Subterranean Irrigation With Soil-Moisture Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional irrigation systems are complex and inefficient, leading to water wastage through evaporation and runoff, as they often deliver water to the surface rather than directly to plant roots.
Innovation Solution
A subterranean irrigation system comprising a watering pipe and a probe with sensors that deliver water below the ground surface, using a control box to regulate water flow based on soil moisture levels detected by embedded sensors, thereby reducing evaporation and runoff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If water is delivered to the surface using conventional irrigation systems, then water distribution is achieved, but water wastage through evaporation and runoff occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from surface-level water delivery to subsurface water delivery by inserting the watering pipe below the ground surface. This dimensional change delivers water directly to the root zone, eliminating evaporation and runoff losses while maintaining effective irrigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses soil moisture sensors to automatically detect when plants need water and triggers the pump accordingly. This self-monitoring and self-regulating mechanism eliminates water wastage without requiring complex external control systems.
2Productivity
If subterranean irrigation is implemented, then water delivery efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pump, control circuitry, moisture sensors, and watering pipe into an integrated subterranean irrigation device. This merging of components achieves efficient subsurface water delivery while reducing overall system complexity compared to separate surface irrigation systems with independent controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuitry performs multiple functions: it reads moisture sensor data, determines irrigation needs, activates the pump, and monitors system operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control components, maintaining productivity while managing complexity.
3Loss of energy
If conventional surface irrigation is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but evaporation and runoff cause water loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system moves water delivery from the surface dimension to the subsurface dimension, placing the watering pipe below ground level. This eliminates direct exposure to evaporation and prevents runoff, addressing water loss without significantly complicating installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The moisture sensors provide continuous feedback on soil moisture levels, allowing the system to operate only when necessary. This feedback mechanism prevents water loss through over-irrigation while maintaining ease of operation through automatic control.
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
The system efficiently delivers water directly to plant roots, minimizing evaporation and runoff, and is simpler to set up compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one sensor is configured to detect data of the ground and transmit the detected data to an electrical controller circuitry
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods including at least one irrigation device configured to deliver water to below a ground surface at a selected depth, the irrigation device including: a first watering pipe configured to be inserted into the ground at the selected depth to deliver water; a probe including at least one sensor configured to be inserted into the ground, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect data of the ground and transmit the detected data to an electrical controller circuitry; and a control box configured to receive the detected data via the electrical controller circuitry and control an opening and closing of an inlet valve between the first watering pipe and a water main, based on the received data.