Reciprocating compressor for use with an economizer

A compressor for use in a vapor compression system comprising:

• a housing having a suction inlet, an economizer inlet, and an outlet;
• and
• a plurality of cylinders arranged within the housing including a first cylinder configured to receive a first flow of refrigerant from the suction inlet and a second cylinder configured to receive a second flow of refrigerant from the economizer inlet;
• wherein the second flow of refrigerant is compressed within the plurality of cylinders independently from the first flow of refrigerant.

A method of operating a compressor comprising:

• providing a first flow of refrigerant to a suction inlet of the compressor;
• compressing the first flow of refrigerant within a first cylinder of the compressor;
• providing a second flow of refrigerant to an economizer inlet of the compressor;
• compressing the second flow of refrigerant within a second cylinder of the compressor;
• and
• delivering the first flow of refrigerant output from the first cylinder and the second flow of refrigerant output from the second cylinder to an outlet of the compressor.