JP7399394B2 - Agricultural water distribution systems and their operation methods - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies ・Distribution location: 2018 Practical New Technology Seminar/Technology Consultation Meeting Distribution date: November 5, 2018 ・Study meeting name: 2018 Practical New Technology Seminar/Technology Consultation Meeting Location: Yayoi Auditorium Ichijo Hall, University of Tokyo Date: November 5, 2018 ・Distribution location: Reporter’s Receipt Distribution date: November 12, 2018 ・Website address: http://www. maff. go. jp/j/council/seisaku/nousin/ Publication date: January 11, 2019 ・Study meeting name: Council for Food, Agriculture, and Rural Policy, Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee, 3rd meeting in 2018 Venue: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Date: Heisei January 15, 2019 ・Distribution location SAT Technology Showcase 2019 Distribution date January 29, 2019 ・Study meeting name SAT Technology Showcase 2019 Venue Tsukuba International Conference Center Date of distribution January 29, 2019 ・Publication name “Rural Development” Publication date April 15, 2019 Publisher National Rural Development Technology Federation

The present invention relates to an agricultural water distribution system and a method of operating the same.

Agricultural water supply is undergoing a transition from open channel systems to pipeline systems, which are more suitable for demand-driven water management. Examples of the pipeline system include a pressurized direct delivery system in which a water pipe is directly connected to a pump, and a water tank system in which a water distribution tank is used.In recent years, the water tank system has been increasingly used. The water tank type allows the use of 1) low-pressure (natural pressure) pipelines even in areas where it is difficult to maintain height differences, and 2) the water tank prevents fluctuations in water intake from the water source and water in the field. It has the advantage of functioning as a buffer against fluctuations in demand, etc. Therefore, the water tank type is expected to realize demand-driven agricultural water management with water and energy savings.

In the supply of agricultural water by pipeline method (pipeline irrigation), the following two types 1) and 2) water tank type are used.
1) A control method (on/off control) in which a lower limit water level and an upper limit water level are set in the water distribution tank, and when the water amount reaches the lower limit water level, the pump is turned on, and when the water amount reaches the upper limit water level, the pump is turned off.
2) A method that maintains a constant water head by keeping the pump on and allowing surplus water to overflow from the water distribution tank.

The above method 1) has the problem that the pump is frequently switched on and off when demand increases, which places a heavy burden on the pump and does not save energy. Furthermore, in order to reduce the frequency of switching the pump on and off, a very large water distribution tank is required, which poses problems in installation cost and installation location.

On the other hand, the method 2) above is a method that is applied to relatively small water distribution tanks, and does not have problems with installation cost or installation location. However, there is a problem in that it is not energy-saving because the pump is kept on and surplus water is generated all the time.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an agricultural water distribution system that can realize demand-driven agricultural water management in a water-saving and energy-saving manner. It is about providing.

The inventors have made extensive studies to solve the above problems and have completed the present invention.

The present invention is a method for operating an agricultural water distribution system that includes a water distribution tank and a pump that pumps water into the water distribution tank, and the amount of water discharged from the pump is adjusted in stages according to changes in the amount of water in the water distribution tank. This is a method of continuously pumping water to a water distribution tank while controlling the amount of water.

The present invention also provides a method for operating an agricultural water distribution system including a water distribution tank, a pump for pumping water to the water distribution tank, and a water distribution basin for receiving water from the distribution tank, the method comprising: changing the amount of water in the distribution basin; This method continuously pumps water into the water distribution tank while controlling the discharge amount of the pump in stages according to the amount of water.

The present invention also provides an agricultural water distribution system, which includes a water distribution tank, a pump that pumps water into the water distribution tank, a measuring device that acquires information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank, and a water distribution system that measures the amount of water in the water distribution tank acquired by the measuring device. This is a water distribution system that includes an information communication device that transmits water amount information to a pump drive control device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an agricultural water distribution system that can realize demand-driven agricultural water management with water and energy savings.

1 is a diagram showing an example of a water distribution system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the water distribution system concerning Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[Embodiment 1]
1-1. Water Distribution System The agricultural water distribution system according to the present invention includes a water distribution tank, a pump that pumps water into the water distribution tank, a measuring device that obtains information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank, and a measuring device that obtains information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank that is obtained by the measuring device. and an information communication device that transmits information to a pump drive control device (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "pump drive control device").

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a water distribution system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

The water distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment is an agricultural water distribution system, and in one example is a system for sending water from a water source to a field. This water distribution system 1 includes a farm pond 50 (water source), a pump 30, a water tank 10, a water tap 14, and a pipeline connecting each element. The water distribution system in one embodiment of the present invention may include a water distribution basin in addition to a water tap. Furthermore, the water distribution system in one embodiment of the present invention may include a water distribution basin instead of a water tap. A form using a water distribution basin will be explained in Embodiment 2. Moreover, the water distribution system in one embodiment of the present invention may further include a water distribution tank on the downstream side of the water distribution tank 10.

(water source)
Examples of water sources include, but are not limited to, waterways, reservoirs (farm pond 50), ponds, rivers, and the like.

(Water tank)
The water distribution tank 10 is a tank for temporarily storing water while sending water from a water source (farm pond 50) to a field (paddy field 40). The water distribution tank functions as a buffer against fluctuations in water intake from the water source and fluctuations in water demand in the field. The water distribution tank is installed at a location higher than the field to ensure water supply pressure to the field. In one example, the bottom of the water tank is installed at a location 50 cm or more higher than the field. From the viewpoint of ease of maintenance and installation cost, it may be preferable that the bottom of the water distribution tank is 4 m or less than the field.

It is preferable that the water distribution tank 10 is a small-sized water distribution tank. In one example, the volume of the water tank is preferably 50 m ³ or less or 25 m ³ or less, more preferably 15 m ³ or less or 10 m ³ or less, even more preferably 7 m ³ or less or 5 m ³ or less. By using a small water distribution tank, the load on the pump can be reduced, so energy consumption can be kept low. Moreover, the site for installing the water tank can be reduced. From the viewpoint of the function as a buffer, the volume of the water distribution tank may be preferably 2 m ³ or more, and more preferably 3 m ³ or more.

Although the shape of the water distribution tank is not particularly limited, a cylindrical shape or a rectangular parallelepiped is preferable in consideration of workability and the like. In one example, the water tank is approximately 2 meters high and approximately 1.5 meters in diameter. The ratio of the height to the width of the water tank varies depending on the pressure required for the water tank, but it is preferable that the height is smaller than the width because this increases structural stability.

The water distribution tank 10 includes a water pump 11 for receiving water pumped from a water source by a pump 30, and a water distribution pipe 12 for distributing water to the field. The water pump 11 connects the farm pond 50 and the water distribution tank 10, and is provided with a pump 30 in the middle. The water pipe 12 connects a water supply port provided in the field and the water tank 10. One end of the water distribution pipe 12 opens into the water distribution tank 10 at a predetermined height (facility limit) from the bottom surface of the water distribution tank 10 . If the amount of water in the water distribution tank 10 falls below the facility limit, water cannot be distributed from the water distribution tank 10 to the field.

The water distribution tank 10 includes a surplus water drain pipe 13 for discharging surplus water to the outside of the water distribution tank 10. One end of the surplus water drain pipe 13 opens into the water distribution tank 10 at a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the water distribution tank 10 (facility upper limit: the facility upper limit is a position higher than the facility limit). When the amount of water in the water distribution tank 10 exceeds the facility upper limit, excess water (surplus water) is returned from the water distribution tank 10 to the farm pond 50 through the surplus water drain pipe 13. The surplus water drain pipe 13 reduces the load on the pump and pipeline system (water pipe 12, etc.) in an emergency or the like.

(Measuring device)
The measuring device 15 acquires information on the amount of water in the water tank (hereinafter also referred to as "water tank measuring device 15"). In one example, the measuring device 15 includes a control unit that controls the measuring device, a sensor that acquires information on the amount of water, and a communication unit.

The communication unit transmits information on the amount of water acquired by the sensor to the information communication device 20 under the control of the control unit. The form of communication will be described in the section "(Information communication device)".

The "amount of water" may be an amount using an index that directly indicates the amount of water, such as volume, or may be an amount using an index that indirectly indicates the amount of water. In one example, indicators that indirectly indicate the amount of water in the water distribution tank include the water level in the water distribution tank and the water pressure at a predetermined water depth.

From the viewpoint of simplifying the measurement, it is preferable that the water level in the water distribution tank is used as an index for the amount of water in this embodiment. As the sensor of the water distribution tank measuring device, widely used meters can be used depending on the index for measuring the amount of water. Water level can be measured using a general water level meter.

(hydrant)
A water tap 14 is provided at the water supply port at the end of the water pipe 12 for each rice field. The water tap 14 acquires information on the amount of water supplied to the field per unit time (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "water supply amount information"). Water supply amount information can be measured using a flow meter, for example.

For purposes such as controlling ineffective water discharge, the water tap 14 is preferably an automatic water tap. The operating status (for example, opening/closing of the faucet and the degree of opening of the faucet) of the automatic water faucet is automatically controlled based on the water level information of the corresponding rice field 40 . Control of the automatic hydrant can be performed at or near the automatic hydrant, but preferably also from a distance (eg, near the pump drive control device). Water supply amount information and operating status of the automatic water faucet are transmitted in real time to the pump drive control device 31 via the information communication device 20, which will be described later.

In order to reduce the load on the water pipe 12 and prevent the water pipe 12 from becoming clogged, the end of the water pipe 12 is further downstream from the water supply port at the farthest downstream, with surplus water and mud that will not be supplied to the field. In some cases, pipes are provided for the flow of water. The water distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment includes the water tap 14, so that the actual demand (amount of water supplied to the field), excluding surplus water that is not supplied to the field, of the water distributed by the water distribution tank 10 can be grasped. can do.

(Information communication device)
The information communication device 20 transmits information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank acquired by the water distribution tank measuring device 15 and water supply amount information acquired by the water faucet 14 to the pump drive control device 31. In one example, the information communication device 20 includes a control unit that controls the information communication device and a communication unit.

The communication unit communicates with the measuring device, the faucet 14, the pump drive control device 31, and the like under the control of the control unit. It is preferable that the communication unit includes a receiving unit that receives information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank and information on the amount of water supplied, and a transmitting unit that transmits the received information to the pump drive control device. Since the water distribution system according to the present embodiment is equipped with an information communication device, even if there is a place where the water distribution tank 10 and the water source or the pump 30 and the rice field 40 are far apart, the amount of water in the water distribution tank 10 can be reduced. Also, since the discharge amount of the pump can be controlled according to the amount of water supplied, the labor for water management can be reduced.

Information communication may be wired communication or wireless communication using radio waves, but wireless communication is preferable. By using wireless communication as information communication, for example, it is possible to monitor the status of water distribution from a water source to a field via a pump and water tank from a distance using a terminal (for example, "terminal 60" in Figure 1). This is because.

Examples of wireless communications include 3G (3rd Generation) or higher lines, LTE (Long Term Evolution) lines, VPN lines, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Z-Wave, Wi-SUN, ZigBee (registered trademark), and LPWA (Low Examples include communication using Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

(pump)
The pump 30 is a pump for pumping water from a water source to the water distribution tank 10. The pump 30 in this embodiment continuously pumps water to the water distribution tank while receiving stepwise control of the discharge amount of the pump from the pump drive control device 31. The pump drive control device 31 will be described later.

Here, "pumping water continuously while receiving stepwise control of the discharge amount of the pump" means that the power to the pump is on and water is being pumped while the pump is driving. This refers to controlling the discharge amount of the pump in multiple stages as necessary in the current state. In this specification, "the amount of water discharged from the pump" refers to the "amount of water discharged from the pump per unit time."

The number of stages, maximum value, and minimum value of the pump's discharge amount depend on conditions such as the capacity of the water tank, the size of the field (the expected flow rate range), and the height and length of the pump head. It may be determined as appropriate. Note that it is preferable that the number of stages of the discharge amount of the pump can be controlled to be equal to or greater than the number of stages n (described later) in a correspondence table stored in the storage section of the pump drive control device.

The type of pump is not particularly limited as long as the discharge amount can be controlled in multiple stages, but in one example, the pump in this embodiment is a centrifugal pump.

As a method for controlling the discharge amount of the pump, from the viewpoint of simplicity, it is preferable to control the discharge amount of the pump by controlling the rotation speed of the turbine of the pump. The rotation speed of the turbine of the pump can be controlled, for example, by controlling the rotation speed of the motor. An example of a method for controlling the rotation speed of the motor is a method of controlling the frequency of current using an inverter or the like.

The discharge amount of the pump in this embodiment is controlled using an inverter. Although a general inverter can be used, if an inverter that can control the frequency of the converted current in multiple stages is used, the discharge amount of the pump can be easily controlled in stages.

(Pump drive control device)
The pump drive control device 31 in this embodiment controls the discharge amount of the pump according to the change in the amount of water in the water distribution tank measured by the measuring device 15. The pump drive control device 31 in this embodiment includes a control section, a communication section, and a storage section.

The communication unit communicates with the information communication device 20 and the like under the control of the control unit. In one example, when the communication unit of the pump drive control device communicates with the information communication device 20, the communication unit transmits the information about the amount of water in the water distribution tank, which is used to control the discharge amount of the pump, and which is transmitted by the information communication device 20. It is preferable to be able to receive water supply amount information. The form of communication is as described in the section "(Information communication device)".

The storage unit stores the correspondence between the frequency of the current after conversion by the inverter for pump _control ( _F A table (hereinafter also referred to as "flow rate conversion table") is stored. Here, x is an integer from 1 to n.

From the viewpoint of finely controlling the discharge amount of the pump and stabilizing the amount of water in the water distribution tank, n is preferably 3 or more, more preferably 3 or more, and even more preferably 5 or more. There are cases. On the other hand, when the process becomes complicated, n is preferably 30 or less, more preferably 20 or less, and even more preferably 10 or less.

The frequency (Hz) of the current after conversion by the inverter when x = 1 (first stage) is F ₁ , the set flow rate (L/s) of the pump is Q _{set_1} , and as x increases, the current after conversion The frequency and set flow rate of are increased in stages. In one example, the frequency of the current after conversion preferably increases in the range of 1 Hz or more and 8 Hz or less, more preferably increases in the range of 1 Hz or more and 5 Hz or less, and preferably increases in the range of 1 Hz or more and 3 Hz or less, for each increase in x by 1. It is more preferable that it be large within the range of .

In one example, the difference in frequency of current (frequency variation width) between adjacent stages can be determined as follows. That is, first, regarding the demand for water from the field, the maximum demand that can be assumed based on the size of the field, etc. is identified. Next, with reference to the flow rate conversion table, the maximum value _{F_max} of the frequency of the current after conversion by the inverter is determined so that the change in the amount of water in the water distribution tank is minimized when the demand is at its maximum. Then, by dividing the difference between the minimum frequency F _{_min} to keep the pump running and the maximum frequency F _{_max} that may be required by n (the number of pump discharge volume stages), the frequency fluctuation can be calculated. Width can be determined.

Note that the frequency fluctuation range does not have to be uniform. For example, the difference in frequency between stages can be made small within the frequency range that is frequently used, which is assumed based on the capacity of the water tank and the size of the field.

The frequency fluctuation width can be changed as appropriate based on the range of x that has been used in operation, the maximum value of the demand that actually occurred, or the like. For example, in the case where n=10 is set, if the stage with operational performance is x=1 to 3, the values of F ₃ and Q _{set_3} , which previously corresponded to x=3, are changed to It is also possible to newly set F (F _10' ) and Q _set (Q _{set_10'} ) corresponding to x=10. At this time, F _2' to F _9' and Q _{set_2'} to Q _{set_9'} corresponding to new x=2 to 9 are determined according to the values of F _10' and Q _{set_10'} (for example, by the method described above). Just set it.

In this way, by reducing the frequency of the current after conversion by the inverter and the upper limit of the pump discharge amount in accordance with actual results without changing the number of stages, it is possible to reduce the range of frequency fluctuation. Thereby, the set flow rate of the pump can be set to a value closer to the outflow amount, and more detailed control can be performed. Therefore, the frequency of changing the set flow rate of the pump can be reduced, making it possible to suppress energy consumption.

The control section centrally controls each section of the above-mentioned pump drive control device 31, and uses information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank and water supply amount information transmitted by the information communication device 20, and the flow rate conversion acquired from the storage section. Referring to the table, drive control of the pump is performed according to changes in the amount of water in the water distribution tank.

Here, "change in the amount of water in the water distribution tank" refers to (1) a decrease in the amount of water in the distribution tank due to the generation of demand from a state where no demand occurs in the field (i.e., zero flow rate); 2) The amount of water in the water tank increases due to a decrease in demand while demand is occurring in the field, and (3) Demand further increases while demand is occurring in the field. This refers to the decrease in the amount of water in the water tank. Alternatively, "change in the amount of water in the water tank" refers to an increase or decrease in the amount of change in the amount of water in the water tank per unit time.

"Change in water volume" is set based on the "standard water volume." The "standard amount of water" is often the maximum flow rate that can be supplied to the field, but it may also be a specific amount of water. The reference water amount may be appropriately determined according to various conditions such as the expected maximum flow rate or, in the case of rotation, the block maximum flow rate. In one example, the reference amount of water is preferably 25% or more, more preferably 50% or more, and even more preferably 75% or more of the volume of the water distribution tank. Further, the reference amount of water is preferably 95% or less, more preferably 93% or less, and even more preferably 90% or less of the volume of the water distribution tank. Controlling pump drive by determining a standard water volume reduces power consumption compared to the case where the pump discharge volume is continuously controlled by following changes in the water volume in the water distribution tank in real time. This also leads to a reduction in

The "amount of change in water amount per unit time" is, for example, the speed at which the water amount changes.

・Control example (1)
1) Find the water distribution amount (Q _out ) per unit time that the water distribution tank is distributing water.
2) Check whether the water volume in the water tank is within the standard water volume range. If the amount of water in the water distribution tank is within the reference amount of water, control from 3) onwards is performed. If the amount of water in the water distribution tank is outside the reference water amount range, it is returned to within the reference water amount range (see also control example (2) to be described later), and then control from 3) is performed.
3) Set the pump's set flow rate (Q _{set_X} ) to a flow rate that exceeds the water distribution amount (Q _out ) determined in 1). From the viewpoint of reducing power consumption, preferably, the set flow rate of the pump is set to Q _{set_x+1} , where Q _{set_x} <Q _out <Q set_x ₊₁ . Referring to the flow rate conversion table in the storage section, the inverter is operated at the drive frequency (F _{x +1} in the case of Q _{set_x+1} ) corresponding to the set flow rate of the pump.
4) When the amount of water in the water distribution tank reaches the upper limit of the standard water amount range (if it exceeds the upper limit), adjust the set flow rate of the pump by one step or more (preferably) in order to return it to the standard water amount range. is lowered by 1 stage). From the viewpoint of reducing power consumption, it is preferable to lower the Q set_x by one step from Q _{set_x+1} to Q _{set_x} . The inverter is operated at the drive frequency (F _x in the case of Q _{set_x} ) corresponding to the set flow rate of the pump.
5) When the amount of water in the water distribution tank reaches the lower limit of the standard water amount range (below the lower limit), adjust the set flow rate of the pump by one step or more (preferably) in order to return it to the standard water amount range. (1 step). From the viewpoint of reducing power consumption, it is preferable to raise the level by one level from Q _{set_x} to Q _{set_x+1} . The inverter is operated at the drive frequency (F _{x +1} in the case of Q _{set_x +1} ) corresponding to the set flow rate of the pump.
6) From then on, repeat the controls in 4) to 5) above to continuously pump water into the water distribution tank using the pump.
7) Turn off the pump when the water demand for the water tank has substantially ceased.

The amount of water distribution (Q _out ) determined in 1) above can be determined, for example, from the difference between the amount of decrease in the amount of water in the water distribution tank (L/s) and the amount of inflow from the pump (L/s). For example, when using a water level meter, the amount of decrease in the amount of water in the water distribution tank can be determined by multiplying the rate of decrease in water level (cm/s) by the volume per unit depth of the water tank (L/cm). .

The pump is continuously driven through the steps 3), 4), and 5) above, but the set flow rate of the pump is changed only between the steps, and is not changed within each step. It is fixed at This step-by-step control allows the amount of water in the water tank to be controlled without having to turn the pump on or off, resulting in a significant reduction in power consumption.

After confirming 2) above, the amount of water in the water tank can be maintained within the standard water amount range by simply repeating the controls in 4) to 6). However, performing 1) and 3) above leads to a further reduction in power consumption.

When one or more water faucets 14 are provided as water distribution destinations from the water distribution tank 10, the water supply amount information at each faucet 14 may be used to drive and control the pumps. The water distributed from the water distribution tank 10 includes water that is not supplied to the fields as surplus water, in addition to water that is supplied to the fields. If we can understand the above water distribution amount (Q _out ) based on the actual demand (amount of water supplied to fields), we can: 1) manage the amount of surplus water within an appropriate range (prevent excessive surplus water from occurring); 2) The set flow rate of the pump can be set to a necessary and sufficient value according to the actual demand situation.

・Control example (2)
1) If the amount of water in the water distribution tank exceeds the upper limit of the standard water amount range, reduce the set flow rate of the pump by one step or more.
2) If the amount of water in the water distribution tank is below the lower limit of the standard water amount range, increase the set flow rate of the pump by one step or more.
3) As a result of performing the control in 1) or 2) above, if the water amount in the water distribution tank falls within the reference water amount range, switch to control example (1).

・Control example (3)
According to control example (1), while the pump is continuously pumping water to the water distribution tank, the change in the amount of water distributed per unit time (Q _out ) from the water distribution tank is controlled by the pump drive. Used as a control trigger. Specifically, in control example (1) 4) to 6), if the amount of water distributed from the water distribution tank per unit time (Q _out ) changes, return to control example (1) 3), Reset the pump discharge amount (set flow rate) that exceeds the changed water distribution amount (Q _out ). Then, 4) and subsequent steps in control example (1) are performed.

The above control example (3) is particularly effective when the amount of water distribution (Q _out ) changes rapidly. When one or more water faucets 14 are provided as water distribution destinations from the water distribution tank 10, the water supply amount information and operating status of each water faucet 14 can be used as the above-mentioned trigger.

1-2. Method of operating a water distribution system A method of operating a water distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment is a method of operating an agricultural water distribution system including a water distribution tank 10 and a pump 30 for pumping water into the water distribution tank 10. This method continuously pumps water into the water distribution tank 10 while controlling the discharge amount of the pump in stages according to changes in the amount of water in the tank. Below, an example of processing of the water distribution system according to the present invention will be explained as a method of operating the water distribution system according to the present invention.

(Step 1) First, the sensor of the measuring device acquires information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank (hereinafter referred to as "water amount information"). The sensor of the measuring device transmits the acquired water amount information to the communication section of the measuring device. The control unit of the measuring device causes the communication unit of the measuring device to transmit the water amount information acquired by the sensor of the measuring device to the information communication device 20.

(Step 2) The hydrant 14 acquires water supply amount information and transmits the acquired water supply amount information to the information communication device 20.

(Step 3) Subsequently, the control unit of the information communication device causes the receiving unit to receive the water amount information transmitted by the measuring device and the water supply amount information transmitted by the water faucet. The receiving section transmits the received water amount information and water supply amount information to the transmitting section. The control unit of the information communication device causes the transmitting unit to transmit the water amount information and water supply amount information received by the receiving unit to the pump drive control device 31.

(Step 4) The control unit of the pump drive control device obtains a flow rate conversion table stored in advance in the storage unit. The control unit of the pump drive control device performs drive control of the pump with reference to the water amount information and water supply amount information transmitted by the information communication device 20 and the flow rate conversion table acquired from the storage unit. The details of the process are as described in "(Pump drive control device)". The discharge amount of the pump is controlled by controlling the drive of the pump. This completes the process.

According to the water distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, even if a small water distribution tank is used, it is possible to maintain a constant amount of water in the water distribution tank and supply water according to demand without overflowing surplus water. can. It is preferable to prevent surplus water from overflowing from the viewpoint of keeping power consumption low. The water distribution system according to this embodiment can realize demand-driven agricultural water management with water and energy savings.

[Embodiment 2]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For convenience of explanation, the same names will be used for the contents already explained in the first embodiment, and the explanation will not be repeated.

The water distribution system in Embodiment 2 1) has a water distribution basin at the end of the water distribution pipe; 2) in order to control the discharge amount of the pump, instead of information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank, information on the amount of water in the distribution basin is used. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that water amount information is used.

2-1. Water Distribution System According to Embodiment 2 A water distribution system 1 according to Embodiment 2 will be described below based on FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a water distribution system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water distribution system 1 according to the second embodiment includes a water distribution tank 10, a pump 30 that pumps water into the water distribution tank 10, and a water distribution basin 70 that receives water from the water distribution tank 10. In the second embodiment, a plurality of water distribution tanks may be provided, but the measurement device 15 and the water tap 14 of the water distribution tank may not necessarily be provided. Hereinafter, the water distribution system 1 in Embodiment 2 will be described assuming that it does not include the water distribution tank measuring device 15 and the water tap 14.

(water distribution basin)
The water distribution basin 70 in the second embodiment is located at the end of the water distribution pipe 12 of the water distribution tank 10, and after rectifying the flow before the water supply port that supplies water to the field, maintains the water level at a constant level and controls the amount of water supplied to the field. This is an aquarium for drinking water. The amount of water supplied to the field can be controlled by controlling the amount of water in the water distribution basin. For example, by keeping the amount of water in the water distribution basin constant, the amount of water supplied to the field can be kept constant.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water distribution system 1 in Embodiment 2 has a water distribution basin at the end of the water distribution pipe 12 (that is, between the end of the water distribution pipe 12 and the entrance of the water distribution basin connected to the end). It may be provided with a valve 71 for adjusting the amount of water inside. As with the automatic water tap in Embodiment 1, it is preferable that the operating status (for example, opening/closing of the valve and the degree of opening of the valve) of the valve 71 be automatically controlled from a distance based on the water level information of the corresponding rice field 40. Information on the amount of water flowing into the water distribution basin and the operating status are transmitted in real time to the pump drive control device 31 via the information communication device 20, and can be used to control the discharge amount of the pump. The water distribution system 1 according to the second embodiment may include a plurality of water distribution basins 70 (not shown).

(Measuring device for water distribution basin)
As shown in FIG. 2, the water distribution system 1 according to the second embodiment includes a measuring device (hereinafter also referred to as "water basin measuring device 80") that acquires information on the amount of water in the water basin. The water distribution tank measuring device 80 has the same function as the water tank measuring device 15 in the first embodiment. Information on the amount of water in the water distribution basin acquired by the water distribution basin measurement device 80 is transmitted to the pump drive control device 31 via the information communication device 20.

Note that the "water amount" in Embodiment 2 preferably uses the water level or water head in the water distribution basin as an index, and more preferably uses the water level as an index, from the viewpoint of more finely controlling the amount of water supplied to the field.

(Pump drive control device)
The communication unit of the pump drive control device 31 in the second embodiment can receive information on the amount of water in the water distribution basin, which is transmitted by the information communication device 20 and is used to control the discharge amount of the pump, through information communication.

The pump drive control device 31 in the second embodiment refers to the information on the amount of water in the water distribution basin transmitted by the information communication device 20 and the flow rate conversion table acquired from the storage unit, and performs control according to the change in the amount of water in the distribution basin. Controls the drive of the pump. This makes it possible to control the amount of water supplied to the field and the amount of water in the water distribution tank.

As a control example of the pump drive control device 31 in the second embodiment, there is an example in which the control example in “(pump drive control device)” of the first embodiment is changed as follows.
i) ``The amount of water distributed per unit time that the water distribution tank distributes (Q <sub>out</sub> )'' is changed to ``the amount of water distributed per unit time that the water distribution basin distributes water to the field (Q _out ', if the water distribution basin has multiple distribution basins. , the sum of Q _out ')'.
ii) Replace "amount of water in the water tank" with "amount of water in the water distribution basin".

In addition, when the water distribution system 1 according to the second embodiment includes the water distribution tank measuring device 15 and the water tap 14, not only the information on the amount of water in the water distribution basin but also the "(pump drive control The information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank and the information on the amount of water supplied, which are described in "Apparatus)", can also be used to control the drive of the pump.

2-2. Method of operating the water distribution system according to the second embodiment The method of operating the water distribution system 1 according to the second embodiment includes a water distribution tank 10, a pump 30 that pumps water into the water distribution tank 10, and a water distribution basin 70 that receives water from the water distribution tank 10. A method of operating an agricultural water distribution system equipped with a water distribution tank, in which water is continuously pumped to a water distribution tank 10 while controlling the discharge amount of the pump in stages according to changes in the amount of water in the water distribution basin. be.

Specifically, an example is given in which "1-2. How to operate the water distribution system" in Embodiment 1 is changed as follows.
i) Replace “measuring device” with “water basin measuring device”.
ii) Replace "information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank" and "information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank" with "information on the amount of water in the water distribution basin."
iii) Step 2 is not performed, and the information transmitted and received by the information communication device is only "information on the amount of water in the water distribution basin."

3. Summary As is clear from the above, the present invention includes the following.
1) A method of operating an agricultural water distribution system equipped with a water distribution tank and a pump that pumps water into the water distribution tank, in which the discharge amount of the pump is controlled in stages according to changes in the amount of water in the water distribution tank. A method of continuously pumping water into a water distribution tank.
2) The method of 1), in which the change in water volume is an increase or decrease in water volume compared to a reference water volume, or an increase or decrease in the amount of change in water volume per unit time.
3) When the amount of water in the water distribution tank decreases below the lower limit of the standard water amount range, the pump discharge amount increases and the water amount in the distribution tank decreases to the upper limit of the standard water amount range. The method of 2), in which the pump discharge amount is controlled to decrease when the amount increases by more than .
4) Any of the methods 1) to 3) further uses information on the amount of water distributed per unit time from the water distribution tank to control the discharge amount of the pump.
5) The method of 4), wherein the information on the amount of water distributed from the water distribution tank includes information on the amount of water supplied at a hydrant provided at the end of the water distribution system.
6) Any of methods 1) to 5), where the amount of water in the water tank is the water level in the water tank.
7) The method according to any one of 1) to 6), in which the discharge amount of the pump is controlled by controlling the rotation speed of the turbine of the pump.
8) Any method of 1) to 7) in which the discharge amount of the pump is controlled using an inverter.
9) Any method from 1) to 8), where the volume of the water tank is ^50m3 or less.
10) The pump drive control device receives information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank and/or information on the amount of water distributed from the water distribution tank, which is used to control the discharge amount of the pump, through information communication, 1) to 9 ) either way.
11) A method for operating an agricultural water distribution system comprising a water distribution tank, a pump for pumping water into the water distribution tank, and a water distribution basin for receiving water from the distribution tank, the method comprising: A method of continuously pumping water into a water distribution tank while controlling the discharge amount of the pump in stages.
12) An agricultural water distribution system that includes a water distribution tank, a pump that pumps water into the water distribution tank, a measuring device that obtains information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank, and a measuring device that collects information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank that is obtained by the measuring device. , and an information communication device that transmits information to a pump drive control device.
13) The water distribution system according to 12), wherein the pump drive control device controls the discharge amount of the pump in stages according to changes in the amount of water in the water distribution tank.

Control of the water distribution system and each device included in the water distribution system in this embodiment may be performed by a computer that executes instructions of a program that is software that implements each function. This computer includes, for example, at least one processor (control device) and at least one computer-readable recording medium storing the above program. In the computer, the processor reads the program from the recording medium and executes the program, thereby achieving the object of the present invention.

As the processor, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) can be used. As the recording medium, in addition to "non-temporary tangible media" such as ROM (Read Only Memory), tapes, disks, cards, semiconductor memories, programmable logic circuits, etc. can be used. Further, the computer may further include a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the above program. Further, a PLC (programmable logical controller) may be used as a controller for a control device such as a pump. Furthermore, the program may be supplied to the computer via any transmission medium (communication network, broadcast waves, etc.) that can transmit the program. Note that one aspect of the present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 Water distribution system 10 Water tank 11 Water pump 12 Water pipe 13 Surplus water drain pipe 14 Water faucet 15 Measuring device (water tank measuring device)
20 Information communication device 30 Pump 31 Pump drive control device 40 Paddy field 50 Farm pond 60 Terminal 70 Water distribution basin 71 Valve 80 Water distribution basin measuring device

Claims (11)

A method of operating an agricultural water distribution system comprising a water distribution tank and a pump for pumping water into the water distribution tank, the method comprising:
The volume of the water tank is 2 m ³ or more and 50 m ³ or less,
There is one pump pumping water to the water distribution tank,
A method of continuously pumping water into a water distribution tank while controlling the discharge amount of the pump in stages according to changes in the amount of water in the water distribution tank while the power of the pump remains on. The method according to claim 1, wherein the change in the amount of water is an increase or decrease in the amount of water relative to a reference amount of water, or an increase or decrease in the amount of change in the amount of water per unit time. When the amount of water in the water distribution tank decreases below a lower limit value of a reference water amount range, the discharge amount of the pump increases,
The method according to claim 1, wherein the discharge amount of the pump is controlled to decrease when the amount of water in the water distribution tank increases more than an upper limit value of a reference water amount range. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising using information on the amount of water distributed per unit time from the water distribution tank to control the discharge amount of the pump. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information on the amount of water distributed from the water distribution tank includes information on the amount of water supplied at a water tap provided at an end of the water distribution system. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the amount of water in the water distribution tank is the water level in the water distribution tank. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the discharge amount of the pump is controlled by controlling the rotation speed of a turbine of the pump. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the discharge amount of the pump is controlled using an inverter. The drive control device for the pump receives information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank and/or information on the amount of water distributed from the water distribution tank, which is used to control the discharge amount of the pump, by information communication. 8. The method according to any one of 8 . A method of operating an agricultural water distribution system comprising a water distribution tank, a pump pumping water to the water distribution tank, and a water distribution basin receiving water from the water distribution tank, the method comprising:
The volume of the water tank is 2 m ³ or more and 50 m ³ or less,
There is one pump pumping water to the water distribution tank,
A method of continuously pumping water to a water distribution tank while controlling the discharge amount of the pump in stages according to changes in the amount of water in the water distribution tank while the power of the pump remains on. An agricultural water distribution system,
Water tank and
a pump for pumping water to the water distribution tank;
a measuring device that acquires information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank;
an information communication device that transmits information on the amount of water in the water distribution tank acquired by the measuring device to a drive control device of the pump;
The volume of the water tank is 2 m ³ or more and 50 m ³ or less,
There is one pump pumping water to the water distribution tank,
In the water distribution system, the pump drive control device controls the discharge amount of the pump in stages according to changes in the amount of water in the water distribution tank while the power of the pump remains on .

Images