System and method for controlling head pressure in a refrigeration system

A method of operating a refrigeration system, the method comprising:

• compressing, using a compressor, a refrigerant to a condenser;
• condensing the refrigerant using the condenser;
• receiving the refrigerant exiting the condenser in a receiver tank, wherein a first inlet to a heat exchanger is configured to receive a portion of the refrigerant from the receiver tank;
• receiving, on a controller, a parameter indicative of a loss of condensing pressure from one or more sensor;
• and
• determining, using the controller, that the refrigeration system should operate in a head pressure control mode of operation if the parameter is equal to or less than a first threshold value, wherein during the head pressure control mode of operation, the controller is configured to:
• close a first valve positioned between the compressor and the condenser;
• open a second valve positioned between the compressor and a second inlet to the heat exchanger;
• wherein closing the first valve and opening the second valve directs the refrigerant from the compressor to the second inlet of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the refrigerant received from the compressor and the refrigerant received from the receiver tank, wherein a transfer of heat causes at least a portion of the refrigerant received from the receiver tank to transition from a liquid refrigerant to a vapor refrigerant, and
• wherein the vapor refrigerant is dispensed from a first outlet of the heat exchanger and is recycled back to the receiver tank to increase a pressure of the receiver tank.

A controller of a refrigeration system, the controller comprising:

• a memory operable to store a threshold value,
• a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to:
• turn on a compressor to compress a refrigerant to a condenser, wherein the refrigerant exiting the condenser is received by a receiver tank, and a first inlet to a heat exchanger is configured to receive the refrigerant from the receiver tank;
• receive, from one or more sensors, a parameter indicative of a loss of condensing pressure;
• determine, using the processor, that the refrigeration system should operate in a head pressure control mode of operation if the parameter is equal to or less than a threshold value, wherein during the head pressure control mode of operation, the controller is configured to:
• close a first valve positioned downstream of the compressor and upstream of the condenser;
• open a second valve positioned downstream of the compressor and upstream of a second inlet to the heat exchanger;
• wherein closing the first valve and opening the second valve directs the refrigerant from the compressor to the second inlet of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the refrigerant received from the compressor and the refrigerant received from the receiver tank, wherein a transfer of heat causes at least a portion of the refrigerant received from the receiver tank to transition from a liquid refrigerant to a vapor refrigerant, and
• wherein the vapor refrigerant is dispensed from a first outlet of the heat exchanger and is recycled back to the receiver tank to increase a pressure of the receiver tank.