Refrigerator and operation control method thereof

- Samsung Electronics

A refrigerator including a main body which has a plurality of storing compartments, a plurality of evaporators which are provided to correspond to the storing compartments respectively, a plurality of blowing fans which are provided to correspond to the evaporators respectively to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments, and a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, the refrigerator further includes: a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors which sense temperature of each evaporator; and a controlling part which, if temperature of the evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor is lower than a defrosting temperature of the evaporator after the compressor stops operating, controls the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having temperature lower than the defrosting temperature to be operated.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0008531, filed on Jan. 26, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a refrigerator and an operation control method thereof, and more particularly to a refrigerator which includes a main body having a plurality of storing compartments and a plurality of evaporators corresponding to the storing compartments respectively and an operation control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus for storing products at a low temperature and includes a main body having a plurality of storing compartments where the goods are stored, a door opening and closing an opening part formed in each of the plurality of storing compartments, and a refrigerating system provided in the main body to refrigerate the storing compartments.

The refrigerating system includes a compressor, a condenser, a decompressing part and an evaporator. Lately, according to some refrigerating systems, a plurality of the evaporators are provided to correspond to a plurality of the storing compartments to supply cold air to each storing compartment independently.

As described above, an exemplary embodiment of the refrigerator including the refrigerating system which has a plurality of the evaporators serially connected therebetween to correspond to a plurality of the storing compartments, that is so called an independent cooling type refrigerator, is shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, a conventional independent cooling type refrigerating system 201 includes one compressor 211, one condenser 213, a first evaporator 221 and a second evaporator 231 which are provided to respectively correspond to a first storing compartment 220 and a second storing compartment 230 having different set temperatures, and a decompressing part 215 which decompresses refrigerant flowing into each of the evaporators 221 and 231.

With such a configuration, the conventional refrigerator circulates the refrigerant in the order of the compressor 211, the condenser 213, the decompressing part 215, and the first and the second evaporators 221, and 231 in a refrigerating operation. The cold air generated in each of the evaporators 221 and 231 are supplied to each of the storing compartments 220 and 230 through the blowing fans 223 and 233.

On the other hand, if room temperature of one of the first storing compartment 220 and the second storing compartment 230 satisfies the set temperature, the refrigerator stops operating a blowing fan 223 or 233 of the corresponding storing compartment 220 or 230 to prevent the goods stored in the corresponding storing compartment 220 or 230 from being over-cooled.

However, as such a conventional refrigerator has two storing compartments, that is, a freezing compartment and a cooling compartment and the set room humidity of the cooling compartment is fixed to a predetermined degree, a user cannot set the room humidity selectively to correspond to the goods to be stored.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator and an operation control method thereof where humidity of a storing compartment can be maintained in an optimum condition to correspond to stored goods and the humidity of the storing compartment can be selectively controlled, so that the stored goods can be preserved for a long time and their freshness can be improved.

Additional aspects of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing a refrigerator including a main body which has a plurality of storing compartments, a plurality of evaporators which are provided to correspond to the storing compartments respectively, a plurality of blowing fans which are provided to correspond to the evaporators respectively to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments, and a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, the refrigerator further including: a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors which sense temperature of each evaporator; and a controlling part which, if temperature of the evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor is lower than a defrosting temperature of the evaporator after the compressor stops operating, controls the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having temperature lower than the defrosting temperature to be operated.

According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further includes a temperature setting part which sets the temperature of each storing compartment, wherein the controlling part compares a new set temperature set by the temperature setting part with a former set temperature of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is applied, and if the new set temperature is lower than the former set temperature, the controlling part controls the blowing fan of the storing compartment, where the new set temperature is set, to be operated.

According to an aspect of the invention, operation time of the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set increases in proportion to the difference between the new set temperature and the former set temperature.

According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator may further include: a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators; a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators; a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators; a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe; a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment, wherein if, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than a set temperature, the controlling part controls the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe, and controls the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe to be operated.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing an operation control method of a refrigerator including a main body which has a plurality of storing compartments, a plurality of evaporators which are provided to correspond to the storing compartments respectively, a plurality of blowing fans which are provided to correspond to the evaporators respectively to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments, a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, and a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors which sense temperature of each evaporator, the method including: sensing the temperature of each evaporator through the evaporator temperature sensor after the compressor stops operating; comparing the temperature of the evaporator sensed through the evaporator temperature sensor with a defrosting temperature of the evaporator; and operating, if the temperature of the evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor is lower than the defrosting temperature of the evaporator, the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having temperature lower than the defrosting temperature.

According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further includes a temperature setting part which sets temperature of each storing compartment, and the operation control method of a refrigerator further includes comparing a new set temperature set by the temperature setting part with a former set temperature of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is applied; and operating, if the new set temperature is lower than the former set temperature, the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set.

According to an aspect of the invention, operation time of the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set increases in proportion to difference between the new set temperature and the former set temperature.

According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further includes a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators; a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators; a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators; a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe; a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense the temperature of each storing compartment, and the operation control method of a refrigerator further includes sensing, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed; comparing the sensed temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed with a set temperature of each storing compartment; controlling, if the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than the set temperature, the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe; and operating the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a refrigerating system of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a control state diagram of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a refrigerating system of a conventional refrigerator.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments are described below so as to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a refrigerator 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a main body cabinet 11 having a main storing compartment 13 and an auxiliary storing compartment 21 which are vertically partitioned, evaporators 31, 33, 35 and 37 provided to supply cold air to the main storing compartment 13 and the auxiliary storing compartment 21, and ducts 41, 43, 45 and 47 guiding the cold air generated by the evaporators 31, 33, 35 and 37 to corresponding main storing compartment 13 and the auxiliary storing compartment 21 to refrigerate the main storing compartment 13 and the auxiliary storing compartment 21 independently.

A main door 85 and an auxiliary door 91 are provided to the main body cabinet 11 to open and close the main storing compartment 13 and the auxiliary storing compartment 21 respectively. A machine room (not shown) accommodating a compressor 3 compressing refrigerant and a condenser 5 condensing the compressed refrigerant is provided at a rear lower side of the main body cabinet 11.

The main storing compartment 13 is disposed at an upper part of the main body cabinet 11, and includes a first storing compartment 15 and a second storing compartment 17 which are partitioned horizontally by a main partitioning wall 27. In this case, the first storing compartment 15 may correspond to a cooling compartment and the second storing compartment 17 may correspond to a freezing compartment.

The auxiliary storing compartment 21 is disposed at a lower part of the main body cabinet 11, and includes a third storing compartment 23 and a fourth storing compartment 25 which are partitioned horizontally by the main partitioning wall 27. In this case, the third storing compartment 23 may correspond to the cooling compartment or the freezing compartment and the fourth compartment 25 may also correspond to the cooling compartment or the freezing compartment.

The evaporators are mounted to the main body cabinet 11, and includes a first evaporator 31 refrigerating the first storing compartment 15, a second evaporator 33 refrigerating the second storing compartment 17, a third evaporator 35 refrigerating the third storing compartment 23, and a fourth evaporator 37 refrigerating the fourth storing compartment 25.

The first evaporator 31 and the second evaporator 33 are installed at an inner back side area of the first storing compartment 15 and the second storing compartment 17 respectively. The first duct 41 and the second duct 43 are mounted in front of the first evaporator 31 and the second evaporator 33 respectively, and cold air flowing paths are formed in the first duct 41 and the second duct 43 respectively.

A first defrosting heater 51 and a second defrosting heater 53 are provided at the first evaporator 31 and the second evaporator 33 respectively, so that frost generated at the first evaporator 31 and the second evaporator 33 can be respectively removed.

Defrosted water which has been defrosted by the first defrosting heater 51 and the second defrosting heater 53 is discharged to a defrosted water storing part (not shown) provided in the machine room.

A first blowing fan 61 is mounted inside of the first duct 41 to forcibly blow the cold air generated by the first evaporator 31 to the first storing compartment 15.

A second blowing fan 63 is mounted inside of the second duct 43 to forcibly blow the cold air generated by the second evaporator 33 to the second storing compartment 17.

The auxiliary storing compartment 21 may be refrigerated to a cooling or freezing temperature area in a set predetermined temperature range. The auxiliary storing compartment 21, as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, may have the temperature range of about −30˜7° C. That is, each auxiliary compartment 21 may perform function of the freezing compartment as well as the cooling compartment. Hereinafter, descriptions will be given on the condition that the auxiliary storing compartment 21 positioned under the first storing compartment 15 is the third storing compartment 23 and the auxiliary storing compartment 21 positioned under the second storing compartment 17 is the fourth storing compartment 25.

The auxiliary storing compartment 21 is generally configured to have less space than the main storing compartment 13. The auxiliary storing compartment 21 is disposed at the lower part of the main cabinet 11, and is partitioned vertically apart from the main storing compartment 13 by a partitioning wall 29. The partitioning wall 29 vertically partitions the first storing compartment 15 and the third storing compartment 23, and vertically partitions the second storing compartment 17 and the fourth storing compartment 25.

The third evaporator 35 serially connected with the first evaporator 31 refrigerates the third storing compartment 23, and the fourth evaporator 37 serially connected with the second evaporator 33 refrigerates the fourth storing compartment 25. Also, the third evaporator 35 is serially connected with the fourth evaporator 37.

The third evaporator 35 and the fourth evaporator 37 are installed at the inner back side part of the third storing compartment 23 and the fourth storing compartment 25 respectively, and the third duct 45 and the fourth duct 47 are mounted in front of the third evaporator 35 and the fourth evaporator 37 respectively. The cold air flowing paths are formed in the third duct 45 and the fourth duct 47.

A third defrosting heater 55 and a fourth defrosting heater 57 are mounted at the third evaporator 35 and the fourth evaporator 37 respectively, so that the frost generated at the third evaporator 35 and the fourth evaporator 37 can be removed respectively.

The defrosted water which has been defrosted by the third defrosting heater 55 and the fourth defrosting heater 57 is discharged to the defrosted water storing part provided in the machine room.

A third blowing fan 65 is mounted inside of the third duct 45 to forcibly blow the cold air generated by the third evaporator 35 to the third storing compartment 23.

A fourth blowing fan 67 is mounted inside of the fourth duct 47 to forcibly blow the cold air generated by the fourth evaporator 37 to the fourth storing compartment 25.

As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention further includes the compressor 3, the condenser 5 condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 3, a supplying pipe 71 serially connecting the compressor 3 with the condenser 5 and supplying the refrigerant to the plurality of the evaporators, a first branch pipe 73 branching off from the supplying pipe 71 and serially connecting the first evaporator 31 with the third evaporator 35, a second branch pipe 75 serially connected with the first branch pipe 73 and serially connecting the second evaporator 33 with the fourth evaporator 37, a bypass pipe 77 branching off from between the first branch pipe 73 and the supplying pipe 71 to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe 71 to the second branch pipe 75, and a selecting valve 79 provided among the supplying pipe 71, the first branch pipe 73 and the bypass pipe 77 to selectively open or close the first branch pipe 73 and the bypass pipe 77.

The selecting valve 79 may be provided as a three-way valve to selectively supply the refrigerant supplied from the condenser 5 to the first branch pipe 73 or the bypass pipe 77. In this case, the selecting valve 79 may supply the refrigerant supplied from the condenser 5 to both of the first branch pipe 73 and the bypass pipe 77. Alternatively, the selecting valve 79 may close both of the first branch pipe 73 and the bypass pipe 77. A first capillary tube 81 is provided between the selecting valve 79 of the first branch pipe 73 and the first evaporator 31 to decompress the refrigerant, and a second capillary tube 83 is provided at the bypass pipe 77 to decompress the refrigerant.

The main door 85 includes a first storing compartment door 87 pivotally opening or closing the first storing compartment 15, and a second storing compartment door 89 pivotally opening or closing the second storing compartment 17.

The auxiliary door 91 includes a third storing compartment door 93 slidingly opening or closing the third storing compartment 23, and a fourth storing compartment door 95 slidingly opening or closing the fourth storing compartment 25.

On the other hand, the refrigerator 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of room temperature sensors 101, 103, 105, 107 sensing temperature of each of the storing compartments 15, 17, 23 and 25, a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors 111, 113, 115, and 117 sensing temperature of each of the evaporators 31, 33, 35 and 37, and a temperature setting part 121 setting temperature of each of the storing compartments 15, 17, 23, and 25 to humidify each of the storing compartments 15, 17, 23 and 25. Also, the refrigerator 1 may selectively have a humidity sensor (not shown) to estimate the humidity of each of the storing compartments 15, 17, 23 and 25.

The room temperature sensors include a first room temperature sensor 101 for estimating temperature of the first storing compartment 15, a second room temperature sensor 103 for estimating temperature of the second storing compartment 17, a third room temperature sensor 105 for estimating temperature of the third storing compartment 23, and a fourth room temperature sensor 107 for estimating temperature of the fourth storing compartment 25.

The evaporator temperature sensors include a first evaporator temperature sensor 111 for estimating temperature of the first evaporator 31, a second evaporator temperature sensor 113 for estimating temperature of the second evaporator 33, a third evaporator temperature sensor 115 for estimating temperature of the third evaporator 35, and a fourth evaporator temperature sensor 117 for estimating temperature of the fourth evaporator 37.

Also, the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention has a controlling part 125 controlling operation of the compressor 3, each of the blowing fans 61, 63, 65 and 67, and each of the defrosting heaters 51, 53, 55, and 57. After the compressor 3 stops operating, if the temperature of any evaporator 31, 33, 35 or 37 sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor 111, 113, 115 or 117 is lower than the predetermined defrosting temperature, the controlling part 125 controls operation of corresponding blowing fan 61, 63, 65 or 67 of the evaporator 31, 33, 35 or 37 whose temperature is lower than the defrosting temperature. Also, the controlling part 125 compares a new set temperature being set by the temperature setting part 121 with a former set temperature of the storing compartment 15, 17, 23 or 25 to which the new set temperature is applied. If the new set temperature is lower than the former set temperature, the controlling part 125 controls the blowing fan 61, 63, 65 or 67 of the storing compartment 15, 17, 23 or 25, where the temperature is newly set, to be operated. In this case, operating time of the blowing fan 61, 63, 65 or 67 of the storing compartment 15, 17, 23 or 25, where the temperature is newly set, may increase in proportion to the difference between the new set temperature and the former set temperature.

Also, during operation of the compressor 3, if the temperatures of the first storing compartment 15 and the third storing compartment 23 where the first branch pipe 73 is installed are lower than a predetermined set temperature, the controlling part 125 controls the selecting valve 79 to close the first branch pipe 73 and open the bypass pipe 77, and controls the first blowing fan 61 and the third blowing fan 65 of the first evaporator 31 and the third evaporator 35 respectively, where both evaporators 31 and 35 are installed on the first branch pipe 73, to be operated.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 3, a humidifying method of the refrigerator 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described.

If operation of the refrigerator 1 is started, the controlling part 125 estimates temperature of each of the storing compartments 15, 17, 23 and 25 through the room temperature sensors 101, 103, 105 and 107. Also, if required, the controlling part 125 operates the compressor 3 and each of the blowing fans 61, 63, 65 and 67, thus enabling the temperature of each of the storing compartments 15, 17, 23 and 25 to be the temperature set by the user.

Also, the controlling part 125 periodically operates each of the defrosting heaters 51, 53, 55 and 57 to perform defrosting.

During operation of the refrigerator 1, the controlling part 125 determines whether the compressor 3 is being operated or not, and estimates the temperatures of the first storing compartment 15 and the third storing compartment 23, where the first branch pipe 73 is installed, through the first room temperature sensor 101 and the third room temperature sensor 105.

The controlling part 125 compares the temperatures of the first storing compartment 15 and the third storing compartment 23 estimated through each of the room temperature sensors 101 and 105 with the set temperatures of the corresponding storing compartments 15 and 23. As a result, if the temperature is lower than the corresponding set temperature, the controlling part 125 controls the selecting valve 79 so that the first branch pipe 73 can be closed and the bypass pipe 77 can be opened. In this case, the refrigerant of the supplying pipe 71 is supplied through the bypass pipe 77 to the second branch pipe 75.

Also, the controlling part 125 operates the first blowing fan 61 and the third blowing fan 65 respectively corresponding to the first evaporator 31 and the third evaporator 35 which are installed on the first branch pipe 73.

As the first blowing fan 61 and the third blowing fan 65 are operated respectively, the frost formed on the first evaporator 31 and the third evaporator 35 is turned into vapor and is blown to the first storing compartment 15 and the third storing compartment 23 respectively and thus humidifies the first storing compartment 15 and the third storing compartment 23 for predetermined time T1 and T3 respectively.

Also, if the defrosting of the first storing compartment 15 and the third storing compartment 23 is completed, the controlling part 125 determines whether the compressor 3 is stopped or not. If the compressor 3 is stopped, the controlling part 125 estimates the temperatures of the first evaporator 31 and the third evaporator 35 through the first evaporator temperature sensor 111 and the third evaporator temperature sensor 115 respectively.

The controlling part 125 compares the temperature estimated through each of the evaporator temperature sensors 111 and 115 of the first evaporator 31 and the third evaporator 35 with the defrosting temperatures of the evaporators 31 and 35. As a result, if the estimated temperature is lower than the corresponding defrosting temperature, the controlling part 125 operates the first blowing fan 61 and the third blowing fan 65 for predetermined time T2 and T4. In this case, after the defrosting operation has been performed along with the operation of the blowing fans 61 and 65, water remaining at each of the evaporators 31 and 35 is turned into vapor and blown to the corresponding storing compartments 15 and 23 to humidify the storing compartments 15 and 23.

Hereinafter, when, for example, the user adjusts the room humidity of the first storing compartment 15 to correspond to the goods to be stored in the refrigerator, the operation processes of the refrigerator are described.

If the user newly sets the temperature of the first storing compartment 15 by operating the temperature setting part 121, the controlling part 125 compares a new set temperature Tn set by the temperature setting part 121 with a former set temperature Ts of the first storing compartment 15.

Then, if the controlling part 125 determines that the new set temperature Tn of the first storing compartment 15 is lower than the former set temperature Ts, the controlling part 125 operates the first blowing fan 61.

In this case, operation time of the first blowing fan 61 increases in proportion to the difference between the new set temperature Tn and the former set temperature Ts of the first storing compartment 15.

For example, if the difference between the new set temperature Tn and the former set temperature Ts of the first storing compartment 15 is 1° C., the controlling part 125 operates the first blowing fan 61 for five minutes to maintain the humidity of the first storing compartment 15 to be 55%. Or, if the difference is 2° C., the controlling part 125 operates the first blowing fan 61 for ten minutes to maintain the humidity of the first storing compartment 15 to be 65%. Or, if the difference is 3° C., the controlling part 125 operates the first blowing fan 61 for twenty minutes to maintain the humidity of the first storing compartment 15 to be 75%.

Therefore, the operation time of the first blowing fan 61 is controlled according to the temperature Tn newly set by the temperature setting part 121, so that the first storing compartment 15 can be humidified while its room humidity is selectively adjusted.

Although only the humidifying processes of the first storing compartment 15 was described in the above exemplary embodiment of the present invention, such humidifying processes may also be applied respectively or simultaneously to the other storing compartments which include the second storing compartment 17, the third storing compartment 23, and the fourth storing compartment 25.

Also, although the refrigerator having four storing compartments was described in the above exemplary embodiment, the concept of the present invention may also be applied to the refrigerator having three storing compartments.

Also, although only one temperature setting part was described to be provided in the above exemplary embodiment, the temperature setting part may also be provided to each of the storing compartments respectively.

As described above, according to the present invention, provided are the refrigerator and operation control method thereof where humidity of the storing compartment can be maintained in an optimum condition to correspond to stored goods and the humidity of the storing compartment can be selectively controlled, so that the stored goods can be preserved for a long time and their freshness can be improved.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising a main body which has a plurality of storing compartments, a plurality of evaporators which are provided to correspond to the storing compartments respectively, a plurality of blowing fans which are provided to correspond to the evaporators respectively to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments, and a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, the refrigerator further comprising:

a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors which sense temperature of each evaporator; and
a controlling part which, if temperature of the evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor is lower than a defrosting temperature of the evaporator after the compressor stops operating, controls the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having temperature lower than the defrosting temperature to be operated.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature setting part which sets the temperature of each storing compartment,

wherein the controlling part compares a new set temperature set by the temperature setting part with a former set temperature of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is applied, and if the new set temperature is lower than the former set temperature, the controlling part controls the blowing fan of the storing compartment, where the new set temperature is set, to be operated.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein operation time of the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set increases in proportion to difference between the new set temperature and the former set temperature.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising:

a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators;
a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;
a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;
a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe;
a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and
a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment,
wherein if, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than a set temperature, the controlling part controls the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe, and controls the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe to be operated.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising:

a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators;
a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;
a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;
a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe;
a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and
a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment,
wherein if, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than a set temperature, the controlling part controls the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe, and controls the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe to be operated.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators;
a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;
a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;
a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe;
a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and
a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment,
wherein if, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than a set temperature, the controlling part controls the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe, and controls the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe to be operated.

7. An operation control method of a refrigerator including a main body which has a plurality of storing compartments, a plurality of evaporators which are provided to correspond to the storing compartments respectively, a plurality of blowing fans which are provided to correspond to the evaporators respectively to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments, a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors which sense temperature of each evaporator, a temperature setting part which sets a temperature of each storing compartment, a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators, a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators, a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators, a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe, a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe, and a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment, the operation control method comprising:

sensing a temperature of each evaporator through the respective evaporator temperature sensors after the compressor stops operating;
comparing the temperature of each evaporator sensed through the respective evaporator temperature sensors with a defrosting temperature of the evaporator; and
operating, if the temperature of the evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor is lower than the defrosting temperature of the evaporator, the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having temperature lower than the defrosting temperature.

8. The operation control method of a refrigerator according to claim 7, further comprising:

comparing a new set temperature set by the temperature setting part with a former set temperature of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is applied; and
operating, if the new set temperature is lower than the former set temperature, the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set.

9. The operation control method of a refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein an operation time of the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set increases in proportion to difference between the new set temperature and the former set temperature.

10. The operation control method of a refrigerator according to claim 9, further comprising:

sensing, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed;
comparing the sensed temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed with a set temperature of each storing compartment;
controlling, if the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than the set temperature, the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe; and
operating the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe.

11. The operation control method of a refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising:

sensing, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed;
comparing the sensed temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed with a set temperature of each storing compartment;
controlling, if the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than the set temperature, the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe; and
operating the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe.

12. The operation control method of a refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerator further comprises a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators; a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators; a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators; a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe; a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment, and

the operation control method of a refrigerator further comprises
sensing, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed;
comparing the sensed temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed with a set temperature of each storing compartment;
controlling, if the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than the set temperature, the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe; and
operating the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe.

13. A refrigerator, comprising:

a main body partitioned into four storing compartments;
first through fourth evaporators, each one of the first through evaporator corresponding to one of the four storing compartments, each evaporator including a blowing fan to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments and an evaporator temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the evaporator;
a compressor and a condenser provided in the main body;
a controlling part which, if the temperature of one of the first through fourth evaporators sensed by the corresponding evaporator temperature sensor is lower than a defrosting temperature of the evaporator after the compressor stops operating, controls the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having a temperature lower than the defrosting temperature to be operated.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, further comprising:

a temperature setting part which sets the temperature of each storing compartment,
wherein the controlling part compares a new set temperature set by the temperature setting part with a former set temperature of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is applied, and if the new set temperature is lower than the former set temperature, the controlling part controls the blowing fan of the evaporator, where the new set temperature is set, to be operated.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein an operation time of the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set increases in proportion to difference between the new set temperature and the former set temperature.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 13, further comprising:

a supplying pipe serially connecting the compressor to the condenser that supplies refrigerant to the first through fourth evaporators;
a first branch pipe branching off from the supplying pipe and serially connected to the first and third evaporators;
a second branch pipe serially connected to the first branch pipe and serially connected to the second and fourth plurality of evaporators;
a bypass pipe branching off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe that bypasses the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe;
a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and
a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment,
wherein, during operation of the compressor, if the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than a set temperature, the controlling part controls the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and open the bypass pipe, and controls the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe to be operated.
Patent History
Publication number: 20080178621
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 10, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 31, 2008
Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si)
Inventor: Sung-cheol Kang (Gwangju-city)
Application Number: 11/889,325
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Plural External Fluids Or Means Controlled (62/179); Air Controller Or Director (62/186); Compressor-condenser-evaporator Circuit (62/498)
International Classification: F25D 17/00 (20060101);