Irrigation Dripper Zigzag Pathway for Low-Pressure, Clog-Resistant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drip irrigation systems require high water pressure, leading to high energy costs, investment costs, and clogging issues due to particle accumulation, limiting their application in large commercial fields.
Innovation Solution
A dripper design with a zigzag-shaped water pathway and a compact housing that reduces water velocity and pressure, incorporating a filter to prevent clogging, and an irrigation system that operates at low pressure, using a varying slope to maintain uniform water discharge across the field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If drip irrigation systems use high water pressure to deliver water efficiently, then water distribution uniformity is improved, but energy consumption and investment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating pressure parameter from high to low (0.5-2 bar), and modifies the water pathway geometry (zigzag shape, length 1-10 cm, hydraulic diameter 0.01-1 mm) to achieve uniform water distribution without requiring high pressure pumps, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining irrigation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The water pathway is divided into multiple segments with the zigzag configuration, creating multiple flow resistance zones that collectively reduce water velocity and pressure while ensuring uniform discharge. The pathway includes inlet, zigzag section, and outlet segments that work together to achieve pressure reduction
2Productivity
If drip irrigation systems use high water pressure, then water flow rate increases, but particle accumulation and clogging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the water velocity parameter by using low pressure (0.5-2 bar) and a controlled pathway length (1-10 cm), which prevents particles from accumulating and clogging the system while maintaining adequate water flow rate for irrigation through optimized pathway geometry and multiple inlets
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is positioned at the water inlet to preliminarily remove particles before water enters the pathway, preventing clogging before it occurs. The zigzag pathway design also creates flow conditions that prevent particle deposition
3Use of energy by stationary object
If drip irrigation systems operate at low water pressure, then energy costs decrease, but water distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The water pathway is segmented into a zigzag configuration with multiple turns, creating multiple flow resistance zones that collectively reduce water velocity and pressure while maintaining uniform discharge across all outlets, achieving effective water distribution at low energy cost
Solution Approach 2:
The water pathway transitions from a straight linear configuration to a zigzag three-dimensional path, increasing the effective pathway length and flow resistance without increasing the physical footprint, thereby achieving uniform water distribution at low pressure
4Stress or pressure
If the water pathway length is increased to reduce water velocity, then pressure reduction is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water pathway is configured in a zigzag pattern within a compact housing, effectively increasing the pathway length (1-10 cm) and flow resistance without proportionally increasing the device volume, achieving significant pressure reduction (to 0.5-2 bar) while maintaining a compact form factor
Solution Approach 2:
The zigzag pathway uses curved transitions instead of sharp angles, creating a compact configuration that maximizes pathway length within a small volume, achieving effective pressure reduction while minimizing device size
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
Reduces the need for pumps, lowers energy consumption, and prevents clogging, enabling efficient irrigation at lower costs and maintaining uniform water distribution in large fields.
Implementation Method 1
A dripper design with a zigzag-shaped water pathway and a compact housing that reduces water velocity and pressure
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a filter to prevent clogging
Implementation Method 3
an irrigation system that operates at low pressure, using a varying slope to maintain uniform water discharge across the field
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A water irrigation dripper (306), comprising: an external hollow element (301) having at least one water inlet (312) and at least one water outlet (314); and an internal element (303) inside said external hollow element (310) to form a water pathway (310) in a space between said elements (301, 303), said water pathway (310) being other than a one-dimensional pathway allowing a plurality of alternative bypass flow routes (331, 332, 333) around any particle (350) between said elements (301, 303).