Patent ID: 8769982

Claim:
A refrigeration system comprising: a compressor having a compression mechanism with compression cavities therein, a suction port, and a discharge port, said compressor compressing a refrigerant flowing therethrough to a discharge pressure greater than a suction pressure; a flash tank into which refrigerant discharged from said compressor through said discharge port flows, said flash tank separating liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant; a first flow path communicating with said flash tank and through which a first stream of refrigerant exits said flash tank and is supplied to said suction port and supplied to one of a plurality of intermediate-pressure locations in said compression cavities, said plurality of intermediate-pressure locations operating at a pressures greater than said suction pressure and less than said discharge pressure, said first stream being predominantly refrigerant vapor when injected into one of said plurality of intermediate-pressure locations; and a second flow path communicating with said flash tank and through which a second stream of refrigerant exits said flash tank and is injected into one of said plurality of intermediate-pressure location in said compression cavities, said second stream being predominately liquid refrigerant when injected into one of said plurality of intermediate-pressure locations.