Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, the door at least partially defining an icebox and comprising an outer door panel and an inner door panel spaced apart along the transverse direction to define a door gap that is filled with insulation, wherein a nominal door gap thickness is defined away from the icebox and an icebox door gap thickness is defined adjacent the icebox, the icebox door gap thickness being less than the nominal door gap thickness. An insulated cover is mounted to the door to at least partially define and thermally isolate the icebox from the chilled chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a controller disposed in a cabinet, and the controller is in operable communication with a freezer damper assembly. The controller is configured to operate the compressor in order to simultaneously cool down both of the refrigerating compartment and the freezer compartment, as well as calculate a new open area of the freezer damper assembly based on a target temperature state. The target temperature state includes a refrigerator target temperature of the refrigerating compartment and a freezer target temperature of the freezer compartment. The controller is further configured to adjust a position of the freezer damper assembly to provide the calculated new open area.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door being rotatably mounted to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, the door defining an access opening passing through the door, and a drawer assembly mounted to the door. The drawer assembly includes a drawer frame slidably mounted to the door within the access opening and being movable between an open position and a closed position and a drawer front mounted to the drawer frame, the drawer front being configured to seal the access opening when the drawer frame is in the closed position.

Abstract: An ice making appliance includes a water tank and a mold body positioned beneath the water tank. The mold body is configured for receiving liquid water from the water tank and for forming ice within the mold body. The ice making appliance also includes a cover positioned between the water tank and the mold body.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, an ice making assembly comprising an ice mold, a mold temperature sensor, and a water supply spout, and a controller in operative communication with the mold temperature sensor. The controller is configured to fill the ice mold with water using the water supply spout, monitor an ice mold temperature using the mold temperature sensor, determine a mold cooling metric using the ice mold temperature, determine that the mold cooling metric falls below a predetermined threshold rate or is outside a target range, and implement a responsive action in response to determining that the mold cooling metric falls below the predetermined threshold rate or is outside the target range, e.g., by providing a user notification or changing a harvest count threshold for the ice making assembly.

Abstract: A method for operating an ice maker appliance includes a step of directing a fill of liquid water to compartments of an ice tray. The method also includes a step of operating a harvest mechanism to harvest ice pieces formed within the compartments of the ice tray. The method may further include a step of sensing, with a sensor assembly, conditions of an ice storage bin. The method may also include a step of determining, based on the sensed conditions of the ice storage bin, an amount of ice pieces harvested from the ice tray. The method may further include a step of detecting, based on the determined amount of ice pieces harvested, a failure mode of the ice tray.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a stack that includes a fuel electrode and air electrode on opposite sides of an electrolyte membrane. The fuel electrode includes first and second fuel ports communicative via a fuel flow path, and the air electrode includes first and second air ports communicative via an air flow path. The fuel cell also includes first and second fuel feeders communicative with the first and second fuel ports, and first and second air feeders communicative with the first and second air ports. The fuel cell also includes a fuel switching unit between the first and second fuel feeders that switches a fuel supply direction between the first and second fuel feeders. The fuel cell further includes an air switching unit between the first and second air feeders that switches an air supply direction between the first and second air feeders.

Abstract: A fuel reforming device includes a combustion part including a burner; an exhaust part configured to circulate an exhaust gas that is generated from the combustion part; and a reactor that is configured to generate hydrogen from a raw material by absorbing heat from the exhaust gas circulating in the exhaust part. The reactor includes a heat storage member that is configured to absorb the heat from the exhaust gas during operation of the combustion part, store the absorbed heat, and provide the absorbed heat to the reactor.

Abstract: An ejector and a refrigeration cycle apparatus having an ejector are provided. The ejector may include an ejector body having an accommodation space therein, a suction portion through which a high pressure refrigerant and a low pressure refrigerant may be suctioned into the accommodation space, and a mixing portion configured to mix the high pressure refrigerant with the low pressure refrigerant; a nozzle provided in the ejector body, having a nozzle neck and an expansion portion, and configured to inject the high pressure refrigerant into the mixing portion; a first needle moveably provided at the expansion portion, and configured to control a flow sectional area of the expansion portion; a second needle moveably provided at the nozzle neck, and configured to control a flow sectional area of the nozzle neck; a first needle drive configured to drive the first needle; and a second needle drive configured to drive the second needle.

Abstract: An ejector and a refrigeration cycle apparatus having an ejector are provided. The ejector may include an ejector body having an accommodation space therein, a suction portion through which a high pressure refrigerant and a low pressure refrigerant may be suctioned into the accommodation space, and a mixing portion configured to mix the high pressure refrigerant with the low pressure refrigerant; a nozzle provided in the ejector body, having a nozzle neck and an expansion portion, and configured to inject the high pressure refrigerant into the mixing portion; a first needle moveably provided at the expansion portion, and configured to control a flow sectional area of the expansion portion; a second needle moveably provided at the nozzle neck, and configured to control a flow sectional area of the nozzle neck; a first needle drive configured to drive the first needle; and a second needle drive configured to drive the second needle.

Abstract: A fuel reforming device includes a combustion part including a burner; an exhaust part configured to circulate an exhaust gas that is generated from the combustion part; and a reactor that is configured to generate hydrogen from a raw material by absorbing heat from the exhaust gas circulating in the exhaust part. The reactor includes a heat storage member that is configured to absorb the heat from the exhaust gas during operation of the combustion part, store the absorbed heat, and provide the absorbed heat to the reactor.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a stack that includes a fuel electrode and air electrode on opposite sides of an electrolyte membrane. The fuel electrode includes first and second fuel ports communicative via a fuel flow path, and the air electrode includes first and second air ports communicative via an air flow path. The fuel cell also includes first and second fuel feeders communicative with the first and second fuel ports, and first and second air feeders communicative with the first and second air ports. The fuel cell also includes a fuel switching unit between the first and second fuel feeders that switches a fuel supply direction between the first and second fuel feeders. The fuel cell further includes an air switching unit between the first and second air feeders that switches an air supply direction between the first and second air feeders.