SLIDE 1
Team Members
Aaron Esselman, John Hill, Eduardo Flores, Ryan McKinney, Andrew Bartholow
Automated Flood Irrigation System TSH Enterprises MECH / MECA 440B - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Automated Flood Irrigation System TSH Enterprises MECH / MECA 440B - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Automated Flood Irrigation System TSH Enterprises MECH / MECA 440B Senior Design Project Team Members Aaron Esselman, John Hill, Eduardo Flores, Ryan McKinney, Andrew Bartholow Project Sponsor TSH Enterprises has been producing field crops
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
Project Sponsor
TSH Enterprises has been producing field crops since 1985 such as; alfalfa, alfalfa seed, and cereal grains using flood irrigation. The company is interested in developing and implementing superior irrigation methods.
SLIDE 4
Project Advisor
- Dr. Gregory Kallio
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
SLIDE 5
Project Background
Current flood irrigation requires manually
- pening a valve while constantly
monitoring the process.
Design, build, and test an automated flood
irrigation system that minimizes labor and maximizes efficiency.
SLIDE 6
Engineering Requirements
SLIDE 7
Design Solution
A paintball tank is used to inflate an air spring, this closes the lid turning the water off. The system is controlled with a microprocessor that has integrated RF communications which drives a solenoid valve.
SLIDE 8
Hardware
Hardware
Overview
– Steel – Air spring – Paintball tank – Regulator
Electronics
Overview
– Arduino – Solenoid – Solar panel – Charge controller – Water sensor
SLIDE 9
Here it is in action
SLIDE 10
Fabrication
Purchased Parts:
- Boxes
- Laser cut lid
- Electronics
- Regulator
- Paintball tank
All other parts were fabricated by the team in house.
SLIDE 11
Resultant Design Changes
– Flexible copper piping was changed to rigid galvanized where possible due to ease of assembly and issues with leaks. – Wireless modules were exchanged from Digi Xbees to Freakduino microprocessor/wireless communication devices.
SLIDE 12
Outside support
– All metals in Oroville cut lid – Platinum Coatings – Scott Brogden,
- The Tool Whisperer
SLIDE 13
Testing
University Farm
SLIDE 14
Testing
- Operational Durability
250 Cycles
- Withstand Pressure
Head 750 lbf
SLIDE 15
Testing
- Water Sensor
lightweight <50lbs taller than crop >36” sense water at 1/2” wireless at 800’
SLIDE 16
Testing
- Utilize Off-The-Shelf
Components 75%
- Prototype Cost
<$1000
SLIDE 17
Final Budget
Total expenderatures $1929.99
tooling testing hardware
$1929.99 +Labor =$22,000 Production run costs for riser valve $650.00 All funding provided by TSH Enterprises
SLIDE 18
Reflection/Where to Next
Suggested modifications
– Lid re-design to reduce machining costs – Investigate having a relay point for wireless communication. – Look into having on board air compressor.
SLIDE 19
Conclusion
We would like to thank
– The University Farm – Dr. Johnson – Dr. Kallio – Scott Brogdon – Tom Hill of TSH Enterprise (lead design engineer)
SLIDE 20