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Elgal Irrigation control application specifically designed to
fulfill all the needs of common irrigation system in a greenhouse
project. This software is compatible with the most demanding
requirements of low-capacity soil-less media, which characterized
by its frequent short irrigation sessions and the requirement
for steady pH level and nutrients concentration. The Greenhouse
Irrigation application was developed to optimize operation of
our Integrated Irrigation machines, but still flexible enough
to operate with the best possible efficiency along with any other irrigation
center contains the basic required elements.
The irrigation application is program oriented. Up to 100 programs
(The smaller controllers will enable 50 programs only due
to memory limitations) enable the user to set a variety
of valves combinations, different durations, conditions and
periods (real date format). The system will elegantly
drive the irrigation and fertigation with a sophisticated priority
set and queue management, to optimize the results of your crops.
Our Irrigation application, applies unique fertigation methods, refers first to the nutrients concentration in the water and then enables the user to determine the permitted deviation rate for EC level maintain. 20 fertigation programs can be linked to the irrigation programs according to the desired nutrients, EC and pH levels.
In addition to the core irrigation system, 4 secondary modules are included:
 Misting/cooling system
Drainage sampling system with modification of irrigation ability
Filters flushing system
Water sources mixing for irrigation water recycling use
In the PC software (and in some controllers), the Greenhouse Irrigation application provided as part of the Greenhouse installation package, which includes the Climate control application too.
A. The system's basic components.
1. Elgal computerized controller.
2. Sensors for measuring:
Irrigation water EC
Irrigation water pH
Secondary Irrigation water EC
Secondary Irrigation water pH
Drainage water EC
Drainage water pH
Solar radiation (widely used to reduce duration between cycles)
Mixer tank level sensor
Any other sensor providing output of 4-20 mA.
3. The control program (In the controller's microprocessor)
includes a large, diversified and flexible software package from which the end user can select only the parts that are relevant to his needs. No special modifications of a program for a single customer is needed. Most of Elgal users can use an identical program, so they can easily be updated form time to time for new versions.
The system can read any other sensor providing it has an electronic output of 4-20mA.
A Greenhouse Irrigation system may consist of the following controlled components:
Component
*Applicable only in trail version 2.05
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Max. optional I/Os per system
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| Main Irrigation booster pump |
1 |
| Main irrigation valve |
1 |
| Irrigation valves |
100 |
| Fertilizer injectors control |
8 |
| Fertilizer selector valves |
5 |
| Main Fertilizer valve |
1 |
| Mixer filling valve |
1 |
| Mixer Booster pump |
1 |
| Mixer tank Emptying* |
1 |
| Filter flushing valves |
10 |
| Main flushing (pressure sustain) valve |
1 |
| Misting valves |
20 |
| Main misting valve |
1 |
| Drainage sampling points |
20 |
| Drainage pump |
1 |
| Source water servo valve* |
3 |
| Stop Signal |
1 |
| Discrete (on/off) inputs |
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| Water meter (Hydrometer) |
1 |
| Fertilizer meters |
8 |
| Stop irrigation button |
1 |
| Pump failure |
1 |
| Pressure differential indicator (Δp) |
1 |
| Low pressure indicator |
1 |
| Misting counter |
1 |
| Water source meters* |
3 |
| Mixer tank float |
2 |
| Controller’s property inputs |
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| Free use condition inputs |
20 |
| General counters |
20 |
| Controller’s property outputs |
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| Alarm output |
10 |
4. Connectivity :
The controller program is capable with reading sensors values and events from neighboring Elgal systems and act correspondingly. The same goes vise versa.
5. PC software :
Based on Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP, with live graphic display for on-line monitoring, programming and for long run data storage and display. Each controller can fully function without PC center (except of data recording), but PC center makes operation a lot easier, and is required for communication between controllers.
B. Conditions system:
Any program can be maneuvered with endless possibilities of conditions to Start, Operate, Delay or Stop. Almost every property of the controller (or other controller via communication) can be used as either of the above condition. For example:
Sensor’s value (Above or below set-point)
Condition input
EC of a certain irrigation valve
pH of a certain irrigation valve
Drainage water EC
Drainage water pH
Accumulated Solar radiation
Accumulation of a General counter
All this presented in friendly interface which makes it useful and practical.
The entire condition system is taking an important part in the irrigation water recycling capability of the application.
C: Irrigation water recycling
This issue is a subject for interest due to increasing environment awareness all over the world. Water shortage, Nitrates in wastewater, or just plan economy reasons, urges growers to work out the considerable extra cost and equip their greenhouse project with the required elements for recycling of the irrigation water.
In the last 3 years we have taken our time to study this issue. The flexible conditions method of the Elgal Greenhouse Irrigation application gives a satisfying solution for the moment and we can proudly point to a pioneering work in several sites in our homeland. Today, we feel we have enough knowledge to characterize a typical water recycling project and in the near future we shell come up with an of-the-shelf application surely suites all the required needs.
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Greenhouse Irrigation Control