Patent ID: 7478538

Claim:
A vapor compression system for use with a refrigerant, said system comprising: a closed fluid circuit, said fluid circuit having operably coupled thereto, in serial order, a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, a second heat exchanger and a fluid vessel, wherein during operation of said vapor compression system the refrigerant is compressed in said compressor and circulated through said fluid circuit, thermal energy being removed from the refrigerant in said first heat exchanger, the pressure of the refrigerant being reduced in said expansion device, and thermal energy being added to the refrigerant in said second heat exchanger and wherein, upon ceasing operation of said system, liquid phase refrigerant present in said second heat exchanger defines a first temperature and liquid phase refrigerant present in said fluid vessel defines a second temperature, said second temperature being lower than said first temperature, each of said first and second temperatures being less than a temperature of the ambient environment; and a thermal energy storage medium operably coupled to said fluid vessel wherein, upon ceasing operation of said system, said thermal energy storage medium provides said fluid vessel with thermal inertia wherein said second temperature remains cooler than said first temperature as the refrigerant in said second heat exchanger and the refrigerant in said fluid vessel both acquire thermal energy from the ambient environment and refrigerant is attracted to said fluid vessel whereby the mass of refrigerant contained within said fluid vessel increases upon ceasing operation of said system.