Irrigation Flow Calibration Using Valve Timing and Meter Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Growing populations strain municipal water supply systems, leading to increased costs for water and other resources, necessitating improved systems for monitoring resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
An irrigation flow controller that collects irrigation water consumption data by electronically communicating with irrigation valves, identifying minimal consumption periods, and calculating flow rates based on actual usage data to optimize water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional water monitoring systems are used, then basic water usage data can be obtained, but the system cannot accurately distinguish between irrigation and non-irrigation water consumption, leading to imprecise measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments water consumption measurement into distinct components by separately tracking irrigation valve operation times and correlating them with water meter readings. This allows the system to distinguish irrigation consumption from non-irrigation consumption without requiring a single complex integrated sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational process that correlates valve operation data with water meter readings. This intermediary layer processes timing information and flow rate data to calculate specific irrigation consumption, avoiding the need for direct complex sensing at the measurement point.
2Loss of information
If continuous monitoring of water usage is implemented, then detailed consumption data is obtained, but the system requires excessive computational resources and processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-recording valve operation start and stop times, then uses these predetermined time windows to selectively process only relevant water meter readings. This avoids continuous processing of all incoming data and reduces computational overhead while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system processes only the portion of water consumption data that falls within identified irrigation time windows, rather than processing complete continuous streams. This partial processing approach reduces computational burden while capturing all necessary irrigation-specific consumption information.
3Measurement precision
If calibration procedures are performed frequently to maintain accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but system operation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic calibration procedures at predetermined intervals rather than continuous calibration. The system schedules calibration events to occur during low-water-usage periods, maintaining measurement accuracy while minimizing disruption to normal operations and reducing overall calibration time requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and device may be used to provide irrigation water consumption data. The system may include an irrigation valve interface and controller that communicates with irrigation valves to open and close the valves. An identification module identifies one or more time periods when water consumption is not likely to occur or is likely minimal and a calibration module opens and closes the irrigation valves according to calibration schedule data. A timestamp module may identify a calibration valve open time and a calibration valve close time for the irrigation valves and a computational module may calculate a computed flow rate for the irrigation valves based on the calibration valve open time, the calibration valve close time, and the actual water usage data that occurred between the calibration valve open time and the calibration valve close time. The computed flow rate may be utilized to identify anomalies and provide notifications thereof.