Patent Application
20230063223
Not Applicable
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The present invention presents two irrigation methods via groundwater and rainwater that perform its functions in subsurface irrigation. The irrigation system in its entirety broadly encompasses water filtration, generation of potable water, groundwater irrigation, capillary action, nanomilled particle usage, rainwater storage and usage, and automated moisture control data processing using moisture detection devices. The systems cooperate wherein the groundwater irrigation system supplies water to the topsoil by capillary rise that occurs due to nanomilled sand. The rainwater irrigation system assists the prior system by providing irrigation water through distribution pipes and hollow fiber membrane capillaries throughout the soil. More importantly, the use of nanomilled sand for irrigation maximizes the surface area of the particles that holds surface tension. Within this system, percolated water may travel down to recharge groundwater layers in an internal pipe, such as excess rainwater. Also, the rainwater irrigation system can store, filter, and deliver potable water to the residence or for irrigation. The present system uses valves, distribution pipes and hollow fiber membrane capillaries to deliver clean water to large areas of land while minimizing the chances of clogs that form as a result of an excess of contaminants and sediments. The installation process also uses two distinct layers of soil, where compacted soil allows water to be easily transported above, while loose topsoil that plants grow in. By analyzing concurrent environmental conditions at the irrigation sites, the system can determine the best use of water using soil water potential. This automatic system performs its functions based on this water data, which, along with other electrical components, are all solar powered to achieve carbon neutrality.
Water irrigation systems exist in various forms such as above-ground sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, and flood irrigation that cover different areas of land. These different systems have vastly different water delivery and absorption efficiencies, and varied effectiveness in preventing the loss of water that had not been absorbed into the soil. The loss of valuable water has a significant effect on areas around the world that suffer from droughts and water shortage issues, which can limit agricultural and urban development with insufficient methods of recycling and reusing water and conserving as much water as possible. The small amounts of water that could be saved and reused from water loss during agricultural irrigation can be reintegrated into existing distribution and processing systems to provide a solution for the existing water shortage problems.
In response to water shortage issues, subsurface irrigation has been shown to be more efficient than above-surface irrigation as the soil is able to absorb the water from below, reducing evapotranspiration, percolation, and runoff losses as a result of being exposed to the elements.
In Brock et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,118, a drip irrigation mechanism was devised to distribute water across an area of farmland and perform irrigation. The system uses a series of capillaries and distribution pipes that are pressurized to ensure the successful delivery of water across all branches of pipes. The invention also includes a simple fix that allowed any blockages to be removed more simply by dealing with separate parts of the distribution systems. This system fails to address the loss of water through evapotranspiration and the inability to distribute water and nutrients adequately according to plant needs.
In Shih, U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,104, the inventor creates a setup that combines both sprinkler and drip irrigation into one system that is able to switch between methods of irrigation quickly without the need for the installation of a new system. The piping are outfitted with sprinkler/drip outputs after a certain distance, which are all controlled automatically through humidity and what the enduser desires. All piping, supported above ground with poles, are connected to an above-ground water tank that has to be recharged. This system does not address the loss of water through evapotranspiration and percolation, and is unable to address the effectiveness of watering with drip irrigation over large areas of land without the need to place large sections of piping close together to accommodate for the lack of area coverage by drip irrigation.
In Wilkes, U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,151 B2, a stackable flower pot that is watered from the top down allows percolated water from the top layers to irrigate the lower layers using drip irrigation. Any water that reaches the bottom of the stack will be recycled into the potting system by flowing back up into certain pots with wicks. This setup utilizes a water-efficient setup that is ideal for small-scale gardening, but will be impossible to translate over to a larger field that requires a more complex circulation system. The system also utilizes capillary action to delivery water vertically against gravity. Such a system is similar to the present invention in that percolated water may be recycled back into the irrigation system.
In Hansen, U.S. Pat. No. 10,231,392 B2, a new flower pot irrigation system was introduced with a water basin that is able to constantly deliver water through wicks to the pots above, making transportation and irrigation easier in general. This ensures minimal management costs that allow plants to travel further distances. However, this system is temporary, and can be used in small scale planting by the end user as well as the retailer, as the plants will need to eventually be repotted. Evaporation of the water can also be prevented by covering up the water basin, but it cannot be transferred to a larger area of land.
In Sternberg, U.S. Pat. No. 10,264,741 B2, a subsurface irrigation system with two layers of porous soil allows water to travel upwards via capillary action to moisten the soil above, giving water to the roots of plants above. The land is enclosed by a water impermeable layer that traps all naturally percolating water and rain/snow. There is also a built in drainage pipe if water is unable to completely be absorbed and oversaturates the soil. The drainage system may recycle the water back into the water basin, which further alleviates problems with percolation loss. However, the system requires the user to displace all of the soil that the system covers in order to install the waterproof barrier underneath the subsoil.
In Lu, U.S. Pat. No. 10,548,268 B1, several new inventive systems for irrigation were created for large fields, flower pots, and the possibility of integrating these new systems in the future for space colonization in which the system is still able to behave. With a complicated system of piping and valve controls that detect moisture levels and to prevent as much water loss as possible, the system is able to use the capillary action of soil in different variations with a moisture diffuser that slowly delivers water without the need for human intervention. Solar power makes the system very power-efficient as many processes are automated. The bi-directional flow design is proposed to eliminate percolation and evapotranspiration loss, as the system is designed to deliver water according to plant needs throughout its growth. Its water diffuser probe mechanism is also effective in controlling water flow. This complicated system is able to resolve a number of concerns with modern irrigation techniques.
In Leung et al., U.S. Pat. No. 10,980,196 B2, an irrigation system is created based on surface level permeation irrigation using specialized pipes, combined with fertilizer and moisture detection devices, allowing the user to control water usage and prevent water loss. The recycling system between the planters and the water tank are constantly cycled and may be stopped by an automatic valve. This piping system is water efficient, but the water itself must be manually recharged.
In Zhang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 11,013,190 B2, the inventors are able to control the amount of water used for irrigation by taking into consideration the weather and existing soil moisture to control the delivery of water through automatic controls. Like Shih, U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,104, a combination of drip and spray irrigation systems are integrated to allow the user to choose the type of irrigation that is more suitable. The delivery of water is more limited as the valve openings are predetermined by soil moisture and humidity.
All of these patents attempt to create an efficient irrigation system that will reduce the need for the systems to be controlled and observed by a worker or user, while simultaneously lowering water loss through evapotranspiration, percolation, and runoff. However, none of these patents are able to extract and implement the usage of groundwater, which could also be cycled through water systems within water deprived areas to continue irrigation without the need for imported water supplies. The simpler one-pipe design and usage of nano-milled sand or silica powder as the material to initiate the groundwater extraction using capillary action is something that is unexplored. Rainwater irrigation, also a common practice, may be separated into two different functions after being filtered through a hollow fiber membrane filter. The clean water will be usable for the residence if desired, while the main function remains to deliver water to irrigation. The use of hollow fiber membrane capillaries will allow water to travel even slower at a steady rate to ensure the minimal plant need for water is met. This also limits the amount of water delivered at any given moment to prevent water percolation loss. Furthermore, the combination of two separate systems using rainwater and groundwater will save water and be more cost efficient for the user. During the more arid summer seasons, rainwater is less available and may be stored overtime and used less to save more water. Groundwater complements the previous system by constantly providing water to the soil above throughout the dry season.
The objective of the present invention must then be to provide a subsurface irrigation system that is able to be controlled automatically according to the moisture needs of the surrounding soil. A complementary relationship between the two systems will cooperate with each other to provide the necessary amount of water for the land area. To address the problems previously discussed, the following system descriptions provide an integrated solution with two systems.
The first system is described as a groundwater extraction irrigation system that pulls water up from the groundwater reservoirs very slowly over long periods of time. The system is described as following with:
Once the piping is installed, the water can be evenly distributed across the land area. This system can be stretched over large areas of land, depending on the local groundwater conditions and supply. On hills, the pipes must be staggered in height to accommodate for height differences. Furthermore, if the soil has too much water content due to weather conditions such as rain or snow or too much water was channeled, the water will percolate through the subsoil layers into the groundwater layer. The cycle begins anew with this new percolated water that recharges the groundwater layer and continuously delivers water into the subsurface capillary irrigation system. The use of nanomilled sand/silica powder makes capillary action more efficient as water can travel longer distances through the medium. This material is also environmentally friendly to obtain and use, which will not cause damage when handled properly. This also must be placed in a semipermeable bag that prevents the material from leaking into the environment or clogging the absorption holes.
The second system is described as a rainwater irrigation system that collects, filters, stores, and irrigates soil overtime according to the needs of the soil. The system is described as following with:
By utilizing rainwater, users may filter and store such water for irrigation and consumption. This process relies on gravity, further reducing power consumption. The process begins when rainwater flows down the roof into rainwater collection trays, where the trays transport all of the dirty water into the unclean water storage tank. The water begins to slowly descend into the hollow fiber membrane filter, while contaminants such as leaves, pebbles, and sand settle to the bottom of the storage tank. This prevents large contaminants from entering into the filter system and reducing its effectiveness. The individual capillaries within the filter are able to take out smaller unwanted particles and bacteria to preventing microbial growth. A filter cleaning system is also integrated within the present invention. The installation of water pressure sensors on the input and output ends of the filter allow the system to analyze if the filter needs to be cleaned. If a pressure difference is calculated to be above a set value or threshold, then a water pump will be able to pump clean water back through to remove the clogged contaminants. This prolongs the filter's service life and reduces costs for maintenance. The treated water then follows through the rest of the cartridge where the treated water flows into a clean water tank.
Moisture sensors placed around the land will provide the system data about soil moisture requirements, which signal valves to open when the land is below the required moisture levels, and closes the valves when the soil is above or at required moisture levels. However, the user may also manually decide to open the valves using the control panel to irrigate despite adequate moisture sensor data levels. All of the sensors, connected by data and power cables, will be powered by a solar panel battery power system that can operate efficiently and store solar energy as needed during night or cloudy days. The use of clean energy reduces carbon emissions. If there is not enough power available in the batteries to adequately start the system, existing electrical systems within the user's residence will backup the batteries and continue the irrigation system without any interruption. Because of the low amount of energy required to power the system, the solar panel may be placed on a roof, making the system more discreet as the water tanks may be placed in a non-obvious manner that still contains a connection to the rainwater collection system.
After compiling and analyzing data received from the moisture detection devices, the system can determine the amount of water needed along with the areas in which water is needed. This system is crucial in minimizing water loss during irrigation, as a malfunction can cause an overspill of water. The system transports water through a series of primary distribution pipes that are connected to the water tank, while secondary distribution pipes branch out perpendicularly to the primary distribution pipes, covering large surface areas. The irrigation is carried out by hollow fiber membrane capillaries throughout the secondary distribution pipes. Because the water had been cleaned by the filter previously, there is little chance for a clog to occur. If a clog occurs, the detachable secondary distribution pipes may be removed and replaced. This piping must be placed in the topsoil layer, above the groundwater capillary irrigation pipes. A wet topsoil layer pulls more water from below, saturating both the topsoil and subsoil layers. Furthermore, because plant roots tend to grow towards saturated areas, fully saturated soil layers will create strong root systems that stabilize the surrounding soil and plant health.
If desired, the system may be programmed to deliver water to the user's residence and be used as potable water. Water may be automatically delivered inside of the residence by installing a transport pipe, or the user can open a manual valve installed outside of the clean water storage tank. This manual valve can also help the user test the water quality. In this aspect, areas with water shortages or droughts may collect rainwater, treat and clean it through filtration, and be able to use the water personally or for irrigation. The automation makes the system run efficiently based on soil moisture levels that greatly decrease the need for manual interaction with the device. This is highly beneficial to areas with a lack of water that may or may not be suffering from droughts. For areas in developing countries without a sustainable water system, the present invention may serve as both an automatic irrigation system as well as a drinking water provider. If the area is humid, the higher levels of rainfall will improve irrigation efficiency by directly saturating the top soil. If the water tanks do not contain any water, then existing tap water supplies may be connected to recharge the system to maintain irrigation. The percolated water from condensation will also sink through into the parent rock and bed rock, recharging groundwater supplies for the absorption capillary irrigation pipes. The water gathered within the clean water tank can also be used more efficiently for personal consumption, cooking, washing, etc.
These features, including others, will be further elaborated in the sections with references to the drawings described below.
The present invention will be described below in more detail, with reference to the following accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following description of the present invention, specific embodiments of the invention are referenced and described. However, parts and features of the embodiments may be interchanged, unless explicitly stated as otherwise. Specific details are described within the description below to allow for a more thorough understanding of the functions of the system. Each descriptive detail is described to maintain focus on the present invention and its various functions.
In
Also, moisture detection devices 75 are placed throughout an area of land, connected to an indoors control panel, to ensure that water is being transported whenever needed to its various destinations.
In the top soil layer 74, the rainwater irrigation distribution pipes 1 are supplied by the water storage system 2, which is situated right outside of a residence/building 6. The placement of such a storage system is not specifically limited to residential installations, and may be applied to any similar building that maintains the same processes as described without the cessation of any particular function. Certain parts in the water storage system 2, including moisture detection devices 75, are all powered by a solar power system 5. It is also important to note that the embodiment of the rainwater irrigation distribution pipes 1 remain as depicted, and should not be placed in lower water layers. This will cause the compacted soil layer 73 to become oversaturated and cause water to percolate from gravity instead of succumbing to capillary forces. The soil layer offset between the two systems ensures that the two systems will not counter each other and cause undesirable effects.
This two-part irrigation system prevents evapotranspiration by delivering water to the soil and plants as needed when the subsurface irrigation pipes are unable to supply enough water to meet surface demands. Due to the same reasons listed above, water is unable to percolate and sink below to groundwater layer 71 and subsoil layer 72 if the water requirement is met. In different weather conditions, such as rainy or snowy days:
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Nanomilled sand is produced via specialized equipment that is able to grind down small particles into micro- or nanoparticles, greatly decreasing the distances between individual particles, which in the present invention, are sand or silica particles. This material is chosen because of its availability and hydrophilic properties. Nanomilling has been very limited with its range of uses, with pharmaceutical companies dominating the market for this equipment. The present invention creates a possibility of broadening its range of uses with irrigation.
The length of the piping required can be calculated using the capillary rise formula:
h=2T cos θ/rρg (1)
where h is the capillary rise height, T is the surface tension of the liquid measured by N/m, θ is the degree at which the liquid and capillary walls meet, r is the radius of the pipe in m, ρ is the density of the liquid in kg/m3, and g is the acceleration of the liquid due to gravity, which is 9.8 m/s2. In this case, since the subsurface capillary irrigation pipes 4 contain filling, the radius of the largest particle is used, which is 30 μm. If the surface tension of water is 72.8×10−7 N/m, its angle at which it meets the subsurface capillary irrigation pipes 4 is 0°, its density is 1 kg/m3, the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2, and the radius is 3 μm or 3.0×10−6 m, then the capillary rise will be calculated.
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The filtration system is also able to generate potable water, which then the clean water storage tank 23 is able to deliver to the residence/building 6, if desired. Inversely, if the clean water storage tank is empty, a tap water supply valve 61 is installed to fill the tank if needed. In the case of regions with water shortages and/or droughts, this system will collect rainwater and safely filter and store it, which can then be used for various purposes. The hollow fiber membrane filter 22 can be cleaned by the water pump 231, which takes water from the clean water storage tank 23 and push water back through the filter, where the wastewater exits through a manual disposal valve 232. The delivery valve 222 may also be connected to existing wastewater disposal systems installed in the area. Also, a second manual water valve 233 is installed to the clean water tank so that above-ground irrigation is still possible when connected to a hose. Furthermore, the water can be used via the manual valve to test for pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, etc. The valve system 222 is all controlled by a control panel indoors, which control individual valves and when they are opened or closed. This system is assembled by PVC piping connected to stainless steel or polyethylene storage containers, preventing rust issues and ensuring durability.
The following list defines the valve system 222 by its constituent valves and their roles in the rainwater irrigation system:
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The hollow fiber membrane capillaries 223 are identical to those that are used for irrigation, both serving the same purpose as a semi-permeable membrane. However, the hollow fiber membrane capillaries 223 within the water filter 22 have extra layers and coatings to prevent membrane fouling, which means the slow degradation of the filtered water overtime due to chemical pollutants. Polysulfone hollow fiber membrane capillaries are coated in a combination of chemicals such as N—TiO2—NH2 (NTN) and 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)lalanine (LDOPA). If desired, an activated carbon filter may be attached as a part of the filter system as a pre-treatment in the unclean water tank to help draw out more contaminants.
In
The primary distribution pipes 11 branch out from the origin, and are connected by secondary distribution pipes 12 and hollow fiber membrane capillaries 13 that are installed on a predetermined interval based on the location's humidity and weather conditions. The installation distance intervals for the moisture detection devices 75 also depend on the factors listed previously. The soil constantly receives water until the moisture requirements are met, and the valves are closed, powered by the solar power system 5.
Installation of the depicted system can be performed easily as sections of rainwater irrigation distribution pipes 1, connected by hollow fiber membrane capillaries 13, are lowered into the soil, which has already been dug out previously for the subsurface capillary irrigation pipes 4. Furthermore, because the present invention utilizes semipermeable capillaries to transport water, very little contaminants are able to enter the irrigation system and cause a clog. These piping and storage system may also be duplicated onto other buildings, where the piping may be connected and further increase the amount of water that is able to be stored and used.
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Step S1 receives data readings from different sections of soil and compiles them for step S2 to process the data.
Step S2 analyzes data it receives from moisture detection devices 75 placed in different areas of the soil and calculates an average for different sections of the soil. Moisture detection devices are installed in the first 5 inches of topsoil for the most accurate data.
Step S3 compares the calculated average moisture of different sections of the soil to the predetermined moisture requirements. This is calculated by the amount of water best needed to maintain plant health based on soil water potential. This shows exactly how much water the plants need, minimizing water loss.
Step S4 judges the difference in calculations and determines if the different soil sections meet the requirements. If they do, proceed to step S5. If not, proceed to step S10.
Step S5 checks the difference in water pressure in both the input and output water pressure sensors 228 of the hollow fiber membrane filter to evaluate whether or not a clog exists. When the output end detects a lower water pressure than the input end, then it can be assumed that a clog is slowing down the filtration process and lowering water pressure. The system then proceeds to step S6.
Step S6 compares the differences in water pressure, if there exists any difference, and decides whether or not the system needs to clean the hollow fiber membrane filter. The system does not activate a cleaning sequence whenever a difference is detected, which is when the system proceeds to step S15. If a large difference is detected, proceed to step S7.
Step S7 is a cleaning sequence that begins if and only if irrigation is not needed in any part of the soil. This step is less common than step S15, but is more essential to the entire system as a whole. Water will be supplied into the system until three seconds after the hollow fiber membrane filter 22 is cleaned, unless there is not enough water to complete the cleaning sequence. If irrigation is needed, then the irrigation sequence will override the current one.
Step S8 closes certain valves in the valve system 222, and is always the final function that is automatically performed. The system will then proceed to step S1, given that step S9 is not activated.
Step S9 is a response to step S4, and begins to identify the specific areas that require irrigation. The primary distribution pipes should branch out in different directions that maximizes soil coverage without the need for the user to install extra distribution pipes. However, the preferred angle of installation is 90 degrees, since it virtually divides the land into four quadrants, which can make the irrigation process easier as one specific quadrant can be identified.
Step S10 checks the clean water tank 23 to see if there is any water remaining. If there is no detectable water, proceed to step S13. If there is water, proceed to step S11. This positive response will be initiated independent of the actual amount of water contained within, even there is very little water remaining. The control panel 53 is programmed to place this route as its primary route, whilst other functions are not as important to the irrigation system, functionality wise.
Step S11 opens the designated irrigation valves that are specific to the quadrant that it is delivering water to. If there are multiple open pathways, the water will naturally divide evenly without priority to any path.
Step S12 transports water and irrigates the soil until the moisture detection devices 75 return a good reading, or until the system is forcefully stopped as a result of a lack of water in the clean water storage tank 23. When the system eventually stops, proceed to step S8.
Step S13 is a response to step S10, which opens the tap water supply valve 61 to receive water when the clean water storage tank 23 needs to be recharged with water to resume its activities. After the tank is fully recharged, it cycles back to step S9 so that the irrigation cycle may resume as normal.
Step S14 is a response to step S6 that begins if and only if irrigation is not needed in any part of the soil, and that the hollow fiber membrane filter 22 does not require cleaning. This function is performed under the assumption that there exists a residential water delivery pipe, which is preferable. Otherwise, this sequence must be terminated manually by the user so the function may be redirected to step S1, the path of which is not shown.
Step S15 follows step S14 by supplying water to the residence/building 6 until steps S1 to S4 detects that irrigation is needed again. This water is potable and may be used for many purposes, such as washing, cooking, hygiene, drinking, etc. This is a highly efficient way of balancing water usage in arid areas, as the control panel 53 may be programmed to the user's wishes. After the supply is stopped, the programs proceeds to step S8, where the entire system cycles back to step S1.
Throughout the cycle, the system is also awaiting for any manual inputs, which may initiate and terminate any command, overriding any other running command. This allows the user to have full control over the functions of the rainwater irrigation system so that the water may be more efficiently distributed instead of being fully dedicated to irrigation.
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