SYSTEM INTEGRATION & AUTOMATION
Having a fully integrated irrigation system means all the various parts and pieces speak the same language, can “talk” to each other and have something useful to say.
Adding a newer variable frequency drive to an existing pumping plant opens the door to automation because most new VFDs have a ModBus interface, and there are a plethora of options for remote control of ModBus devices.
The next obvious candidate is the cornucopia of sensing systems. For these devices, automation means the data is delivered to you automatically, and this definition is synonymous with telemetry. Nearly every sensor system today has some type of telemetry option.
The third candidate for automation is the control valves that regulate which parts
of the field receive water. Typical drip irrigation system designs subdivide the field into blocks, and each block has a valve to control flow to that part of the field. Often, when automation is not part of the initial design, the valve is manually controlled.
Typical operations in California will have a person (usually called the irrigator) whose main job is to drive around the farm opening and closing valves. This manual step in implementing irrigation is an obstacle to improved irrigation management because the irrigation schedule is limited by the time constraint
of driving around the farm. Adding automated valves to an existing system is possible, and some options include solar power and telemetry integrated into single units, thus eliminating the need to run power to each individual valve. As described in the following example, automating block-level valve controls (and pump controls) enables both water and energy savings in addition to the obvious labor savings.
Drip-irrigated orchard Consider a typical drip irrigation system in an orchard. The grower’s options for set duration are limited by how long it takes the irrigator to visit all the valves twice, once to open and once to close. Crop water use changes from day to day, and when an irrigation system is designed for frequent applications (as many are in California), the grower should adjust the
CIT Research Scientist Shawn Ashkan (left) advises students on how to automate irrigation on a research plot. Photo: Geoff Thurner
irrigationtoday.org Winter 2022 | Irrigation TODAY 11
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