# US 2021/0239366 A1 · Refrigerant vapor compression system with multiple flash tanks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0239366 A1 - Document ID: US20210239366A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/248,154 - Filed: 2021-01-12 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-05 - Assignees: Carrier Corporation - Applicants: Carrier Corporation - Inventors: Douglas R. Auyer; Jason D. Scarcella; KeonWoo Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210239366A1 ## CPC - F25B 1/10: with multi-stage compression (with cascade operation F25B7/00) - F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems - F25B 41/39: Dispositions with two or more expansion means arranged in series, i.e. multi-stage expansion, on a refrigerant line leading to the same evaporator - F25B 2400/0409: for evaporators - F25B 2400/12: Inflammable refrigerants - F25B 2400/13: Economisers - F25B 2400/23: Separators - F25B 2600/2513: Expansion valves - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## Abstract A refrigerant vapor compression system comprising a plurality of components connected in a refrigerant flow circuit by a plurality of refrigerant lines, said components including: a compression device; a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger; a first expansion device; a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger; and a flash tank system having a first flash tank operably coupled to a second flash tank by a first connection, the flash tank system being disposed in the refrigerant flow circuit between the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger and the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerant vapor compression system comprising a plurality of components connected in a refrigerant flow circuit by a plurality of refrigerant lines, said components comprising: a compression device; a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger; a first expansion device; a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger; a flash tank system having a first flash tank operably coupled to a second flash tank by a first connection, the flash tank system being disposed in the refrigerant flow circuit between the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger and the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein a connection includes a channel, conduit or pipe for providing refrigerant into and out of the flash tank system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first flash tank and the second flash is configured to have an operating pressure of less than one thousand bar, an internal volume of greater than one liter, and a pressure volume of less than two hundred bar-liter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein the first flash tank is configured to have an inlet port for receiving refrigerant from the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger into the flash tank system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein the second flash tank is configured to have an outlet port for providing refrigerant from the flash tank system to the compression device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first flash tank and the second flash tank is configured to have an outlet port for providing refrigerant from the flash tank system to the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first flash tank and the second flash tank have disposed therein an upper separation device and a lower separation device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein the first connection extends from the first flash tank between the upper separation device and the lower separation device, to the second flash tank between the upper separation device and the lower separation device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 7, wherein the first connection is oriented above a second connection that operably couples the first flash tank to the second flash tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 9, wherein a third connection operably couples the first flash tank to the second flash tank, and is oriented below the first connection and the second connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 9, wherein the second connection extends from the first flash tank below the lower separation device, to the second flash tank below the lower separation device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The refrigerant vapor compression system of claim 10, wherein the third connection extends from a base of the first flash tank to a base of the second flash tank. ### Claim 13 A flash tank system, comprising: a first flash tank operably coupled to a second flash tank, by a first connection, wherein at least one of the first flash tank and the second flash is configured to have an operating pressure of less than one thousand bar, an internal volume of greater than one liter; and a pressure volume of less than two hundred bar-liter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The flash tank system of claim 13, wherein a connection includes a channel, conduit or pipe for providing refrigerant into and out of the flash tank system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The flash tank system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first flash tank and the second flash tank have disposed therein an upper separation device and a lower separation device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The flash tank system of claim 13, wherein the first connection extends from the first flash tank between the upper separation device and the lower separation device, to the second flash tank between the upper separation device and the lower separation device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The flash tank system of claim 16, wherein the first connection is oriented above a second connection that operably couples the first flash tank to the second flash tank. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The flash tank system of claim 17, wherein a third connection operably couples the first flash tank to the second flash tank, and is oriented below the first connection and the second connection. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The flash tank system of claim 18, wherein the second connection extends from the first flash tank below the lower separation device, to the second flash tank below the lower separation device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The flash tank system of claim 18, wherein the third connection extends from a base of the first flash tank to a base of the second flash tank.