Abstract: A defrosting apparatus for a refrigerator and a method for controlling the defrosting apparatus, wherein the refrigerating compartment is cooled irrespective of the internal temperature of the freezing compartment when the internal temperature of the refrigerating compartment is higher than a predetermined temperature, so that the refrigerating compartment is maintained below the predetermined temperature. The defrosting operation is carried out in accordance with the drive times of the compressor and refrigerating compartment fan when the internal temperature of the refrigerating compartment is higher than the predetermined temperature even though the compressor and refrigerating compartment fan are continuously driven. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency.

Abstract: A refrigerator has separate refrigerating and freezing compartments, an evaporator and fan for each compartment, and a compressor connected to the evaporators. A controller determines whether the refrigerator is in a normal mode or an overload mode, depending upon (i) the ambient temperature in the room where the refrigerator is disposed, (ii) the number of times the refrigerator door is opened per unit time, and (iii) the total time period in which the door is in an open state per unit time. In a normal mode, the compressor and both fans are operated simultaneously under the control of the temperature in the freezing compartment. In an overload mode, the two fans are operated independently, under the control of the respective temperatures in the freezing and refrigerating compartments.