Irrigation Pressure Regulator with Remote Electronic Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current irrigation systems rely on mechanical pressure regulators with fixed pressure settings, which are costly to calibrate and maintain, prone to hysteresis, and require frequent replacement, leading to inefficiencies and resource waste due to their mechanical nature and limited adjustability.
Innovation Solution
A remote-controlled pressure adjustment system using an electronic control board, pressure sensors, and solenoid valves to dynamically adjust water pressure at nozzles/orifices, allowing for variable flow and real-time cost optimization by activating solenoid valves to match target pressures with minimal physical intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If mechanical pressure regulators with fixed pressure settings are used, then the system is simple and low cost, but the adaptability and precision of water dosage are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed mechanical pressure settings with a dynamic electronic control system. The pressure regulator is equipped with an electronic controller that can adjust pressure settings in real-time based on crop water demands, weather conditions, and soil moisture levels, transforming a static system into an adaptive one that responds to changing conditions throughout the vegetation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the pressure regulator to vary pressure output dynamically rather than maintaining a fixed setting. The electronic controller modifies pressure parameters according to different growth stages - lower pressure during early vegetation and higher pressure during fructification - enabling precise control of water dosage to match plant requirements at each phase.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual calibration and specific springs are used for each regulator, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical calibration system with an electronic control system. Instead of requiring precision-matched springs and manual calibration for each regulator, the electronic controller with pressure sensors and automated adjustment mechanisms provides precise pressure control through electronic means, eliminating the need for complex mechanical assembly and individual calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through automated pressure regulation. The electronic controller continuously monitors pressure via sensors and automatically adjusts the regulator output without requiring manual intervention or calibration. The system self-adjusts to maintain optimal pressure levels, eliminating the need for user calibration and reducing dependency on precision mechanical components.
3Device complexity
If mechanical pressure regulators are used, then the system is simple, but the reliability decreases due to spring stress, ageing, and hysteresis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the unreliable mechanical spring system with an electronic control system that uses electronic sensors and actuators. This substitution eliminates the hysteresis and ageing problems inherent in mechanical springs, as electronic components do not suffer from the same stress-related degradation. The electronic system provides more consistent and reliable pressure control over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through pressure sensors that continuously monitor the actual pressure output and feed this information back to the electronic controller. The controller compares the measured pressure with the target pressure and automatically makes adjustments to eliminate any deviation. This closed-loop feedback system ensures high reliability and pressure stability, compensating for any disturbances or component variations in real-time.
4Device complexity
If the irrigation time is used as the only management alternative, then the system remains simple, but the productivity and water absorption efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by enabling dynamic adjustment of pressure as a controllable parameter, in addition to irrigation time. The electronic controller can modify pressure levels during different phases of irrigation and throughout the vegetation cycle, creating multiple degrees of freedom for optimization. This allows simultaneous control of both pressure and time parameters to maximize water absorption efficiency and crop productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by transforming the static irrigation system into a dynamic one where pressure can be adjusted in real-time. The system can respond to changing conditions by dynamically modifying pressure settings during irrigation events and between growth stages, enabling flexible optimization of water delivery to match crop demands and improve overall productivity beyond what fixed-time irrigation can achieve.
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
Enables efficient, flexible, and cost-effective water management by optimizing water pressure and flow according to demand, reducing resource waste and allowing real-time adjustments, thereby enhancing irrigation system autonomy and integration with software tools.
Implementation Method 1
a first solenoid valve (61) to increase pressure, said first solenoid valve (61) being activated by an electromagnetic force to open or close
Implementation Method 2
It reads the current pressure of the adjustment and control system by means of an electronic pressure sensor (81)
Implementation Method 3
The working principle is based on the force imposed by a spring over a diaphragm, connected to the plunger, against the outlet pressure effort of the water over the diaphragm
Implementation Method 4
concerning the quality of the spring, interfering in hysteresis and consequently in the outlet pressure variation as a function of inlet pressure variation in the regulator
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustment and remote control system with a pressure regulator for irrigation systems to regulate the water pressure at the outlet, and consequently its flow, being crucial to assure the uniformity and the quantity of water as applied. In the adjustment and remote control system for pressure in irrigation systems, the electronic control board is informed of the target pressure at the outlet of the pressure regulator as disclosed in this document; it reads the current pressure of the adjustment and control system by means of the electronic pressure sensor and, if the pressure is lower than the target, a solenoid valve for pressure increase is activated, using the pressure generated by a pressure generator in any given fluid, and, if the pressure is higher, that pressure is reduced.