A machine for making liquid and/or semi-liquid food products, comprising, in combination: - a processing unit for making a liquid and/or semi-liquid food type product, comprising a processing container and a stirrer rotatably mounted inside the container, - a thermodynamic system for cooling or heating a container containing food products of the liquid and/or semi-liquid type, comprising a circuit employing a heat exchanger fluid comprising: - a compressor equipped with an inlet and an outlet; - a condenser, positioned at the outlet of the compressor; - at least one expansion element, positioned downstream of the condenser to allow the heat exchanger fluid to expand; - an evaporator, associated with the container and is positioned downstream of the at least one expansion element; - an exchanger of the liquid-suction type having a delivery duct and a return duct, the delivery duct being connected on a first side to an outlet of the condenser to receive the heat exchanger fluid, and which is connected on the other side (7A") to the at least one expansion element to release the heat exchanger fluid to the expansion element, and the return duct being connected, on a first side, to the inlet of the compressor, wherein thermodynamic system comprises a recirculation duct, which is connected to the second side (7A") of the delivery duct to receive the heat exchanger fluid, and to a second side (7B") of the return duct, opposite to the first side, to release the heat exchanger fluid to the return duct and in that it comprises a further expansion element positioned in the recirculation duct to allow the heat exchanger fluid circulating in the recirculation duct to expand, wherein the circuit comprises a storage tank configured to store a portion of the heat exchanger fluid and wherein the thermodynamic system is associated with the processing unit, the evaporator being associated with the processing container to exchange heat with the product contained in the processing container, wherein: - the thermodynamic system comprises a drive and control unit and a valve positioned in the recirculation duct, connected to the drive and control unit to be adjusted in such a way as to regulate the flow of heat exchanger fluid circulating in the recirculation duct; - the thermodynamic system comprises a further valve positioned to regulate the flow of heat exchanger fluid in a portion of the circuit affected by the at least one expansion element and evaporator, in such a way as to regulate the flow of heat exchanger fluid in the at least one expansion element and evaporator; the machine being characterized in that: - the valve is connected to the drive and control unit to be enabled or disabled so as to open or close the recirculation duct; - the outlet of the evaporator is connected to the inlet of the compressor, wherein the first side of the return duct is connected to the outlet of the evaporator. - a processing unit for making a liquid and/or semi-liquid food type product, comprising a processing container and a stirrer rotatably mounted inside the container, - a thermodynamic system for cooling or heating a container containing food products of the liquid and/or semi-liquid type, comprising a circuit employing a heat exchanger fluid comprising: - a compressor equipped with an inlet and an outlet; - a condenser, positioned at the outlet of the compressor; - at least one expansion element, positioned downstream of the condenser to allow the heat exchanger fluid to expand; - an evaporator, associated with the container and is positioned downstream of the at least one expansion element; - an exchanger of the liquid-suction type having a delivery duct and a return duct, the delivery duct being connected on a first side to an outlet of the condenser to receive the heat exchanger fluid, and which is connected on the other side (7A") to the at least one expansion element to release the heat exchanger fluid to the expansion element, and the return duct being connected, on a first side, to the inlet of the compressor, wherein thermodynamic system comprises a recirculation duct, which is connected to the second side (7A") of the delivery duct to receive the heat exchanger fluid, and to a second side (7B") of the return duct, opposite to the first side, to release the heat exchanger fluid to the return duct and in that it comprises a further expansion element positioned in the recirculation duct to allow the heat exchanger fluid circulating in the recirculation duct to expand, - the thermodynamic system comprises a drive and control unit and a valve positioned in the recirculation duct, connected to the drive and control unit to be adjusted in such a way as to regulate the flow of heat exchanger fluid circulating in the recirculation duct; - the thermodynamic system comprises a further valve positioned to regulate the flow of heat exchanger fluid in a portion of the circuit affected by the at least one expansion element and evaporator, in such a way as to regulate the flow of heat exchanger fluid in the at least one expansion element and evaporator; - the valve is connected to the drive and control unit to be enabled or disabled so as to open or close the recirculation duct; - the outlet of the evaporator is connected to the inlet of the compressor, wherein the first side of the return duct is connected to the outlet of the evaporator.