Irrigation Calibration Map for Flow Rate Variations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural irrigation systems fail to accurately deliver prescribed amounts of water due to variations in water flow rates caused by field elevation changes, pipe friction losses, water emitter nozzle wear, and pressure-regulator inaccuracies, leading to over or under-watering of crops.
Innovation Solution
A calibration system that creates a map of flow rate variations by measuring actual flow rates and comparing them to expected rates, generating correction factors to adjust operational aspects of the irrigation system, such as mobile tower speed and water emitter duty cycles, to compensate for these variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If irrigation plans are created based on expected flow rates at flat ground, then the system can operate with simple initial settings, but the water delivery becomes inaccurate when field elevation changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by moving the irrigation system across the field and measuring actual flow rates at various locations before creating the irrigation plan. This preliminary action captures elevation changes and friction losses, storing correction factors that will be applied during actual irrigation operations to maintain accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (tower speed, emitter duty cycle) based on location-specific correction factors stored in the calibration map. Instead of using fixed parameters throughout the field, the system dynamically adjusts parameters to compensate for elevation and friction variations at each location.
2Device complexity
If the irrigation system operates without calibration adjustments, then the system structure remains simple, but water flow rate variations cause over or under-watering
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses flow rate measurements taken during calibration as feedback to determine correction factors for different field locations. These correction factors are stored and applied during irrigation operations, creating a feedback loop that ensures reliable water delivery despite variations in elevation and friction losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation system performs self-calibration by measuring its own flow rates at various locations and generating its own correction factors. This self-service approach allows the system to compensate for its own performance variations without requiring external calibration equipment or complex additional hardware.
3Loss of time
If irrigation plans are created when the system is first placed into service, then initial water delivery can be accurate, but accuracy decreases over time as components age
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration periodically rather than only once at installation. The calibration map can be updated at scheduled intervals or when performance degradation is detected, ensuring that correction factors remain accurate as components age and performance characteristics change over time.
4Measurement precision
If the system adjusts operational parameters to compensate for flow rate variations, then water delivery accuracy improves, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different correction factors to different locations in the field based on locally measured flow rates. Each location receives customized operational parameters (tower speed, emitter duty cycle) tailored to its specific elevation and friction characteristics, rather than using uniform parameters across the entire field.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for calibrating an irrigation system to account for variations in flow rates caused by field elevation changes, pipe friction losses, water emitter nozzle wear, pressure-regulator inaccuracies, and other factors. A calibration map is created to account for the flow rate variations and then consulted to control operation of the irrigation system.