Patent ID: 8739565
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: A23G

Abstract:
1. A machine for producing liquid and semi-liquid consumer food products, comprising: at least one container for containing a basic product of at least one chosen from a liquid and a semi-liquid consumer food product; a refrigeration system including a compressor, the refrigeration system acting on the container for lowering a temperature of the basic product; the refrigeration system comprising carbon dioxide as a refrigerant; the refrigeration system performing a transcritical refrigeration cycle on the refrigerant; a heating circuit connected to the at least one container for increasing the temperature of the basic product; wherein the refrigeration system comprises an evaporator in contact with the container, in fluid communication with the compressor, in which the compressed refrigerant is heated, absorbing heat from the container; wherein the heating circuit comprises a branch in fluid connection with a compressor delivery side; wherein the heating circuit is in fluid communication with the evaporator; and further comprising at least one valve positioned in each of the refrigeration system and the heating circuit to selectively isolate the heating circuit for the evaporator from the refrigerator system for the evaporator; wherein the refrigeration system also comprises a control system for preventing a pressure of the refrigerant from exceeding a predetermined safety value, the control system including a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of the refrigerant output from the compressor, the control system acting on the compressor to reduce a thermal power supplied to the refrigerant during compression to prevent the pressure of the refrigerant from exceeding the predetermined safety value.