Method and system for reduction of irrigation runoff
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsBenjamin G. Wherley, Jorge Luis Alvarado, Richard H. White, James C. Thomas, Junfeng Men, Dean Evan Tate, Fouad H. Jaber, William C. Reynolds
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An irrigation mitigation runoff system that includes an irrigation system having at least one water outlet and a sensor that detects flow of water through a boundary. A controller is operatively coupled to the irrigation system and the sensor. Responsive to the sensor detecting flow of water through the boundary above a pre-defined threshold, the controller signals the irrigation system to pause irrigation.
Claims17
An irrigation runoff mitigation system comprising:
- an irrigation system having at least one water outlet disposed in an irrigation zone, the irritation system comprising a valve fluidly coupled to the at least one water outlet
- a relay electrically coupled to the valve;
- a sensor that detects flow of runoff water through a boundary of the irrigation zone, the sensor being located at the boundary of the irrigation zone;
- a controller operatively coupled to the relay and to the sensor;
- and
- wherein, responsive to the sensor detecting a flow of water through the boundary above a first pre-defined threshold, the controller signals the relay to interrupt electrical current to the valve thereby causing the valve to close
- wherein, responsive to the sensor detecting a flow of water through the boundary below a second pre-defined threshold, the controller signals the relay to supply electrical current to the valve thereby causing the valve to open, the second pre-defined threshold being lower than the first pre-defined threshold.
A method for mitigating irrigation runoff, the method comprising:
- applying irrigation water to an irrigation zone via an irrigation system having at least one water outlet disposed in the irrigation zone, the irrigation system comprising a valve fluidly coupled to the at least one water outlet and a relay electrically coupled to the valve;
- detecting, via a sensor, flow of runoff irrigation water through a boundary of the irrigation zone, the sensor being located at the boundary of the irrigation zone;
- pausing, via a controller, the applying irrigation water responsive to the detected runoff being above a first pre-defined threshold, the controller being operatively coupled to the relay and to the sensor;
- timing, via the controller, soaking of irrigation water into the irrigation zone;
- and
- resuming, via the controller, the applying irrigation water responsive to the detected runoff being below a second pre-defined threshold, the second pre-defined threshold being lower than the first pre-defined threshold.
A method for mitigating irrigation runoff, the method comprising:
- applying irrigation water to an irrigation zone via an irrigation system having at least one water outlet disposed in the irrigation zone, the irrigation system comprising a valve fluidly coupled to the at least one water outlet and a relay electrically coupled to the valve;
- detecting, via a sensor, flow of runoff irrigation water through a boundary of the irrigation zone, the sensor being located at the boundary of the irrigation zone;
- pausing, via a controller, the applying irrigation water responsive to the detected runoff being above a pre-defined threshold, the controller being operatively coupled to the relay and to the sensor;
- and
- timing, via the controller, soaking of irrigation water into the irrigation zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.