Thermodynamic system for thermal treatment and machine comprising the system, for making liquid and semi-liquid products
A thermodynamic system for a container containing food products of the liquid and/or semi-liquid type includes a circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion element, an evaporator and heat exchanger fluid. An exchanger includes a delivery duct and a return duct, the delivery duct connected on a first side to a condenser outlet to receive the fluid, and connected on the other side to the expansion element to release the fluid to the expansion element. The return duct is connected, on a first side, to a condenser inlet. A recirculation duct is connected to the second side of the delivery duct to receive the fluid, and to a second side of the return duct, opposite the first side, to release the fluid to the return duct. A further expansion element is positioned in the recirculation duct to allow the fluid circulating in the recirculation duct to expand.
1. A machine for making at least one chosen from a liquid and a semi-liquid food product, comprising:
a processing unit for making at least one chosen from a liquid and a semi-liquid food product, the processing unit comprising a processing container and a stirrer rotatably mounted inside the processing container,
a thermal treatment system associated with the processing unit, the thermal treatment system comprising a circuit employing a heat exchanger fluid comprising:
a compressor including 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, associable with the processing container and being positioned downstream of the at least one expansion element;
a liquid-suction exchanger including 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 connectable on a second side 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;
a recirculation duct, connectable to the second side of the delivery duct to receive the heat exchanger fluid, and to a second side of the return duct, opposite the first side of the return duct, to release the heat exchanger fluid to the return duct;
a further expansion element positioned in the recirculation duct to allow the heat exchanger fluid circulating in the recirculation duct to expand;
wherein the evaporator is associated with the processing container to exchange heat with food product contained in the processing container.
2. The machine according to claim 1 , comprising a brushless motor operatively coupled to the stirrer to drive the stirrer in rotation.
3. The machine according to claim 1 , comprising a device for cleaning at least the processing unit.
4. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the machine is a machine for making ice cream and the processing unit is a mixing and cooling unit.
5. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises a storage tank configured to store a portion of the heat exchanger fluid.
6. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein an outlet of the evaporator is connected to the recirculation duct, downstream of the further expansion element.
7. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein an outlet of the evaporator is connected to a second side of the return duct, opposite to the first side, to release heat exchanger fluid to the return duct.
8. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein an outlet of the evaporator is connected to the inlet of the compressor.
9. The machine according to claim 8 , wherein the first side of the return duct is connected to the outlet of the evaporator.
10. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit is implementable in a reversible cooling cycle, for cooling or heating the processing container.