Abstract: A refrigerant recovery system comprises a compressor driven recovery machine having inlet and outlet ports, a primary refrigerant receiving and storage vessel having liquid and vapor ports, and a secondary refrigerant receiving and storage vessel having an inlet. During the refrigerant recovery process the refrigerant circuit outlet is coupled to the primary vessel liquid port, the primary vessel vapor port is coupled to the recovery machine inlet port, and the recovery machine outlet port is coupled to the vapor inlet of the secondary vessel. Operation of the recovery machine draws liquid refrigerant into the primary vessel at a high flow rate while withdrawing refrigerant vapor from the primary vessel, converting the withdrawn vapor to liquid refrigerant, and forcing the liquid refrigerant into the secondary vessel at a liquid refrigerant flow rate substantially less than the liquid refrigerant inflow rate to the primary vessel.