System and Method for Air Shockwave Defrosting

Abstract

A system may include an apparatus for defrosting and/or clearing debris from a refrigeration component using pressurized dry air. The apparatus may include an air compressor that generates pressurized air. The air may be filtered (before or after compressing) to remove moisture and/or other contaminants to thereby generate pressurized dry air. The apparatus may include a reservoir, coupled to the air compressor, for storing the pressurized dry air. The reservoir may be coupled to one or more air distribution manifolds coupled to the reservoir. Each of the one or more air distribution manifolds may be coupled to an air discharge component such as an air pipe or tube. The air discharge component may receive the pressurized air from the air exhaust and may discharge the pressurized air through a plurality of orifices to the refrigeration component thereby defrosting and/or clearing debris from the refrigeration component.

1 . An apparatus for cleaning a refrigeration component using pressurized air, comprising:
 a reservoir that stores the pressurized air;   one or more air distribution manifolds coupled to the reservoir, each of the one or more air distribution manifolds comprising an air intake that receives the pressurized air from the reservoir and an air exhaust that outputs the pressurized air; and   at least one air discharge component coupled to each of the one or more air distribution manifolds via the air exhaust, the at least one air discharge component comprising a plurality of orifices,   wherein the at least one air discharge component receives the pressurized air from the air exhaust and discharges the pressurized air through the plurality of orifices to the refrigeration component thereby cleaning the refrigeration component.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is integrated with the refrigeration component. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is removably coupled to the refrigeration component. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of orifices are arranged in an in-line configuration relative to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of orifices are arranged in a staggered configuration relative to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air compressor coupled to the reservoir, wherein the air compressor provides the pressurized air to the reservoir.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the air compressor is coupled to an air filter that removes moisture from the pressurized air provided to the reservoir, thereby providing pressurized dry air to the reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one air control valve coupled to the reservoir and the one or more air distribution manifolds, wherein the at least one air control valve controls discharge of the pressurized air from the reservoir to the one or more air distribution manifolds. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one air control valve is communicably coupled to a programmed logic controller, the programmed logic controller configured to cause the at least one air control valve to control the discharge of the pressurized air at different times. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus includes a first air control valve that controls a first air distribution manifold and a second air control valve that controls a second air distribution manifold, wherein the first air control valve controls pressurized air delivered to a first position of the refrigeration component and the second air control valve controls pressurized air delivered to a second position of the refrigeration component. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first one of the plurality of orifices is disposed to substantially face at least a second air discharge component, and wherein pressurized air discharged from the first one of the plurality of orifices cleans the second air discharge component. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for cleaning a refrigeration component using pressurized gas, comprising:
 one or more gas distribution manifolds adapted to be coupled to a source of pressurized gas, each of the one or more gas distribution manifolds comprising a gas intake that receives the pressurized gas and a gas exhaust that outputs the pressurized gas; and   at least one gas discharge component coupled to each of the one or more gas distribution manifolds via the gas exhaust, the at least one gas discharge component comprising a plurality of orifices,   wherein the at least one gas discharge component receives the pressurized gas from the gas exhaust and discharges the pressurized gas through the plurality of orifices to the refrigeration component thereby cleaning the refrigeration component.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for cleaning a refrigeration component using pressurized gas, comprising:
 a refrigeration component;   one or more air distribution manifolds coupled to the refrigeration component and a source of pressurized gas, each of the one or more air distribution manifolds comprising an air intake that receives the pressurized gas and an air exhaust that outputs the pressurized gas; and   at least one air discharge component coupled to each of the one or more air distribution manifolds via the air exhaust, the at least one air discharge component comprising a plurality of orifices,   wherein the at least one air discharge component receives the pressurized gas from the air exhaust and discharges the pressurized gas through the plurality of orifices to the refrigeration component thereby cleaning the refrigeration component.   
     
     
         14 . A system for efficient refrigeration, comprising:
 a refrigeration component;   a reservoir that stores pressurized gas;   one or more air distribution manifolds coupled to the reservoir, each of the one or more air distribution manifolds comprising an air intake that receives the pressurized gas from the reservoir and an air exhaust that outputs the pressurized gas; and   at least one air discharge tube coupled to each of the one or more air distribution manifolds via the air exhaust, the at least one air discharge tube comprising a plurality of orifices,   wherein the at least one air discharge tube receives the pressurized gas from the air exhaust and discharges the pressurized gas through the plurality of orifices to the refrigeration component thereby cleaning the refrigeration component.   
     
     
         15 . A method for defrosting a heat exchange component of a refrigeration system by discharging pressurized dry gas from a plurality of orifices of an air discharge component, the method comprising:
 receiving an indication to release the pressurized dry gas;   causing a control valve to rapidly open and close in response to the indication, wherein the control valve is coupled to a source of the pressurized dry gas and the air discharge component; and   discharging the pressurized dry gas from the plurality of orifices, wherein the discharged pressurized dry gas cleans at least a portion of the heat exchange component.