System, method and apparatus for providing a solar pump system for use within a mechanized irrigation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023145414-A1
Application number	US-202318149705-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2023
Priority date	Dec 12, 2019
Publication date	May 11, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a solar power system for use with a mechanized irrigation system. According to a first preferred embodiment, the solar power system of the present includes solar panels which produce DC current which is used to power the irrigation system and to store water in an elevated storage tank. The systems of the present invention selectively use the water stored in the elevated storage tank to provide water pressure to the irrigation system. According to a further preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention preferably converts the power from the solar panels to AC current and uses AC current to power the movement of the irrigation system and other sub-systems.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An irrigation system for dispersing input water, wherein the input water is received from a water inlet source, wherein the irrigation system includes at least a first conduit secured to a first span, the irrigation system comprising:
a plurality of solar panels, wherein the solar panels are configured to output electrical current in the form of DC current; a combiner, wherein the combiner is configured to receive multiple DC current inputs from the plurality of solar panels and output a combined DC current; a charge controller, wherein the charge controller is configured to receive current and voltage data from the plurality of solar panels; wherein the charge controller is configured to execute a power point tracking calculation to maximize the power extraction of at least one solar panel based on the received current and voltage data; wherein the charge controller is configured to trigger an increase in the load applied to at least a first solar panel based on the power point tracking calculation; a battery, wherein the battery is configured to receive and store DC current from the combiner; an inverter, wherein the inverter is configured to receive DC current from the combiner and convert at least a portion of the DC current to AC current; further wherein the inverter is configured to transmit a least a portion of the converted AC current to a system switchboard; wherein the switchboard is configured to selectively transmit AC current to one or more downstream irrigation systems; an inlet source pump; wherein the inlet source pump is configured to direct inlet water into the irrigation system from an inlet source; a water storage container, wherein the water storage container is elevated to a height to produce a pressure exceeding 20 PSI; a water storage valve, wherein the water storage valve is configured to move between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position the water storage valve directs inlet water to the first conduit; wherein the first conduit comprises a plurality of sprinklers; wherein in the second position the water storage valve directs the inlet water to the water storage container for storage; a storage release valve; wherein the storage release valve is configured to move between a closed position and an open position; wherein in the closed position the storage release valve restricts the inlet water from flowing out of the water storage container; wherein in the open position the storage release valve allows the stored inlet water to flow from the water storage container into the first conduit; and a system power controller; wherein the system power controller is configured to receive solar power data and stored battery data; wherein the system power controller is configured to calculate a total power available; wherein the total power available is calculated based on the solar power data and the stored battery data; wherein the system power controller is configured to calculate a supplemental power requirement based on the difference between the total power available and the total power needed to irrigate a given field; wherein the system power controller is configured to release inlet water stored in the water storage container when the supplemental power requirement exceeds a first threshold value; wherein the amount of inlet water released from the water storage container is selected to achieve a target irrigation water pressure.

2 . An irrigation system for dispersing input water, wherein the input water is received from a water inlet source, wherein the irrigation system includes at least a first conduit secured to a first span, the irrigation system comprising:
a plurality of solar panels, wherein the solar panels are configured to output electrical current in the form of DC current; a combiner, wherein the combiner is configured to receive multiple DC current inputs from the plurality of solar panels and output a combined DC current; a charge controller, wherein the charge controller is configured to receive current and voltage data from the plurality of solar panels; wherein the charge controller is configured to execute a power point tracking calculation to maximize the power extraction of at least one solar panel based on the received current and voltage data; wherein the charge controller is configured to trigger an increase in the load applied to at least a first solar panel based on the power point tracking calculation; a battery, wherein the battery is configured to receive and store DC current from the combiner; a supplemental energy storage unit, wherein the supplemental energy storage unit is configured to receive and store energy received from the combiner; an inverter, wherein the inverter is configured to receive DC current from the combiner and convert at least a portion of the DC current to AC current; further wherein the inverter is configured to transmit a least a portion of the converted AC current to a system switchboard; wherein the switchboard is configured to selectively transmit AC current to one or more downstream irrigation systems; a system power controller; wherein the system power controller is configured to receive solar power data and stored battery data; wherein the system power controller is configured to calculate a total power available; wherein the total power available is calculated based on the solar power data and the stored battery data; wherein the system power controller is configured to calculate a supplemental power requirement based on the difference between the total power available and the total power needed to irrigate a given field; wherein the system power controller is configured to release supplemental energy stored in the supplemental energy unit when the supplemental power requirement exceeds a first threshold value; wherein the amount of supplemental energy released is selected to achieve a target irrigation water pressure.

3 . The irrigation system of claim 2 , wherein the supplemental energy storage unit comprises an energy storage unit selected from the group of energy storage units comprising: a battery energy storage unit, a gravity energy storage unit and a pressure energy storage unit.

4 . The irrigation system of claim 3 , wherein the supplemental storage unit comprises pumped water storage.

5 . The irrigation system of claim 3 , wherein the supplemental energy storage unit comprises a battery; wherein the battery is configured to receive and store DC current from the combiner.

6 . The irrigation system of claim 5 , wherein the battery comprises a battery selected from the group of batteries comprising: liquid flow batteries, liquid metal batteries, sodium-sulfur (NaS) batteries, lithium batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, alkali-metal batteries, sodium-nickel chloride batteries; and thermal batteries.

7 . The irrigation system of claim 3 further comprising:
a nitrogen generation system, wherein the nitrogen generation system comprises a main nitrogen production unit and a feed stream device configured to provide a feed stream into the nitrogen production unit; wherein the feed stream comprises base feed-gas components comprising molecular oxygen and molecular nitrogen.

8 . The irrigation system of claim 7 , wherein the first conduit and the first span are supported by a first drive tower having a first drive tower controller, a first drive motor and a first drive wheel; where the irrigation system further comprises a second conduit secured to a second span which is supported by a second drive tower which includes a second drive tower controller, a second drive motor and a second drive wheel; wherein the irrigation further comprises:
a first motor control system, wherein the first

Assignees

• Valmont Industries

Inventors

• Stromp Daniel P
• Kastl John

Classifications

• A01G25/092 Primary

  movable around a pivot centre · CPC title

• A01G25/167

  Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors · CPC title

• A01G25/16

  Control of watering · CPC title