the invention relates to a refrigeration circuit having a mono - or multi - component refrigerant circulating therein , said refrigeration circuit comprising , in the direction of flow , a condenser , a collecting container , a relief device connected upstream of an evaporator , an evaporator and a compressor unit with single - stage compression . according to the invention , there is an intermediate relief device arranged between the condenser and the collecting container . furthermore , there is disclosed a method of operating a refrigeration device in which pressure relief of the refrigerant to an pressure of 5 to 40 bar is effected in the intermediate relief device arranged between the condenser and the collecting container .