Systems and methods for preventing overheating in refrigeration systems

Abstract

A refrigeration system for cooling an object and preventing system overheating. The system includes an evaporator coil configured to thermally communicate with the object, where the object is cooled by a refrigerant flowing through the evaporator coil. A compressor receives the refrigerant downstream from the evaporator coil and increases a pressure of the refrigerant. A condenser receives the refrigerant downstream from the compressor, where the refrigerant is cooled by flowing through the condenser. An expansion valve receives the refrigerant downstream from the condenser and decreases the pressure of the refrigerant, where the evaporator coil receives the refrigerant downstream from the expansion valve. An bypass coolant valve also receives the refrigerant downstream from the condenser. The compressor also receives the refrigerant downstream from the bypass coolant valve, and the refrigerant received by the compressor from the bypass coolant valve bypasses the evaporator coil to prevent overheating of the compressor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system for cooling an object and preventing system overheating, the system comprising:
 an evaporator coil configured to thermally communicate with the object, wherein the object is cooled by a refrigerant flowing through the evaporator coil;   a compressor that receives the refrigerant downstream from the evaporator coil and increases a pressure of the refrigerant;   a condenser that receives the refrigerant downstream from the compressor, wherein the refrigerant is cooled by flowing through the condenser;   an expansion valve that receives the refrigerant downstream from the condenser and decreases the pressure of the refrigerant, wherein the evaporator coil receives the refrigerant downstream from the expansion valve; and   an bypass coolant valve that also receives the refrigerant downstream from the condenser, wherein the compressor also receives the refrigerant downstream from the bypass coolant valve, and wherein the refrigerant received by the compressor from the bypass coolant valve bypasses the evaporator coil to prevent overheating of the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the refrigerant at least one of entering and exiting the compressor, wherein the bypass coolant valve is adjustable to vary a mass flow rate of the refrigerant therethrough based on the characteristic of the refrigerant sensed by the sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 2 , wherein the expansion valve is configured to provide a constant mass flow rate therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 2 , wherein the characteristic of the refrigerant is a temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 4 , further comprising a controller in communication with the sensor and the bypass coolant valve, wherein the controller controls the mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the bypass coolant valve based on the temperature of the refrigerant sensed by the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to control the bypass coolant valve such that the refrigerant flows therethrough only when the characteristic of the refrigerant exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an accumulator operationally positioned between the evaporator coil and the compressor, wherein the accumulator is configured to facilitate the refrigerant changing from liquid to gas before entering the compressor. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 6 , wherein the compressor receives the refrigerant downstream of the accumulator via a suction line, and wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to sense the characteristic of the refrigerant within the suction line. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator coil comprises an evaporator coil. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 9 , wherein the object is a freeze barrel configured to cool a beverage contained therein. 
     
     
         11 . A method for cooling an object and preventing overheating of a refrigeration system, the method comprising:
 positioning an evaporator coil to thermally communicate with the object, wherein the evaporator coil is configured to cool the object when a refrigerant flows through the evaporator coil;   fluidly connecting a compressor downstream of the evaporator coil, wherein the compressor is configured to increase a pressure of the refrigerant received from the evaporator coil;   fluidly connecting a condenser downstream of the compressor, wherein the condenser is configured such that the refrigerant is cooled by flowing therethrough;   fluidly connecting an expansion valve downstream of the condenser, wherein the expansion valve is configured such that the pressure of the refrigerant decreases when flowing therethrough, wherein the evaporator coil receives the refrigerant downstream from the expansion valve; and   fluidly connecting an bypass coolant valve to also be downstream of the condenser and to also provide the refrigerant to the compressor, wherein the refrigerant received by the compressor from the bypass coolant valve bypasses the evaporator coil to prevent overheating of the compressor.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising sensing with a sensor a characteristic of the refrigerant at least one of entering and exiting the compressor, further comprising varying with the bypass coolant valve a mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing therethrough based on the characteristic of the refrigerant sensed by the sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the expansion valve is configured to provide a constant mass flow rate of the refrigerant therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the characteristic of the refrigerant is a temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising coupling a controller in communication with the sensor and the bypass coolant valve, and further comprising controlling with the controller the mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the bypass coolant valve based on the temperature of the refrigerant sensed by the sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to control the bypass coolant valve such that the refrigerant flows therethrough only when the temperature of the refrigerant exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising fluidly connecting an accumulator between the evaporator coil and the compressor, wherein the accumulator is configured to facilitate the refrigerant changing from liquid to gas before entering the compressor. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the compressor receives the refrigerant downstream of the accumulator via a suction line, and wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to sense the characteristic of the refrigerant within the suction line. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the evaporator coil comprises an evaporator coil. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerant system according to  claim 19 , wherein the object is a freeze barrel configured to cool a beverage contained therein.