Patent attributes
In order to create a refrigeration system comprising a refrigerant circuit (10), in which a main mass flow (56) of a refrigerant is guided, which may be adapted to different operating conditions in an optimum manner it is suggested that at least two refrigerant compressors (12a, 12b, 12c), which can be switched on individually for the purpose of compressing the main mass flow, be arranged in the refrigerant circuit, that at least two of the refrigerant compressors each have at least one additional compressor stage (70), that each of the additional compressor stages be able to be used optionally for the compression of refrigerant from the main mass flow or for the compression of refrigerant from the additional mass flow (86) and that a control (90) be provided, with which such a number of additional compressor stages for the compression of refrigerant from the additional mass flow can be switched on in a first operating mode as a function of the operation conditions that the expansion cooling device (24, 28) liquefies the main mass flow and reduces its enthalpy.