, according to downstream measurements of water conditions, including for example, the level of antimicrobial agent or chemicals detected in the water. The amount of antimicrobial agent can be measured using an amperometric sensor or similar device that measures the electric current flowing between two electrodes, for example. According to some embodiments, remote sensors are placed at various locations of the irrigation system to measure and validate antimicrobial levels throughout the system. According to some embodiments, at least one dosing pump is controlled based on the flow rate of the irrigation water.