Irrigation Controller Feedback for Volumetric Water Budget Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current irrigation control systems lack efficient methods to manage water usage within specified volumetric budgets, leading to potential overuse and increased costs, as they do not automatically adjust irrigation based on real-time water usage data and do not account for both irrigation and non-irrigation water consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an irrigation controller that receives water usage information, determines if a volumetric water budget will be met, and adjusts irrigation accordingly, using a processor and memory to execute program code that receives water usage data, evaluates budget compliance, and outputs signals to adjust irrigation, incorporating features like wireless communication with valves and integration with water flow meters to manage both irrigation and non-irrigation water use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional irrigation control systems are used, then irrigation operations can be performed, but water usage cannot be effectively managed within volumetric budgets leading to overuse and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation controller receives real-time water usage data from flow meters and automatically compares actual consumption against predetermined volumetric budgets. When the budget is approaching or exceeded, the system automatically adjusts irrigation operations to prevent overuse, creating a closed-loop feedback control system that continuously monitors and responds to water consumption patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automatic self-adjustment of irrigation operations without requiring manual intervention. The controller autonomously processes water usage information, evaluates budget compliance, and implements adjustments to irrigation schedules and valve operations based on real-time data, allowing the system to manage its own water consumption within budget constraints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If irrigation controller automatically adjusts based on water usage data, then water budget compliance is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation controller is designed as a multi-functional device that integrates water usage data reception, budget evaluation, automatic adjustment calculation, and irrigation control operations. By consolidating these functions into a single controller unit, the system achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity, as the controller serves multiple purposes simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs flow meters as intermediary devices that automatically measure and report water usage data to the controller. This intermediary layer simplifies the controller's task by providing pre-processed usage information, reducing the complexity of direct measurement while enabling sophisticated budget management capabilities.
3Quantity of substance
If volumetric water budget management is implemented, then water cost reduction is achieved, but measurement and monitoring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual water usage tracking and calculation methods with automated electronic measurement and processing. Flow meters provide continuous electronic measurement of water volume, and the controller automatically processes this data against budget parameters, eliminating the need for manual measurement while achieving high precision volumetric control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses flow meters to create continuous electronic copies of water usage data, which are then processed and stored for budget evaluation. This digital copying approach enables precise measurement and analysis of water consumption patterns without requiring direct physical intervention, achieving high measurement precision through data replication and analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments provide systems, processes and/or methods of controlling irrigation. In some embodiments, methods are provided that receive (4112) water usage information corresponding to a first volumetric water usage at a site location having an irrigation controller (130), wherein the first volumetric water usage corresponds to volumetric water usage from a beginning of a budget period of time to a first time within the budget period of time; determine (4114) automatically whether a volumetric water budget at the site location will be met for the budget period of time based on at least the first volumetric water usage, the volumetric water budget corresponding to a specified volume of water for use during the budget period of time; determine (4116) automatically, in the event the volumetric water budget will not be met, an adjustment to the irrigation by the irrigation controller; and output (4118) signaling to effect the adjustment.