Cooling system

A method comprising:

• removing, by a high side heat exchanger, heat from a refrigerant;
• storing, by a flash tank, the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger;
• discharging, by the flash tank, a flash gas having a liquid component and a gaseous component;
• using, by a first load, the refrigerant to cool a first space proximate the first load;
• compressing, by a first compressor, the refrigerant from the first load;
• and
• transferring, by a heat exchanger, heat from the refrigerant to the flash gas before the refrigerant from the first compressor reaches the high side heat exchanger;
• directing, by the heat exchanger, the flash gas to the first compressor after heat from the refrigerant from the first compressor is transferred to the flash gas;
• directing, by the heat exchanger, the refrigerant from the first compressor to the high side heat exchanger after heat from the refrigerant from the first compressor is transferred to the flash gas;
• directing, by a gas bypass valve disposed downstream of the flash tank, the liquid component and the gaseous component of the flash gas from the flash tank to a suction side of the first compressor;
• preventing, by a first valve positioned between the gas bypass valve and the first compressor, during a first mode of operation, flash gas from flowing from the gas bypass valve to the first compressor;
• and
• directing, by the first valve, during a second mode of operation, flash gas from the flash tank to the first compressor such that the flash gas bypasses the heat exchanger.

A system comprising:

• a high side heat exchanger configured to remove heat from a refrigerant;
• a flash tank configured to store the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger and to discharge a flash gas having a liquid component and a gaseous component;
• a first load configured to use the refrigerant to cool a first space proximate the first load;
• a first compressor configured to compress the refrigerant from the first load;
• a second load configured to use the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a second space proximate the second load;
• a second compressor configured to compress the refrigerant from the second load, the first compressor further configured to compress the refrigerant from the second compressor;
• a heat exchanger configured to:
• transfer heat from the refrigerant to the flash gas before the refrigerant from the first compressor reaches the high side heat exchanger;
• direct the flash gas to the first compressor after heat from the refrigerant from the first compressor is transferred to the flash gas;
• and
• direct the refrigerant from the first compressor to the high side heat exchanger after heat from the refrigerant from the first compressor is transferred to the flash gas;
• a gas bypass valve disposed downstream of the flash tank operable to direct the liquid component and the gaseous component of the flash gas from the flash tank to a suction side of the first compressor;
• and
• a first valve positioned between the gas bypass valve and the first compressor, wherein:
• during a first mode of operation, the first valve is closed to prevent flash gas from flowing from the flash tank to the first compressor;
• and
• during a second mode of operation, the first valve is open to direct flash gas from the flash tank to the first compressor such that the flash gas bypasses the heat exchanger.