Irrigation flow converter, monitoring system and intelligent water management system

• US 20090271045A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telsco Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Telsco Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Savelle, William C. JR., Bangalore, Venkataramu L., Cain, William F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an intelligent water management irrigation system for monitoring the total water usage for a billing site and preventing cumulative water usage from exceeding a water budget by adjusting the amount of water used for irrigation. Irrigation zone priority values are selected for each irrigation zone that specify a percentage of the full water need that the foliage in the zone can survive and are saved in an intelligent water management irrigation (IWMI) controller. The IWMI controller receives water usage information originating from a property'"'"'s water meter and compares the measured water usage with the allowable water budget. Water usage is tracked separately for the household use and landscape use (irrigation). Prior to each irrigation cycle, the IWMI controller estimates the amount of water that will be needed by the landscape and for household use during the remainder of a billing cycle; household use is given precedence over landscape use. If the water budget will support both, irrigation can proceed normally. If the budget will not support both, the IWMI controller estimates the amount of water needed for the remainder of the billing cycle if only a priority watering amount is allocated for each landscape zone. If the water budget will support priority irrigation, landscape watering can proceed in priority irrigation mode. If the water budget will not support priority irrigation watering, the irrigation cycle is skipped and the water usage estimations are recalculated prior to the next irrigation cycle.

Claims

1. A method for intelligent irrigation water management implemented by an irrigation controller for a site comprising:

registering cumulative water use information for water used at a site, said site having a plurality of irrigation zones and said cumulative water use comprises irrigation water usage and non-irrigation water usage data;

receiving first cumulative water use information at an irrigation controller for cumulative water used at the site over a first time period;

receiving second cumulative water use information at the irrigation controller for, cumulative water used at the site over an irrigation time period, wherein the irrigation time period is within the first time period;

finding a first non-irrigation water use quantity for the first time period by reducing the first cumulative water use by the second cumulative water use;

forecasting a second non-irrigation use water quantity for a second time period;

calculating an irrigation cycle water quantity for a subsequent irrigation cycle in the second time period, said irrigation cycle water quantity comprises a plurality of water zone quantities for each respective zone in the plurality of irrigation zones;

finding a reduced irrigation cycle water quantity for the subsequent irrigation cycle based on the forecast of the second non-irrigation use water quantity; and

executing the subsequent irrigation cycle at the reduced irrigation cycle water quantity.

2. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 1 above, wherein the first and second time periods are equivalent to a water billing time period for the site.

3. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 1 above, wherein finding a reduced irrigation cycle water quantity for the subsequent irrigation cycle, further comprises:

receiving a water budget for the site, said water budget defines a maximum non-irrigation water use quantity and irrigation water use quantity to be used at the site during the first and second time periods;

forecasting a non-irrigation use water quantity for the second time period; and

comparing the water budget to a sum of the water use information for the first time period, the forecast of irrigation use water quantity for the second time period and the forecast of non-irrigation use water quantity to the water budget the second time period.

4. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 3 above, wherein reducing the irrigation cycle water quantity for the subsequent irrigation cycle based on the forecast of the second non-irrigation use water quantity, further comprises:

receiving a plurality of zone priorities, each of the plurality of zone priorities is associated with an irrigation zone; and

applying the plurality of zone priorities to the plurality of water zone quantities of in the calculate irrigation cycle water quantity.

5. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 4 above, wherein a fraction of a water requirement of foliage in the zone.

6. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 3 above, wherein calculating an irrigation cycle water quantity for a subsequent irrigation cycle in the second time period, further comprise:

calculating an evapotranspiration deficit water quantity for each of the plurality of zones at the site during at least a portion of the first time period; and

determining the irrigation cycle water quantity based on the evapotranspiration deficit water quantity.

7. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 3 above, wherein calculating an irrigation cycle water quantity for a subsequent irrigation cycle in the second time period further comprises:

forecasting an irrigation use water quantity for a second time period, said irrigation use water quantity comprises a plurality of irrigation cycle water quantity.

8. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 3 above, wherein calculating an irrigation cycle water quantity for a subsequent irrigation cycle in the second time period, further comprise:

calculating an evapotranspiration deficit water quantity for each of the plurality of zones at the site during at least a portion of the first time period; and

determining the irrigation cycle water quantity based on the evapotranspiration deficit water quantity.

9. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 3 above, wherein forecasting a second non-irrigation use water quantity for a second time period, further comprises:

determine a first rate of non-irrigation water use from the ratio of first non-irrigation water use to the first time period; and

finding the second non-irrigation use water quantity for the second time period using the first rate of non-irrigation water use over the second time period.

10. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 3 above, wherein forecasting a second non-irrigation use water quantity for a second time period, further comprises:

retrieving historic non-irrigation water use quantity for a historic time period;

comparing the second time period to the historic time period; and

adjusting the historic non-irrigation water use quantity for the second time period.

11. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 3 above, further comprises:

forecasting an irrigation use water quantity for a second time period, said irrigation use water quantity comprises a plurality of irrigation cycle water quantities.

12. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 3 above, further comprises:

receiving third cumulative water use information at the irrigation controller for cumulative water used at the site over a third time period;

receiving fourth cumulative water use information at the irrigation controller for cumulative water used at the site over an second irrigation time period, wherein the second irrigation time period is within the fourth time period and the fourth time period is within the second time period;

finding a second non-irrigation water use quantity for the third time period by reducing the third cumulative water use by the fourth cumulative water use;

forecasting a fourth non-irrigation use water quantity for a fourth time period;

forecasting a second irrigation use water quantity for a fourth time period, said second irrigation use water quantity, wherein the second irrigation use water quantity is less than the irrigation use water quantity for the second period.

13. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 3 above, wherein registering cumulative water use information for water used at a site, further comprises:

receiving water at a water meter having automatic meter reading capabilities;

measuring water use information; and

storing the water use information.

14. The method for intelligent irrigation water management recited in claim 13 above, wherein receiving first cumulative water use information at an irrigation controller for cumulative water used at the site over a first time period, further comprises:

sending an interrogation signal to the water meter;

receiving a response for the water meter, said response including cumulative water use information.

15. A system for implementing intelligent water management at a site comprising:

a site irrigation system, said site irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones, each zone having an actuator valve;

an irrigation controller in communication with at least one actuator valve, said irrigation controller comprising;

a communication controller for interrogating a water meter at the site for said cumulative water use information;

valve actuation control circuitry electrically coupled to the at least one irrigation valve;

a memory for storing processor usable program code for intelligent water management; and

a processing unit connected to the memory and receptive of the program code, wherein the program code for intelligent water management, when executed by said processing unit, causes the irrigation controller to;

receive first cumulative water use information at an irrigation controller for cumulative water used at the site over a first time period;

receive second cumulative water use information at the irrigation controller for cumulative water used at the site over an irrigation time period, wherein the irrigation time period is within the first time period;

find a first non-irrigation water use quantity for the first time period by reducing the first cumulative water use by the second cumulative water use;

forecast a second non-irrigation use water quantity for a second time period;

calculate an irrigation cycle water quantity for a subsequent irrigation cycle in the second time period, said irrigation cycle water quantity comprises a plurality of water zone quantities for each respective zone in the plurality of irrigation zones;

find a reduced irrigation cycle water quantity for the subsequent irrigation cycle based on the forecast of the second non-irrigation use water quantity; and

execute the subsequent irrigation cycle at the reduced irrigation cycle water quantity.

16. The system for implementing intelligent water management recited in claim 15 above, wherein the first and second time periods are equivalent to a water billing time period for the site.

17. The system for implementing intelligent water management recited in claim 15 above, wherein the memory stores:

a water budget value for the site, said water budget value defines a maximum non-irrigation water use quantity and irrigation water use quantity to be used at the site during the first and second time periods finding a reduced irrigation cycle water quantity for the subsequent irrigation cycle; and

a plurality of zone priority values, each of the plurality of priority values is associated with one of the plurality of irrigation zones.

18. The system for implementing intelligent water management recited in claim 15 above, wherein the water meter further comprises automatic meter reading capabilities, said communication controller, further comprises:

logic compatible with the automatic meter reading capabilities for communication with the automatic meter reading capabilities of the water meter.

19. The system for implementing intelligent water management recited in claim 15 above, wherein the communication controller, further comprises:

a wireless transceiver for bi-directional communication with the water meter.

20. The system for implementing intelligent water management recited in claim 15 above, wherein the water meter further comprises automatic meter reading capabilities and a communications interface, said system for implementing intelligent water management, further comprises:

a conversion unit for coupling the communication controller to the communications interface of the water meter.