IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE DEVICE AND/OR WATER STORAGE DEVICE, PREFERABLY FOR MANAGING WATER, IN PARTICULAR IRRIGATION OF (GREEN) SPACES AND/OR PLANTS

Abstract

The invention relates to an irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device, preferably for managing water, in particular irrigation of (green) areas and/or plants, comprising the following: at least one water-collection device (10, 20, 30, 40, 64) designed to collect and/or store water, wherein the water-collection device (10, 20, 30, 40, 64) is in direct or indirect fluid connection with a buffer (tank) (60) and/or a storage reservoir (80), wherein the buffer (tank) (60) and/or the storage reservoir (80) is/are designed to store water and to make the stored water available for use, for example to release it into an irrigation pipe network (85); at least one control unit (61, 130), which is designed to receive and/or acquire environmental data, in particular to acquire these data by means of at least one sensor (100), and based on the environmental data, using at least one actuator, for example a control valve (84), to make available for use a water volume flow from the buffer (tank) (60) and/or from the storage reservoir (80), for example to control it in the irrigation pipe network (85).

Claims

1. An irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device comprising the following: at least one water-collection device (10, 20, 30, 40, 64) designed to collect and/or store water, wherein the at least one water-collection device (10, 20, 30, 40, 64) is in direct or indirect fluid connection with a buffer tank (60) and/or a storage reservoir (80), wherein the buffer tank (60) and/or the storage reservoir (80) is/are designed to store water and to make the stored water available for use to release it into an irrigation pipe network (85); at least one control unit (61, 130), which is designed to receive and/or acquire environmental data, to acquire the environmental data by means of at least one sensor (100), and based on the environmental data, using at least one actuator to make available for use a water volume flow from the buffer tank (60) and/or from the storage reservoir (80) to control it into the irrigation pipe network (85).

2. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water in the at least one water collection device (10, 20, 30, 40, 64) and/or the buffer tank (60) and/or the storage reservoir can be supplied by one selected from the group consisting of rain, drainage, gutters, point drains, roof drainage, area drainage, wells, or other water intake devices, desalination plants, ambient humidity, fresh water mains/water supply, and surface water.

3. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a water purification device (50) designed to purify water that can be supplied from the at least one water collection device (10, 20, 30, 40, 64) before the water is supplied to the buffer tank (60) and/or the storage reservoir (80).

4. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the buffer tank (60) and/or a basin and/or a block infiltration ditch system at least partially enveloped with a geotextile sealing membrane (69).

5. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the irrigation pipe network (85) comprises multiple irrigation pipes (85a-85d), wherein each irrigation pipe (85a-85d) is designed to release water in a corresponding irrigation zone (A-D) by means of an open end and/or a respective end region which is perforated at least in sections and/or by means of perforated sections.

6. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one electric pump (63) is arranged on the buffer tank side, and/or a manual pump (81) or capstan/hydraulic ram is arranged on the storage reservoir (80) or in its vicinity, wherein the at least one electric pump (63) and/or the manual pump (81) is/are designed to pump the water from the buffer tank (60) into the storage reservoir (80) and/or into the irrigation pipe network (85).

7. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (130) is designed to acquire the environmental data comprising values for a soil moisture content in an irrigation zone (A-D), by means of a plurality of soil moisture sensors (100), via a sensor interface (110), and, based on the environmental data, to control the water volume flow from the buffer tank (60) and/or from the storage reservoir (80) by means of the actuator (84).

8. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (130) is designed to receive environmental data comprising weather data or weather forecast data for a location of the irrigation device, via a network interface (120) and, based on the environmental data, to control the water volume flow from the buffer tank (60) and/or from the storage reservoir (80) by means of at least one of the actuators (84).

9. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one water collection device (10, 20, 30, 40, 64) comprises at least one inflow control valve (12) which is designed to control and/or prevent an inflow from the at least one water collection device (10, 20, 30, 40, 64) to the buffer tank (60) by means of the control unit (130).

10. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water collection device (10, 20, 30, 40, 64) comprises conventional gutters, point drains (surface drainage system), and/or at least one roof collection component (10) arranged on a house roof (11), and/or comprises at least one ground collection component (20, 30, 40, 64) formed from floor elements (21, 27, 27a, 31, 42) that are perforated at least in sections and/or water-permeable in sections, with water guiding structures (22, 22a, 32, 42) arranged underneath.

11. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage reservoir (80) and/or the buffer tank (60) and/or the at least one water collection device (10, 20, 30, 40) have fill level sensors (51, 61, 82) for determining a water fill level and/or temperature sensors (61) for determining a water temperature and/or conductivity sensors for determining a water conductivity with regard to a salinity of the water, and the respective sensors (51, 61, 82) are also designed to transmit the acquired sensor data to the control unit (130) and the control unit (130) is designed to control the water volume flow from the buffer tank (60) and/or from the storage reservoir (80) by means of at least one actuator (84) and/or by means of at least one pump (63, 67) based on the sensor data.

12. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage reservoir (80) is designed as an elevated tank such that the water release or the control of the water volume flow from the storage reservoir (80) into the irrigation pipe network (85) can be carried out without pumps and/or exclusively by the at least one actuator (84), the elevated tank can be designed to be transparent for visualization purposes in order to visualize the water level.

13. The irrigation and drainage device and/or water storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an information display device (70) is designed to communicate with the control unit (130) including a data processing unit and to visualize information selected from the group consisting of soil moisture, water fill levels, and amount of precipitation in particular operating states.

14. An irrigation and drainage method and/or water storage method, wherein the method comprises the following steps: collecting and/or storing water using at least one water collection device (10, 20, 40) and routing the collected water into a buffer tank (60) and/or into a storage reservoir (80); receiving and/or acquiring environmental data comprising values for soil moisture in irrigation zones (A-D) and/or an amount of precipitation in relation to the location of green areas to be irrigated and/or plants or in relation to the irrigation zones (A-D), using a control unit (130); controlling a water volume flow from the buffer tank (60) and/or from the storage reservoir (80) into an irrigation pipe network (85) as a function of the environmental data in order to make a quantity of water available for use to meter it for the green areas to be irrigated and/or plants in the irrigation zones (A-D) according to the environmental data.

15. The irrigation and drainage method and/or water storage method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a step of increasing the water volume flow when the control unit (130) detects by means of a soil moisture sensor (100), that a water content in a corresponding irrigation zone (A-D) is below a limiting value, and/or a step of reducing the water volume flow when the control unit (130) detects by means of the soil moisture sensor (100), that a water content in a corresponding irrigation zone (A-D) is above the limiting value.

16. The irrigation and drainage method and/or water storage method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a step of actively or passively emptying the buffer tank (60) and/or the storage reservoir (80) by emptying it into the sewer system (140), when the control unit (130) receives environmental data containing information announcing heavy rain, and/or the control unit (130) detects that the salinity of the water exceeds a limiting value by means of a conductivity sensor within the buffer tank (60) and/or the storage reservoir (80).

Description

[0055] In the figures:

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of an irrigation and drainage device including a roof collection device and a storage reservoir;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows an alternative exemplary embodiment of an irrigation and drainage device.

[0058] In the following description, the same reference numbers are used for identical and identically acting parts.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, multiple types of water-collection devices are shown, which are modular and linked to one another in a fluid-conducting manner and electronically, indirectly or directly.

[0060] The water collection device 10 is a roof collection device 10, which is arranged on a house roof 11, combined here with a radio-networked optical level sensor 13 and radio-controlled inflow control valve 12. The level sensor 13 and the inflow control valve 12 can communicate with a sensor interface 110 of a control unit 130 and can be controlled by the control unit 130. The roof collection device 10 can preferably be planted. The roof collection device 10 preferably consists of a modular, flat, geocellular storage cavity. Multiple layers of the flat sheets allow for a larger storage cavity of the roof collection device 10 to be created. A structural height can vary from 85-165 mm.

[0061] In addition, multiple water collection devices 20, 20a, 30, 40, 64 are shown, which are designed as ground collection devices 20, 20a, 30, 40, 64 of the irrigation and drainage device. In an exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the ground collection devices are, for example, a retention channel 30 and/or a drainage channel 40 introduced into the ground. Wherein the retention channel 30 and the drainage channel 40 each have sections of water-permeable ground elements 31, 41—for example lattice structures or perforated structures, through which water can enter. Underneath are corresponding water guiding structures 32, 42 in each case, which are designed to guide the water that has entered accordingly.

[0062] The ground collection devices in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 comprise a lawn collection device 20. The lawn collection device has green area elements 27 (for example grass honeycombs) which form the ground. In addition, the lawn collection device has a channel 22 below the ground or in the ground. The channel 22 can have water-permeable ground elements 21 on its surface. The water can be guided from the gutter 22 in the direction of the buffer 60 via corresponding pipes 28 of the lawn collection device 20.

[0063] Alternatively or additionally, the ground collection devices in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 can have a perforated concrete slab collection device 20a. Rainwater can penetrate through a perforation in floor-forming concrete slabs 27a. Below the perforated concrete slabs 27a is a water guiding structure designed as a channel 22a. The channel 22a can supply the rainwater to the buffer 60 via corresponding pipes 28a.

[0064] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the water from the water collection devices 10, 20, 20a, 30, 40 reaches a water purification device 50. The water purification device 50 can purify the water, in particular by sedimentation. In addition to solely sedimentation, filtration and adsorption, for example via activated carbon, can also be implemented within the water purification device 50. According to the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1, the water purification device 50 has a fill level sensor 51 for determining a water fill level of the water purification device 50. The fill level sensor 51 transmits the acquired data relating to a water fill level to the sensor interface 110 of a control unit 130. In alternative embodiments, the water purification device 50 can include further sensors (not shown). For example, temperature sensors and/or conductivity sensors and/or sediment level sensors, which also transmit their respective data to the control unit 130.

[0065] From the water purification device 50, the purified water reaches a buffer 60. In one embodiment, the (buffer) tank 60 is constructed from a modular (block) ditch system, preferably made of plastic (polypropylene).

[0066] A modular (block) ditch system can be based on basic ditch elements (blocks), which are laid in a group using a plug-in system. As a result, the structural strength and the (assembly) handling of the (block) ditch system can be significantly increased. The individual elements can be assembled on site in advance to form a connected block system. Such a ditch system can be designed both for block infiltration and for block storage/retention. For example, as block storage below traffic areas, driveways, or public areas.

[0067] The stability is preferably increased by a large number of columns within the ditches. The columns can also be filled with water, so that a storage coefficient of the ditches of up to 95% can be achieved.

[0068] The use of polypropylene for the ditches also provides a robust and corrosion-resistant foundation for longevity of the system.

[0069] Furthermore, the buffer and/or the ditches of the (block) ditch system can have inspection accesses—for example for an inspection camera and/or for cleaning devices.

[0070] In the embodiment shown, the buffer 60 is below a ground surface.

[0071] The buffer 60 is equipped with a drain pump 67 and a pipe such that water from the buffer can be actively discharged into the sewer system 140. Alternatively or additionally, an overflow pipe 68 can be provided in order to prevent the buffer 60 from overflowing. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the overflow pipe 68 of the buffer is connected to the sewer system 140.

[0072] A sensor unit 61 of the buffer 60 comprises multiple sensors, for example a temperature sensor for determining a water temperature within the buffer and/or a buffer fill level sensor for determining a buffer fill level and/or a conductivity sensor for determining a water conductivity, in particular with regard to a salinity and/or a sedimentation sensor for acquiring sedimentation values of the water within the buffer 60.

[0073] The sensor unit 61 of the buffer 60 can transmit the acquired data to the sensor interface 110 of the control unit 130 via radio signals and/or in a wired manner.

[0074] For one or more of the ground collection devices 10, 20, 20a, 30, 40 and/or the buffer 60 and/or for the water purification device 50, (smart) covers 170 can be used to close a passage opening.

[0075] The passage opening can, for example, allow access or entry to the subterranean elements.

[0076] The smart cover 170 has at least one antenna such that signals can be sent and received through the transmission and reception opening, wherein the antenna of the cover 170 is connected to at least one electrical line.

[0077] The electrical line of the smart cover 170 can be connected to sensors and/or actuators of at least one of the ground collection devices 10, 20, 20a, 30, 40 and/or the buffer 60 and/or the water purification device 50.

[0078] The antenna of the smart cover 170 passes on these signals (above ground) and wirelessly to the control unit 130 in such a way that a signal transmission quality of sensor-acquired values within the ground collection device and/or the buffer to the control unit 130 is optimized.

[0079] The water is made available for irrigation via an electric pump 63 and/or via a manual pump such as a hand pump 81.

[0080] According to the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1, the water reaches an elevated storage reservoir 80 via the electric pump 63 and/or via the hand pump 81 via a corresponding connecting pipe 62.

[0081] The electric pump 63 of the buffer 60 can also comprise a solar and/or wind powered pump system.

[0082] A wall of the storage reservoir 80 can be transparent (in sections) or partially transparent (in sections) in order to be able to acquire the internal water level directly.

[0083] In addition, the storage reservoir 80 comprises a storage reservoir fill level sensor 82 which is designed to transmit a fill level of the storage reservoir to the sensor interface 110 of the control unit 130. The storage reservoir fill level sensor 82 also regulates the inflow.

[0084] In addition, an overflow is integrated into the storage reservoir 80 which, if necessary, returns the water to the buffer 60.

[0085] By means of the hand pump 81, passers-by can actively assist the irrigation of the green areas or fill the storage reservoir 80. Such offers are used very well, especially in areas frequented by tourists.

[0086] In principle, however, the actual irrigation is never carried out by passers-by, but always via an actuator 84 controllable by means of the control unit 130 in order to be able to ensure an optimal water supply to the irrigation zones.

[0087] If required, the buffer 60 can be manually filled with water via a filler neck 65. Alternatively or additionally, the filler neck can be connected to a water supply line, via which the buffer 60 can be filled. Manual filling can be advantageous, for example, when the weather forecast predicts a prolonged dry period, but the control unit 130 reports that the buffer 60 and/or the storage reservoir 80 have a low fill level.

[0088] In one exemplary embodiment, the buffer 60 itself can have a water collection device 64 or a direct feed structure 64 such that precipitation from the ground can seep directly into the buffer 60.

[0089] An information display device 70 can be set up, which is designed to communicate with the control unit 130 and to visualize information, for example in relation to soil moisture of the soil around the irrigation and drainage device, water levels in the irrigation and drainage device, amount of precipitation. Interactive elements can also be present on the information display device 70. Visible fill level indicators (visible in particular to passers-by) of the irrigation and drainage device can also be installed. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the buffer 60 has, for example, a fill level indicator 66 provided with a float.

[0090] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, a weather station 90 is also attached to the information display device 70. This acquires local weather data such as amount of precipitation and/or ambient temperature and transmits them to the sensor interface 110 of the control unit 130, where the data from the weather station 90 can be taken into consideration when controlling the irrigation and drainage device.

[0091] The volume and/or height of the storage reservoir 80 may vary based on need and/or environment.

[0092] In this exemplary embodiment, the storage reservoir 80 is designed as an elevated tank similar to a water tower. A photovoltaic device for generating solar power can be attached to an upper side of the storage reservoir. The resulting water pressure inside the storage reservoir 80 or inside a supply line section 83 makes it possible to supply the irrigation pipe network 85 without a pump—i.e., only by opening at least one actuator 84. The design and/or the height and/or the position of the feed line section 83 of the storage reservoir 80 can be optimized with regard to the water pressure present at the actuator 84.

[0093] The green areas and/or plants are irrigated via a permanently laid irrigation pipes network 85 directly to the respective irrigation zones A-D. Wherein in this exemplary embodiment, the irrigation pipe network 85 comprises irrigation pipes 85a-85d for this purpose.

[0094] Irrigation zones A-D can be flat green areas (for example so-called planting islands) as well as individual tree planting pits or tree planting pits connected to one another by substrate spaces. Both applications involve the natural capillarity of the plant substrate, since capillarity helps the water get to where it is needed by the plants.

[0095] In the respective irrigation zones A-D, soil moisture sensors 100 acquire a soil moisture or a soil water content of the irrigation zones A-D and transmit the acquired data to the sensor interface 110 of the control unit 130.

[0096] The control unit 130 receives both the soil moisture values determined locally via the soil moisture sensors 100 via the sensor interface 110 and weather data from corresponding providers via a network interface 120. The network interface can be an Internet network interface, for example.

[0097] The control unit 130 can comprise a computing unit and an information interface for the maintenance personnel. The control unit 130 comprises the underlying control logic of the irrigation and drainage device: [0098] Heavy rain likely: Buffer 60 and/or storage reservoir 80 (or possibly also water collection devices) are actively or passively emptied into the sewer system or optional other storage devices. [0099] Drought likely: Water is retained and/or a message is sent to maintenance personnel to manually fill the buffer and/or storage reservoir. [0100] Buffer 60 and/or storage reservoir 80 are empty or contain only a small amount of water and/or the soil moisture is excessively low: warning message (for example via e-mail to maintenance personnel and/or a corresponding message to an app), that buffer 60 and/or storage reservoir have to be refilled. [0101] Water in tanks is excessively salty (for example due to road salt): water is discharged into the sewer system. [0102] Irrigation of the irrigation zones if the soil moisture of the corresponding irrigation zone is excessively low. [0103] Output and visualization of the environmental data such as soil moisture, amount of precipitation, etc. on the information display device 70. Under certain circumstances, a progression of the values of the environmental data over a certain period of time (for example a week) can also be visualized. [0104] Output of maintenance notifications (for example via e-mail to maintenance personnel and/or a corresponding message to an app): notifications with respect to sedimentation in water purification device 50 or buffer 60, notifications with respect to filter statuses, notifications with respect to failures of sensors and/or actuators or, if applicable, battery levels of the sensors.

[0105] A system network of the control unit 130 consists of sensors and/or sensor units, actuators, pumps, and/or circuits that are used for processing and passing on signals.

[0106] By means of a gateway 160, signals from the local system network are processed on the one hand and the connection to the Internet is established on the other hand. Depending on the location conditions, the LoRaWAN or the NB-IoT radio standard or other radio standards can be used.

[0107] In addition, the control unit 130 can have a user interface which is designed to input and/or modify corresponding limiting values or target ranges for water temperatures and/or water salinity.

[0108] An alternative embodiment of the irrigation and drainage device is shown in FIG. 2. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the buffer 60 is used directly as a storage reservoir. In the exemplary embodiment, the irrigation and drainage device is used for at least one tree, which is protected by a tree protection grate 150 and a tree protection lattice 151.

[0109] In this exemplary embodiment, the filling of the buffer 60 takes place analogously to the previous exemplary embodiments via at least one water collection device 64.

[0110] A water collection device is shown as a direct feed structure 64 in FIG. 2. The direct feed structure 64 allows precipitation water to be introduced directly into the underground buffer 60. The buffer 60 is at least partially enveloped with at least one layer of sealing membrane 69, which on the one hand has a sealing effect and also prevents roots from growing in. The sealing membrane/geotextile 69 can consist of plastic, for example.

[0111] The soil moisture sensor 100 acquires soil moisture values for an irrigation zone and transmits these to the control unit 130 (not shown). An actuator or a control valve 84 can be opened by the control unit 130 as soon as the soil moisture sensor 100 falls below a specific value. In this way, water is routed from the buffer 60 into the irrigation pipe network 85. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the irrigation pipe network 85 can comprise a perforated pipe from which the water can seep into the surrounding substrate. Due to the capillary force of the optimized substrate, the water rises upward and becomes available for the plant roots in the irrigation zone.

[0112] Alternatively or additionally, a pump 63a controlled by the control unit 130 can introduce water into a drip tube 85e laid in the root area of a plant, which carries out drip irrigation.

[0113] Alternatively or additionally, a layer of rock wool can be placed within the root area. The rock wool layer is sealed with foil on the bottom and on the sides and can thus store water that has seeped in and/or that has been introduced through the irrigation pipe network 85. Plants have direct access to the reservoir via their roots.

[0114] At this point, it is to be noted that all the parts described above, viewed individually and in any combination, in particular the details shown in the drawings, are claimed to be essential to the invention. Modifications thereof are familiar to persons skilled in the art.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0115] 10 water collection device (roof collection device) [0116] 11 house roof [0117] 12 Inflow control valve [0118] 13 level sensor [0119] 20 water collection device (ground collection device or lawn collection device) [0120] 20a water intake device [0121] 21 water-permeable floor element [0122] 22 water guiding structure (gutter) [0123] 27 green space elements [0124] 28 line [0125] 22a water guiding structure (gutter) [0126] 27a water-permeable floor element (perforated concrete slab) [0127] 28a pipe [0128] 30 water collection device (floor collection device or retention channel) [0129] 31 water-permeable floor elements [0130] 32 water guiding structure (gutter) [0131] 40 water collection device (floor collection device or drainage channel) [0132] 41 water-permeable floor elements [0133] 42 water guiding structure (gutter) [0134] 50 water purification device [0135] 51 fill level sensor [0136] 60 buffer (tank) [0137] 61 sensor unit [0138] 62 connecting pipe [0139] 63 electric pump [0140] 63a electric pump [0141] 64 water collection device (ground collection device or direct feed structure) [0142] 65 filler neck [0143] 66 fill level indicator [0144] 67 drain pump [0145] 68 overflow pipe [0146] 69 sealing membrane (geotextile) [0147] 70 Information display device [0148] 80 storage reservoir [0149] 81 manual pump [0150] 82 storage reservoir fill level sensor [0151] 83 feed line section [0152] 84 actuator [0153] 85 irrigation pipe network [0154] 85a-85d irrigation pipes [0155] 85e drip tube [0156] 90 weather station [0157] 100 sensor (soil moisture sensor) [0158] 110 sensor interface [0159] 120 network interface [0160] 130 control unit [0161] 140 sewer system [0162] 150 tree protection grate [0163] 151 tree protection lattice [0164] 160 gateway [0165] 170 smart cover