Suction line heat exchanger storage tank for transcritical cycles

A transcritical vapor compression system comprising:

• a compression device to compress a refrigerant to a high pressure;
• a heat rejecting heat exchanger for cooling said refrigerant;
• an expansion device for reducing said refrigerant to a low pressure;
• a heat accepting heat exchanger for evaporating said refrigerant;
• and
• a suction line heat exchanger for regulating said high pressure of said refrigerant comprising a storage tank for storing charge, a first conduit connecting said heat rejecting heat exchanger to said expansion device, a second conduit connecting said heat accepting heat exchanger to said compression device, a first valve located on said first conduit to regulate flow of said charge into said storage tank, and a second valve located on said second conduit to regulate flow of said charge out of said storage tank.

A method of regulation of a high pressure of a transcritical vapor compression system comprising the steps of:

• compressing a refrigerant to said high pressure;
• cooling said refrigerant;
• passing said refrigerant though a first conduit in a suction line heat exchanger storage tank, said first conduit having a first valve to regulate flow of said charge into said storage tank;
• expanding said refrigerant;
• evaporating said refrigerant;
• passing said refrigerant though a second conduit in a suction line heat exchanger storage tank, said second conduit having a second valve to regulate flow of said charge out of said storage tank;
• and
• controlling said high pressure of said refrigerant by actuating said first valve and said second valve.