Charge compensator for heat pump

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:

• a vapor compression cycle comprising a heat exchanger and an expansion device arranged in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, wherein a fluid is configured to circulate within the vapor compression cycle in a first direction during a first mode and is configured to circulate within vapor compression cycle in an opposite second direction during a second mode;
• and
• a receiver fluidly coupled to the vapor compression cycle at a connection point, the connection point being positioned between the heat exchanger and the expansion device, wherein the receiver is positioned vertically above the connection point and above the heat exchanger and a longitudinal axis of the receiver is oriented parallel to a header of the heat exchanger.