Refrigerator and control method of refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11940200-B2
Application number	US-202117529935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2021
Priority date	Nov 10, 2016
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

The present invention provides a control method of a refrigerator, comprising: a first defrosting step of defrosting an evaporator and terminating the defrosting when the evaporator reaches a first temperature; a step of detecting pressure difference by means of a differential pressure sensor for measuring pressure difference between a first thru-hole, disposed between the evaporator and an inlet through which air flows in from a storage compartment, and a second thru-hole disposed between the evaporator and an outlet through which the air is discharged into the storage compartment; and a second defrosting step of additionally defrosting the evaporator if the measured pressure difference is greater than a configured pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a refrigerator, the method comprising:
performing a first defrosting operation of an evaporator while operating a heater, the evaporator being provided in a case and configured to supply cold air while heat-exchanging with air;
determining, based on a temperature of the evaporator reaching a first temperature, that the first defrosting operation is completed, and turning off the heater;
detecting a pressure differential using a single differential pressure sensor, wherein the pressure differential is a difference between pressures between an inlet for receiving air from a storage compartment and an outlet for discharging air into the storage compartment; and
performing a second defrosting operation as an additional defrosting operation of the evaporator based on the detected pressure differential being greater than a predefined pressure,
wherein the second defrosting operation comprises operating the heater until the temperature of the evaporator reaches a second temperature that is greater than or equal to the first temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after detecting the pressure differential, performing a normal operation based on the detected pressure differential being smaller than a predetermined pressure, wherein in the normal operation, a compressor is driven to cool the storage compartment.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein based on the detected pressure differential being greater than the predetermined pressure, the normal operation is performed after the second defrosting operation is terminated.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein in the normal operation, a fan is driven to supply heat-exchanged air with the evaporator to the storage compartment.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein in each of the first defrosting operation and the second defrosting operation, the heater is driven to heat the evaporator.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
between the first defrosting operation and the pressure differential detection, activating a fan to supply with heat-exchanged air with the evaporator to the storage compartment.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein after the fan is activated for a specific time, the pressure differential is detected.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the activating of the fan is triggered after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first defrosting operation is terminated.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein in each of the first defrosting operation and the second defrosting operation, a fan to supply with heat-exchanged air with the evaporator to the storage compartment is deactivated.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a condition for performing the first defrosting operation is determined based on an operating time of a compressor.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a condition for performing the first defrosting operation is determined based on an opening time of a door.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first condition for performing the first defrosting operation is different from a second condition for performing the second defrosting operation.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first condition for performing the first defrosting operation is determined based on at least one of an operating time of a compressor or an opening time of a door, and
wherein the second condition for performing the second defrosting operation is determined based on the detected pressure differential.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the pressure differential is performed based on an elapse of a predetermined time after the first defrosting operation is performed.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second defrosting operation comprises turning on the heater that has been turned off after the first defrosting operation.

16. A method for controlling a refrigerator, the method comprising:
performing a first defrosting operation of an evaporator while operating a heater, the evaporator being provided in a case and configured to supply cold air while heat-exchanging with air;
determining, based on a temperature of the evaporator reaching a first temperature, that the first defrosting operation is completed, and turning off the heater;
detecting a pressure differential using a single differential pressure sensor, wherein the pressure differential is a difference between pressures between an inlet for receiving air from a storage compartment and an outlet for discharging air into the storage compartment; and
performing a second defrosting operation as an additional defrosting operation of the evaporator based on the detected pressure differential being greater than a predefined pressure after the first defrosting operation,
wherein the second defrosting operation is operated after the first defrosting operation, and
wherein the second defrosting operation comprises operating the heater until the temperature of the evaporator reaches a second temperature that is different from the first temperature.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second temperature is greater than the first temperature.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Sungwook
• Choi Sangbok
• Baik Wookyung
• Park Kyongbae

Classifications

• F25D21/008 Primary

  by timer · CPC title

• F25D17/06

  by forced circulation · CPC title

• F25D17/062

  in household refrigerators · CPC title

• F25D17/067

  Evaporator fan units · CPC title

• F25D21/00

  Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water (removing ice or water from heat-exchange apparatus in general F28F17/00; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84) · CPC title