AUTOMATED IRRIGATION SYSTEM USING THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR AS SOIL MOISTURE DETECTOR
Paula M. Bathan, Angelica R. Belen, Paula Jianelli, María Teresa Lao, Jasper C. Tiu, Enrique Manzano · 2013
This paper shows the design and fabrication of a Thermo-electric generator (TEG) and the implementation of an automated irrigation system using this TEG as a soil moisture detector. The TEG inserted in two heat exchangers is capable of finding the thermal difference between the air and the soil that establishes a relationship with the soil's moisture condition. Being able to obtain the soil moisture level from the TEG's output, a microcontroller is used to automate the irrigation system. The irrigation system adapts to the soil area's condition it irrigates based from the moisture it detects via the TEG. The water consumption of the soil is controlled by the automated irrigation system based on the soil's condition and therefore, promotes water conservation compared to that of the water consumption of manual irrigation system. It also optimizes plant growth in that it waters it to the correct moisture level at the right time.