The invention relates to a refrigeration circuit, in which a mono-or multi-component refrigerant circulates, comprising: in the direction of flow, a condenser, a collector, a pressure-relief device, arranged before an evaporator, an evaporator and a single-stage compressor unit. According to the invention, an intermediate pressure-relief device (a) is arranged between the condenser/gas cooler (1) and the collector (3). Furthermore, a method for operating a refrigeration circuit is disclosed, whereby a pressure drop of the refrigerant to a pressure of 5 to 40 bars occurs in the intermediate pressure-relief device (a), arranged between the condenser (1) and the collector (3).