Patent ID: 11879675
Assignee: HEATCRAFT REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 6:
7. A method comprising:
storing, by a flash tank, refrigerant;
receiving, by a first low side heat exchanger, a first flow of the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a first space proximate the first low side heat exchanger;
discharging the first flow of the refrigerant from the first low side heat exchanger to an accumulator, wherein the refrigerant discharged by the first low side heat exchanger comprises a liquid portion and a gaseous portion;
receiving, by a second low side heat exchanger, a second flow of the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a second space proximate the second low side heat exchanger;
discharging the second flow of the refrigerant from the second low side heat exchanger to the accumulator, wherein the refrigerant discharged by the second low side heat exchanger comprises a liquid portion and a gaseous portion;
collecting, by the accumulator, the refrigerant discharged by the first and second low side heat exchangers, wherein the accumulator is disposed downstream of and in series with both the first low side heat exchanger and the second low side heat exchanger with reference to flow of the refrigerant, wherein both the first low side heat exchanger and the second low side heat exchanger are disposed between the flash tank and the accumulator;
compressing, by a first compressor, the refrigerant from the accumulator, wherein the accumulator comprises a first pipe disposed within the accumulator that is configured to direct the gaseous portion of the refrigerant in the accumulator to the first compressor;
directing the refrigerant discharged from the first compressor to a second pine disposed within the accumulator;
transferring, by the second pipe, heat from the refrigerant discharged by the first compressor to the liquid portion and the gaseous portion of the refrigerant collected by the accumulator from the first and second low side heat exchangers;
transferring, via the second pipe, the refrigerant discharged from the first compressor to a second compressor after transferring heat to the liquid portion and the gaseous portion of the refrigerant collected by the accumulator from the first and second low side heat exchangers; and
controlling, by a valve, a flow of the refrigerant discharged by the first compressor, wherein the valve is disposed between the first compressor and the second compressor, wherein the refrigerant discharged by the first compressor flows through the valve and to the second compressor bypassing the accumulator when the valve is open, and the refrigerant discharged by the first compressor flows through the accumulator and to the second compressor when the valve is closed.