Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a self-regulating flow controller having no moving parts that provides a liquid seal between a purge vessel and the evaporator barrel of a chiller. Circulating refrigerant fluid from a primary air conditioner is preheated in a preheater by hot refrigerant from the chiller prior to its entry into the purge vessel, and the preheater provides a thermal load that enables operation of the purge vessel. The purge unit discharges into a regeneration cell that removes even more refrigerant from the vapors before they are vented to atmosphere. When the regeneration cell requires recharging, it is heated to a predetermined temperature and pressure to release adsorbed refrigerant from its adsorption media, and the released refrigerant is routed back to the purge vessel and hence through the regeneration cell again prior to discharge of substantially refrigerant-free contaminants into the atmosphere.