Refrigeration system and method for beverage dispenser

Abstract

A method of regulating the refrigerant temperature for a beverage machine, including a refrigeration system for producing a frozen beverage, operating at least one compressor at a speed to flow the refrigerant through the refrigeration system of the beverage machine and cooling the refrigerant with at least one condenser. The method may also include controllably varying the flow of air across the at least one condenser or the speed of the at least one compressor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of regulating a refrigerant temperature for a beverage machine, the beverage machine having a refrigeration system for producing a frozen beverage therein, the method comprising: 
 operating at least one compressor at a speed to flow a refrigerant through a refrigeration system of the beverage machine;    cooling the refrigerant with at least one condenser; and    controllably varying at least one of (1) the flow of air across the at least one condenser and (2) the speed of the at least one compressor.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said controllably varying the flow of air across the at least one condenser comprises adjusting the speed of at least one condensing fan.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said controllably varying the flow of air across the at least one condenser comprises cycling at least one condensing fan between on and off.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said controllably varying the flow of air across the at least one condenser comprises adjusting an opening position of at least one louver configured to direct the airflow across the at least one condenser.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising producing a partially-frozen beverage with a brix value from about 0 to about 7.5.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a refrigerant charge.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising regulating the refrigerant temperature across the evaporator from about 15° F. to about 30° F.  
     
     
         8 . A method of regulating a refrigerant temperature for a beverage machine, the beverage machine having a refrigeration system for producing a frozen beverage therein, the method comprising: 
 cooling the refrigerant with at least one condenser;    cooling the beverage with at least one evaporator; and    controllably varying at least one of (1) a flowrate of the refrigerant through the at least one evaporator; (2) the flowrate of the refrigerant through the at least one condenser; and (3) the flowrate of the refrigerant through the at least one compressor.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said controllably varying the flowrate of the refrigerant through the at least one compressor comprises adjusting a hot-gas bypass valve configured to direct at least some refrigerant from a compressor outlet to an accumulator without first entering the at least one condenser or the at least one evaporator.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said controllably varying the flowrate of the refrigerant through the at least one evaporator comprises adjusting a defrost bypass valve configured to direct at least some refrigerant from a compressor outlet to an evaporator inlet without first entering the at least one condenser or at least one condenser bypass valve.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said controllably varying the flowrate of the refrigerant through the at least one condenser comprises adjusting a condenser bypass valve configured to direct at least some refrigerant from a condenser inlet to a condenser outlet without first entering the at least one condenser.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising producing a partially-frozen beverage with a brix value from about 0 to about 7.5.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising adjusting a refrigerant charge.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising regulating the refrigerant temperature across the evaporator from about 15° F. to about 30° F.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said controllably varying the flowrate of the refrigerant through the at least one evaporator comprises adjusting a liquid line bypass valve configured to direct at least some refrigerant from a condenser outlet to an accumulator without entering the at least one evaporator.  
     
     
         16 . A refrigeration system for a beverage machine, comprising: 
 at least one compressor configured to circulate a refrigerant through the refrigeration system;    at least one condenser configured to cool the refrigerant flowing within the refrigeration system;    at least one condensing fan configured to flow air across the at least one condenser; and    at least one evaporator configured to transfer thermal energy from a beverage to the refrigerant,    wherein, a temperature of the refrigerant across the evaporator is maintained from about 15° F. to about 30° F.    
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one compressor comprises a variable speed control.  
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one condensing fan comprises a variable speed control.  
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one condenser bypass valve configured to direct at least some refrigerant from a condenser inlet to a condenser outlet without first entering the at least one condenser or the at least one condenser bypass valve.  
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one louver configured to adjust the airflow across the at least one condenser.  
     
     
         21 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one defrost bypass valve configured to direct at least some refrigerant from a compressor outlet to an evaporator inlet without first entering the at least one condenser.  
     
     
         22 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one hot-gas bypass valve and at least one accumulator, the hot-gas bypass valve being configured to direct at least some refrigerant from a compressor outlet to the accumulator without first entering the at least one condenser or the at least one evaporator.  
     
     
         23 . A beverage machine, comprising: 
 the refrigeration system of  claim 16;  and    a beverage contained in the beverage machine.    
     
     
         24 . The beverage machine of  claim 23 , wherein the beverage machine produces a partially-frozen beverage with a brix value from about 0 to about 7.5  
     
     
         25 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , wherein the refrigerant can be charged.  
     
     
         26 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one accumulator.  
     
     
         27 . The refrigeration system of  claim 26 , further comprising a liquid line bypass valve configured to direct at least some refrigerant from a condenser outlet to the accumulator without entering the at least one evaporator.  
     
     
         28 . A refrigeration system for a beverage machine, comprising: 
 at least one compressor operated at a speed to circulate a refrigerant through the refrigeration system;    at least one condenser configured to cool the refrigerant flowing within the refrigeration system;    at least one condensing fan configured to flow air across the at least one condenser; and    a controller configured to variably control at least one of (1) the flow of air across the at least one condenser and (2) the speed of the at least one compressor.