Importance

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Abstract

An energy-efficient refrigeration system includes an electrically controlled refrigerant storage device that is coupled to the refrigeration system to selectively receive refrigerant from and dispense refrigerant to the operating loop of the refrigeration system. The refrigerant storage device includes a storage vessel, means for selectively displacing refrigerant from the storage device into the operating loop, and a refrigerant storage device controller coupled to the means for displacing refrigerant so as to control the mass of refrigerant in the storage vessel in correspondence with the cooling demand on the refrigeration system so that the compressor drive motor is loaded for optimal efficiency for a given cooling demand on the system. The means for displacing refrigerant from the vessel of the storage device typically comprises a temperature control element, such as a heating element or solid state heat pump, that is electrically coupled to the controller and thermally coupled to the vessel. Alternatively, a bladder mechanism is disposed in the vessel for physically varying the volume of the vessel in which refrigerant can be stored in correspondence with signals from the controller.

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First Claim