Mobile Drip Irrigation Hydraulic Design for Center Pivot Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile drip irrigation systems on center pivot irrigation systems face issues such as surface runoff, deep percolation loss, and poor irrigation uniformity due to unreasonably designed installation and operation parameters, which affect water use efficiency and crop yield.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic design method and device that inputs soil and system parameters into a simulation model to determine optimal drip-line spacing and length, balancing irrigation uniformity, deep percolation loss, and installation costs, using a multi-criteria objective function to adjust for crop species and soil conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional drip irrigation design methods are applied to mobile drip irrigation systems, then installation is simplified, but surface runoff and deep percolation loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidwater loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the design parameters from traditional static drip irrigation to mobile drip irrigation specific parameters, including adjusted drip-line spacing, emitter flow rates, and system operating speed to match the dynamic nature of mobile systems, thereby preventing surface runoff and deep percolation loss while maintaining installation feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If drip-line spacing is reduced to improve irrigation uniformity, then irrigation uniformity improves, but system installation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveirrigation uniformityVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the drip-line spacing parameter by calculating the optimal value that achieves sufficient irrigation uniformity while controlling system cost, adjusting the spacing based on soil hydraulic properties, crop water needs, and mobile system characteristics to balance precision and economy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If center pivot irrigation system travels faster to improve productivity, then productivity improves, but irrigation depth decreases causing water use inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveirrigation coverage speedVSAvoidwater use efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of system operating parameters including travel speed, drip-line spacing, and emitter flow rates that can be optimized based on real-time conditions such as soil moisture, crop stage, and environmental factors to maintain both high productivity and water use efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor irrigation depth, soil moisture levels, and water application rates to dynamically adjust the center pivot travel speed and drip irrigation parameters, ensuring optimal water use efficiency while maintaining high irrigation coverage speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

This approach improves irrigation water use efficiency and crop yield by optimizing drip-line spacing and length, reducing surface runoff and deep percolation loss, and enhancing irrigation uniformity through precise control of the irrigation system.

Implementation Method 1

inputting distances between drip-lines, and a depth of a bottom boundary, a flux of infiltration boundary and soil hydraulic parameters of a soil domain into a simulation model; and acquiring output parameters of the simulation model after simulation, including a soil water content at each observation point and an amount of deep percolation loss

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSoil water movement:

Data Source

PatentUS12022777B2Hydraulic design method, device and equipment for mobile drip irrigation on center pivot irrigation system

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 CHINA AGRI UNIV

AI summary

Hydraulic design method, device and equipment for mobile drip irrigation system are provided. Different distances between drip-lines, a depth of a bottom boundary, a flux of infiltration boundary and soil hydraulic parameters are input into a simulation model, and output parameters of the model including a soil water content at each observation point and an amount of deep percolation loss under the different distances at the same irrigation depth are acquired. An optimal distance between drip-lines is obtained according to an installation cost function, the soil water content at each observation point and the amount of deep percolation loss, and lengths of drip-lines matched with the optimal distance are obtained. Structural parameters of the irrigation system and a designed irrigation depth are obtained to determine working parameters. The irrigation system with the optimal distance and the matched lengths of drip-lines is controlled to irrigate crops based on the working parameters.