Center Pivot Additive Spraying for Uniform Field Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irrigation systems face challenges in uniformly applying fluid additives across fields with varying soil textures and topography, leading to inefficiencies and potential waste due to excess dilution, especially with high-speed irrigation systems, and conventional variable rate irrigation systems are costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using separate additive carrying conduits with flow control valves and mechanical pressure sensitive valves to deliver fluid additives uniformly to specific areas of a field, independent of irrigation water flow, allowing for precise application of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides based on GIS mapping and real-time crop conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional variable rate irrigation systems are used to apply fluid additives uniformly, then application precision is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the irrigation system into separate functional components: water delivery conduits and additive delivery conduits. The additive delivery system is further segmented into multiple independent conduits that can be controlled individually. This segmentation allows precise control of additive application without requiring complex integration across the entire irrigation system, thereby improving application precision while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the additive delivery function from the water delivery system by implementing separate additive delivery conduits. This extraction allows the additive application system to be designed and controlled independently from the irrigation system, enabling precise additive placement without the complexity of integrating control mechanisms into the existing water delivery infrastructure.
2Productivity
If high-speed irrigation systems are used to increase productivity, then water application speed is improved, but additive uniformity deteriorates due to excess dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluid delivery system into separate water conduits and additive conduits. This separation allows the water system to operate at high speeds for productivity while the additive system operates independently at optimized flow rates for uniformity. The independent additive conduits can maintain proper additive-to-water ratios even during high-speed water application, preventing excess dilution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements variable flow control in the additive delivery system through flow control valves on each additive conduit. This allows dynamic adjustment of additive flow parameters to match water application rates, maintaining uniform additive application even when water application speed varies. The system can compensate for speed changes by adjusting additive delivery parameters in real-time.
3Measurement precision
If separate additive carrying conduits are used to improve additive application precision, then application precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the additive delivery conduits to serve multiple functions: delivering additives to specific field areas, enabling variable rate application, and providing independent control zones. By making the additive delivery system multi-functional, the patent achieves high application precision without proportionally increasing complexity, as a single conduit system handles multiple operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control capabilities in the additive delivery system through flow control valves and the ability to independently activate or deactivate individual conduits. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to different application scenarios and field conditions, achieving precision through flexible control rather than through static complex infrastructure.
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 precise and uniform application of fluid additives to polygon-shaped areas within field sectors, reducing waste and maintaining irrigation system functionality without simultaneous water pumping, leveraging GIS and real-time crop data for site-specific treatments.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanical pressure sensitive valve means positioned at each additive conduit juncture between said first-portion and said end-portion of said additive carrying conduits. Said mechanical pressure sensitive valve means may each serve as a check valve that cuts off the outward flow of a fluid additive at said additive conduit juncture until a certain threshold of line pressure, in the corresponding additive carrying conduit, may be exceeded at said juncture.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for site-specific application of a fluid additive, with or without irrigation water, wherein a center pivot or lateral move irrigation system is utilized for a dedicated additive spraying system. Said spraying system including an additive pumping apparatus with a pump controller in communication with an irrigation system position sensor, and an additive pump in fluid communication with a reservoir of additive and a plurality of flow control valves. Said flow control valves each in fluid communication with an additive carrying conduit, said conduit terminating with an end-portion of conduit with spray nozzle set. Each said end-portion with spray nozzle set configured to apply additive to a ground surface below said end-portion and within the boundaries of polygon shaped areas of a field based on the position of the pipe spans, said position provided to the pump controller by the irrigation system position sensor.