Design and Development of a Sprinkler Irrigation System Project

This project focuses on the design and development of a sprinkler irrigation system to enhance crop production for a farmer facing low rainfall conditions. The design process involved a literature review, a site visit, and considerations for water conservation and cost-effectiveness. The proposed system utilizes a mobile sprinkler to reduce human effort and water wastage, offering an alternative to costly piping and full-field sprinkler systems. The project explores various irrigation techniques, including rotating head and perforated pipe systems, and emphasizes the importance of efficient water utilization in agriculture. The design aims to balance water savings, labor costs, and system reliability, with considerations for maintenance and expandability. The project concludes with recommendations for future improvements and highlights the potential for reducing water consumption and improving crop yields.

ABSTRACT
The practice of small-scale Irrigation in the recent years has covered
substantial grounds in curbing food security. In light of this, the project
is based on the design of a sprinkler irrigation system for a farmer who
needs to increase his crop production. The farm land area is situated on a
leeward side of a hilly area and receives relatively low rainfall.
The design of the project involved an in-depth exploration of literature
review on sprinkler irrigation in upcoming chapter. A pre-visit was
conducted in the area of study which involved a visual inspection of the
area and getting acquitted with the farm owner.
The project was a success regardless of a few challenges in conducting
sustainability tests, details of the conclusions and recommendations are
comprehensively captured on subsequent chapters. The implementation
of this project could reduce human effort while sprinkling water to the
fields, affordable implementation and operational costs.
INTRODUCTION
Water is the most required asset for every single living species. It is
along these lines valuable and must be utilized with balance to be saved
for the ages to come. Horticulture as an industry utilizes a considerable
water amount. More often than not, this asset isn't utilized proficiently
and considerable measures of water are squandered. Sooner rather than
later, these squanders will speak to a substantial entirety of cash. The
ones who deal with this asset productively will win both cash and time.
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Accordingly, this report states that, an agricultural sprinkler is
recommended to limit water information and also human endeavors,
keeping in mind that also plant's needs are fulfilled. To begin with, the
points of interest of the issue are abridged. The goal and extent of the
task are depicted. Many broad ways in dealing with the plan are checked
on. The outcomes and finishes of a trial to decide the required measures
of water are talked about. At that point, the proposed plan is clarified in
detail with the reason, necessities and limitations, reproduction plus
results of test for each and every part. A concise cost investigation is
done to assess the practicality of a similar venture available. At long last,
the plan is reprimanded, and recommendations are made for future
enhancements.
Water system frameworks require vast funneling setups alongside
numerous sprinklers with the end goal to accomplish legitimate water
system. This framework has numerous issues related with it. It requires
costly funneling and in addition sprinkler costs alongside powerful
engines with the end goal to drive water through such long pipes. There
is dependably a shot of spillages that may make oversupply of water a
specific zone and under supply in another prompting ranch misfortune.
Likewise, this will acquire substantial repairing costs. Our proposed
framework utilizes a portable vehicle with a solitary sprinkler that
travels through the field with a water tank that moves all through the
field splashing water on top of it. It resembles a moving water tank that
consequently moves everywhere throughout the field splashing water
through it.
In the quick paced world individuals require everything to be easy. Aside
from couple of things man has made his life computerized. Amid
summers, a great many people are excessively lethargic, making it
impossible to water the pruned plants on their housetop cultivates each
day. In the realm of development hardware life of individuals ought to
be less difficult thus to make life less complex and advantageous, so I
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have made "Agrarian Water Sprinkling System". A model that controls
watering offices to aid a large number of individuals.
Farming uses 85% of accessible freshwater assets worldwide and such a
rate will continue to be overwhelming in utilization of water in terms of
populace development coupled with expanded nourishment request. As
there are not very many water assets and because of shortage of water
we had updated our innovation and imagined a wide range of systems
for practical utilization of water for rural products. A portable mobile
water sprinkler was the basis for creating a system of irrigation that has
water savings of 53% in comparison with irrigating a pastoral area using
sprinklers. A Schedule system has managed to reduce the usage of water
that has enabled for some adjustments of irrigation to the daily ups and
downs caused by weather or volumetric substrate moisture content.
1 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Water system in plants is typically a task that requires a lot of energy and
also needs to be done while considering the time factor, hence the need
for a considerable amount of HR. Generally, people executed each of the
means. In this current times, some frameworks use technology to reduce
the quantity of specialists or the amount of time needed in watering
plants. In using such frameworks, the control is largely limited, and large
amounts of assets are as yet wasted.
Water as an asset is usually used in large amounts. Mass water system is
a strategy required in watering plants. The strategy enlightens the
gigantic misfortunes since the amount of water offered is overabundant
as compared to plants' requirements. Such overabundant water is cleared
using pot gaps in the nurseries, or is allowed to permeate through the
field dirt.
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One contemporary impression that water portrays is that it is a free,
sustainable asset that is usually utilized in plenitude. In any case, this
isn't realistic; in numerous areas of the world, water utilization is
saddled. In such a manner it is sensible to expect that it will not be long
before it turns into an exceptionally costly asset all over.
Notwithstanding the abundance cost of water, work is ending up
increasingly costly. Thus, if no exertion is put resources into improving
these assets, there will be more cash engaged with a similar procedure.
Innovation is presumably an answer for diminish cost and forestall
assets loss.
2 DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
The project was aimed at designing an agricultural water sprinkler for
fields that would be efficient in water usage, preventing loss of water
and reducing the labor costs.
The list below were the aspects considered in choosing a design
Costs of installation;
Water savings;
Interference by human;
Reliability;
Repair and Maintenance;
Expandability.
The savings of water likewise was a key aspect, especially because there
is an interest to limit water misfortune and augment effectiveness of the
water utilized. The main goal is to limit work expense and alignment.
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Therefore, it is a must for the framework to work with enhanced
consistency. The utilization of power should be also observed. For
upkeep, all new parts should be promptly accessible and simple to
introduce on account of disappointment.
2.1 PROPOSED SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
Instead of surface run off a manual sprinkler which could move between
the fields helps in less human effort to sprinkle water and also it’s cost
effective as there is no need to undergo costly piping and full field
sprinkler system.
2.1.1 DESIGN INTENT
An opportunity has been presented to develop and improve this concept
to accommodate growing interest in the market. Design and
development of agricultural water sprinkler will reduce human effort and
water wastage while sprinkling water over the fields.
Inspiration comes from designs of bikes which incorporate suspension
systems on front. This greatly improves traction and allows the person to
push the mobile cart on agricultural terrain, jumps and drop offs at ease.
Such refinement to this growing sport has forecast to capture an
audience of mountain bike enthusiasts and broaden the recreational
options available on the ski fields.
This design study will explore development of front suspension
agricultural water sprinkler, including design alternatives, selection of
final design and final design development.
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2.2 INVESTIGATING EXISTING KNOWLEDGE
2.2.1 Overview of Sprinkler Irrigation
2.2.1.1 Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler irrigation refers to a way of releasing irrigation water in such a
manner that looks like natural rainfall (Scott, 2007). In this system,
water is supplied via pipe connections that allows the pumping and
spraying into the air using sprinkler heads that breaks it into smaller
droplets that fall on the ground. The sprinkler, operating conditions and
pump supply system are often designed in such a way that enables
uniform water application. Spray heads distribute water evenly over the
entire soil surface. Sprinklers render efficient coverage for minimal to
extensive areas and are fit for all types of crops. Nevertheless, they can
be used in virtually all irrigable soils and topography (Davis, 2015).
2.2.2 General Classification of various types of sprinkler systems
Sprinkler irrigation systems are broadly categorized based on their
alignment in spraying irrigation water into various types as follows:
1. Rotating head system
2. Perforated pipe system
Rotating Head System
This system has small size nozzles which are mounted on riser pipes
fixed at equal intervals spreading through the length of the lateral pipe
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that are placed on the ground. The rotating components may likewise be
fixed on top of posts that are above the height of crops and rotated via
90o, to water a strip that is rectangular. The rotating head is integrated
with a small hammer which is put into action by the thrusting action of
water that strikes against a vane attached to it (Scott, 2007). Examples of
irrigation system using rotating head include: center pivot system and
side roll system.
2.2.3 Perforated Pipe System
The technique comprise of holes that are drilled along the length of the
pipes where water is sprayed under pressure (Laycock, 2011). The
design of this system is for comparatively low pressure.
Its application rates vary from 1.25 – 5 cm/hr for respective pressure and
spacing. They are classified on the basis of portability into the following
varieties:
a) Portable system: It has movable Sub-main lines, pumping unit and
laterals.
b) Semi-portable system: It has the same configuration as the portable
system only that the water source location and pumping plant is
geostationary.
c) Semi-permanent system: This irrigation system has permanent main
lines, portable lateral lines and sub-mains and a fixed pumping plant and
source of water.
d) Solid set system: It has numerous laterals that obviate their lateral
motion. Such laterals are set before the crop season and remain in the
field for an entire season.
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e) Permanent system: It constitutes a system of sub-mains, permanently
laid mains, sub-mains, pumping plant, laterals and stationery water
source.
2.2.4 Irrigation Techniques
Proficient utilization of water system is usually one of the most vital
approaches that alleviate any impacts that expanded biofuels generation
can apply on water assets. Normally there are a few water system
procedures that decrease the measure of water connected per unit of
biomass delivered, consequently enhancing water system productivity
paying little heed to trim sort. For instance, subsurface dribble water
system frameworks limit the measure of water lost because of vanishing
and overflow by being covered straightforwardly underneath the yield
and applying.
Advanced
Water system Scheduling an arrangement of soil sensors, checked via a
remote broadband system that is controlled using sun oriented boards,
enables agriculturists to screen soil conditions on an every day or hourly
premise and to specifically target territories for water system. For
instance, an agriculturist could decide to hold off water anytime it's
drizzles.
Conservation
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Culturing by utilizing any cover harvest that leaves plant buildup in the
field, enables ranchers to adjust root structure of plants and enhance the
dirt's ability in holding water and lessening temperature of the soil,
hence in this way diminishing the measure of water lost to dissipation.
3 RESEARCH
3.1 INFORMATION SOURCES
The much needed data was obtained from a couple of sources. The data
on some of the principles and kinds of probes on soil moisture was
acquired from the vendors, Ministry of Agriculture, several probe
manufacturers, and Food and Rural Affairs website. There was a
promotional package that had datasheets that were technical, results of
tests plus a portion of geotextile sheet were received from Soleno
Textiles. During the design, a manual on design engineering was
consulted.
3.2 DESIGN APPROACHES
In order to tackle such an issue, it is imperative to recall the two-
principle destinations, which make the better proficient utilization of
water and limit work. The steady open-circle method is certainly the
most straightforward assault line. Steady open circle implies that the
valve is constantly open ensuring a consistent water rate course via the
funnels.
With this framework, the quantity of segments is insignificant which
implies that the framework is exceptionally easy to gather and has a
littler shot of disappointment. The expense is additionally lessened on
the grounds that less pieces are included. The hindrance is that the
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framework does not have a criticism way. The water input and utilization
isn't managed genuinely, that may lead to flood or waste. Such an errand
should be done by people, who usually know what the plants' require in
advance.
More exertion must be put resources into testing the solidness of such a
framework to stay away from a circumstance in which water would
stream uncertainly.
3.4 EXPECTED RESULTS
• Low establishment cost. A household client must have the
capacity to bear the cost of the framework to flood the home
plants. Such an establishment should be basic enough so as not to
need a specialist. Getting together of such framework should
likewise be cheap. Lessened work. When the framework is
introduced, the required work shall be restricted to occasionally
refill the supply of water. This is the main perspective suggested by
full mechanization.
• Reduced water input. In an event that the water utilized is
dependent just on real plants utilization and that there is no
squandered water, one ought to watch a reduction in the input of
water. Later on, this should be converted into cash funds.
• Minimal support. A decent framework needs little upkeep.
Upkeep can be estimated as far as life cycle. No parts ought to
bomb during the initial five year period, and new spares ought to
be shabby, simple to discover and simple to supplant.
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4 FINAL DESIGN
4.1 APPROACH
In the prototype, frame was finalized and then everything was assembled
on the frame. Ergonomics study conducted to know whether the handle
was at appropriate height to facilitate the human effort required to push
is minimal.
4.2 WORKING
The final model works on the principle of crank shaft where the motion
of wheels is converted into to and fro motion, crank is further connected
to handle of the pump which sets the handle in motion to push the water
out of gallon and come out through pores of the sprinkler. The working
needs to be simple and less moving parts give more mechanical
advantage to the model. One more advancement over this sprinkler was
the use of suspension over the front wheel as front is carrying more load
of gallon, also the agricultural land is having rough terrain so such use of
suspension will avoid jumps of water tank and will also facilitate the
human pushing the sprinkler.
4.3 SUSPENSION SYSTEM
Suspension is the tires system, air, linkages, springs, and shock
absorbers that act as connection of a vehicle and its wheels thereby
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allowing motion that is relative between the two. Suspension systems
should aid both road holding/handling as well as ride quality, that are at
odds against one another.
Two types of option available the double wishbone design and
MacPherson strut design suspension are the two common types used for
various applications.
4.3.1 MACPHERSON STRUT SUSPENSION SYSTEM
The MacPherson strut is an automotive suspension system type that
utilizes the telescopic damper top to be the upper steering pivot. This
system is commonly utilized in modern vehicles front suspension and
derives its name from American automotive engineer Earle S.
MacPherson, who was the original inventor and designer.
4.3.2 DOUBLE-WISHBONE SUSPENSION
This suspension type is also called an A-arm suspension, and it is one of
the many front independent suspension type. This design normally
utilizes two wishbone-shaped arms that locate the wheel even though it
has a variety of configurations. Each of the wishbone has two attaching
areas to the frame and another at the wheel, and not forgetting a shock
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