Refrigerator and method of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10054358-B2
Application number	US-201615546434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2016
Priority date	Jan 26, 2015
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator including a compressor for compressing refrigerant, a condenser in which the refrigerant, which has been compressed in the compressor, is condensed, an icemaker, a water supply tube, which supplies water to the icemaker and is in contact with at least one of the compressor and the condenser, an ice-making water supply valve installed in the water supply tube, a temperature sensor installed at the water supply tube, and a controller for controlling the ice-making water supply valve based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor. Water having a temperature that is raised to a temperature range set in consideration of the Mpemba effect is supplied to the icemaker, thereby enabling rapid ice making.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a compressor for compressing refrigerant;
a condenser in which the refrigerant, which has been compressed in the compressor, is condensed;
an icemaker;
a water supply tube, which supplies water to the icemaker and is in contact with at least one of the compressor and the condenser;
an ice-making water supply valve installed in the water supply tube;
a temperature sensor installed at the water supply tube; and
a controller for controlling the ice-making water supply valve based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the water supply tube comprises:
a waste heat recovery tube in contact with the compressor;
a water introduction tube for guiding water to the waste heat recovery tube; and
a water discharge tube for guiding the water, which has passed through the waste heat recovery tube, to the icemaker.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor is installed at the waste heat recovery tube or the water discharge tube.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the water supply tube comprises:
a heat recovery tube in contact with the condenser;
a water introduction tube for guiding water to the heat recovery tube; and
a water discharge tube for guiding the water, which has passed through the heat recovery tube, to the icemaker.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensor is installed at the heat recovery tube or the water discharge tube.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein, when a condition for supplying water to the icemaker is satisfied, the controller controls the ice-making water supply valve to be opened for a predetermined period of time if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is within a set temperature range.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein, when a condition for supplying water to the icemaker is satisfied, the controller controls the ice-making water supply valve to be kept closed if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a lower limit of the set temperature range.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the icemaker includes an ice-making tray which contains water supplied through the water supply tube.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein the icemaker further includes an ice-making temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the ice-making tray.

10. A method of operating a refrigerator, comprising:
detecting a temperature of a water supply tube, which supplies water to an icemaker and is in contact with at least one of a compressor and a condenser; and
controlling an ice-making water supply valve, installed in the water supply tube, based on the detected temperature of the water supply tube.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein controlling the ice-making water supply valve is performed by, when a condition for supplying water to the icemaker is satisfied, keeping the ice-making water supply valve closed if the detected temperature of the water supply tube is lower than a lower limit of a set temperature range.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein controlling the ice-making water supply valve is performed by, when a condition for supplying water to the icemaker is satisfied, opening the ice-making water supply valve for a predetermined period of time if the detected temperature of the water supply tube is within a set temperature range.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Junsoo
• Ku Jiyeong
• Lee Jiyoon
• Yoon Jiyoung

Classifications

• F25D23/126

  Water cooler · CPC title

• F25C2600/04

  Control means · CPC title

• F25D23/003 Primary

  for cooling refrigerating machinery · CPC title

• F25C2400/14

  Water supply · CPC title

• F25D2400/30

  Quick freezing · CPC title