Method of and system for improving sprinkler system efficiency

• US 8,494,682 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Janon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Janon Incorporated
• Inventors: Elmer, Clarence Edgar, Elmer, Janon Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US11/977,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 700282-284, 239/11, 239/63, 239 67- 70, 239/569, 137/1, 137/2, 137/78.1, 137/78.2, 702/45, 702/47, 702/50
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/008 integrated in or attached to a discharge apparatus, e.g. a spray gun

Abstract

A method of increasing the efficiency of an irrigation system includes measuring an inline pressure of an irrigation system via an inline pressure gauge. The method also includes adjusting the inline pressure of the irrigation system to a value closer to a predefined optimal design pressure of a water outlet of the irrigation system and calculating a desired run time using at least the predefined optimal design pressure.

Claims

1. A spray irrigation system comprising:

a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of zones comprising;

a spray water outlet operating at a water pressure; and

a water-pressure reducer interoperably coupled to the spray water outlet;

wherein, for each zone of the plurality of zones, the water pressure is determined via a zone-feeder inline water-pressure monitor;

wherein, for each zone of the plurality of zones, the water-pressure reducer causes the water pressure to be closer to an optimal operating pressure for the spray water outlet than if the water-pressure reducer were not present; and

wherein, for each zone of the plurality of zones, an amount of water-pressure adjustment provided by the water-pressure reducer is based, at least in part, on a difference between a water pressure measured by the zone-feeder inline water-pressure monitor and the optimal operating pressure.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a water source, wherein the water source comprises at least one of a water main, an irrigation pumping well, a recovered water reservoir, and a desalinated water reservoir.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the water-pressure reducer comprises a pressure reducer located down-line from a zone feeder of each the plurality of zones.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the spray irrigation system comprises at least one of an evapotranspiration system, an agricultural irrigation system, a residential irrigation system, or a commercial irrigation system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the spray irrigation system comprises an automated timer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the spray irrigation system comprises an automated controller.

7. A method of increasing an efficiency of a spray irrigation system, the method comprising:

measuring an operating water pressure of a spray irrigation system via a water-pressure gauge;

adjusting, via at least one pressure reducer, the operating water pressure to a value closer to a predefined optimal operating pressure of a water outlet of the spray irrigation system; and

calculating a desired run time using the predefined optimal operating pressure, and at least one of a turf coefficient, a local rainfall, and a precipitation rate.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of measuring comprises using the water-pressure gauge at a location at or near a water source.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of adjusting comprises using the at least one pressure reducer to adjust the operating water pressure of a water outlet closest to the water source.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of adjusting comprises using the at least one pressure reducer to adjust the operating water pressure of a water outlet farthest from the water source.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of adjusting comprises using the at least one pressure reducer to adjust the operating water pressure of a water outlet located between a water outlet closest to the water source and a water outlet farthest from the water source.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of measuring comprises using the water-pressure gauge at a location at or near a zone feeder of each of a plurality of zones of the spray irrigation system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of adjusting comprises using the at least one pressure reducer to adjust the operating water pressure of a water outlet closest to the zone feeder.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of adjusting comprises using the at least one pressure reducer to adjust the operating water pressure of a water outlet farthest from the zone feeder.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of adjusting comprises using the at least one pressure reducer to adjust the operating water pressure of a water outlet located between a water outlet closest to the zone feeder and a water outlet farthest from the zone feeder.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of measuring comprises using the water-pressure gauge at each water outlet in the spray irrigation system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of adjusting comprises using the at least one pressure reducer to reduce the operating water pressure at each water outlet in the spray irrigation system.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of adjusting results in an increase in the operating water pressure.

19. A system for improvement of irrigation efficiency, the system comprising:

a spray irrigation system comprising a water outlet and at least two zones;

a pressure monitor disposed at a feeder of each zone of the at least two zones, the pressure monitor adapted to measure water pressure;

a pressure reducer installed at a valve of each zone of the at least two zones, the pressure reducer adapted to adjust water pressure to an operating-water-pressure value close to or equal to a predefined optimal operating pressure of the water outlet; and

wherein, for each zone, an amount of water-pressure adjustment provided by the pressure reducer is based, at least in part, on a difference between a water pressure measured by the pressure monitor and the predefined optimal operating pressure.