Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016178245-A1
Application number	US-201514978902-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2015
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a first compressor configured to compress a first refrigerant, a first condenser configured to return the first refrigerant to the first compressor during a freezing cycle, a second compressor configured to compress a second refrigerant, and a second condenser configured to return the second refrigerant to the second compressor during a refrigerating cycle. The refrigerator includes a controller configured to control a radiating fan for the first condenser and the second condenser based on an operation state of the first compressor and the second compressor, and a refrigerant loop channel configured to allow the first refrigerant passing through a refrigerant channel that is located between a body and a door of the refrigerator. The refrigerant channel is coupled to the first condenser, and, for a predetermined time interval, an average operation time of the freezing cycle is longer than an average operation time of the refrigerating cycle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
a first compressor configured to compress a first refrigerant; a first condenser configured to return the first refrigerant to the first compressor during a freezing cycle; a second compressor configured to compress a second refrigerant; a second condenser configured to return the second refrigerant to the second compressor during a refrigerating cycle, wherein the refrigerating cycle is independent from the freezing cycle; a controller configured to control a radiating fan for the first condenser and the second condenser based on an operation state of the first compressor and the second compressor; and a hot refrigerant loop channel configured to allow the first refrigerant passing through a refrigerant channel that is located between a body and a door of the refrigerator, wherein the refrigerant channel is coupled to the first condenser, and wherein, for a predetermined time interval, an average operation time of the freezing cycle is longer than an average operation time of the refrigerating cycle.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein, the controller is configured to, based on a determination that the first compressor is operating while the second compressor does not operate, control an rpm of the radiating fan at a first value that reduces an amount of heat radiated from the first refrigerant passing through the refrigerant channel.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to, based on a determination that the second compressor is operating while the first compressor does not operate, control the rpm of the radiating fan at a second value that is larger than the first value.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , further comprising a humidity sensor located on a front surface of the refrigerator,
wherein the controller is configured to, based on a determination that the first compressor is operating while the second compressor does not operate and a determination that humidity at the front surface of the refrigerator sensed by the humidity sensor satisfies a preset value, control the rpm of the radiating fan at the first value, and wherein the controller is configured to, based on a determination that humidity at the front surface of the refrigerator sensed by the humidity sensor does not satisfy a preset value, control the rpm of the radiating fan at the second value.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to, based on a determination that both of the first compressor and the second compressor are operating, control the rpm of the radiating fan at a third value that is larger than the second value.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to perform operations comprising:
determining whether a certain time lapses after the rpm of the radiating fan is set at the third value, and reducing the rpm of the radiating fan based on the determination.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to, based on a determination that the first compressor and the second compressor are not operating, control the rpm of the radiating fan at a fourth value that is smaller than the first, the second, and the third values.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to, based on a determination that the first compressor and the second compressor are not operating, turn off the radiating fan.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to sense an amount of an electrical load of the radiating fan, and
wherein the controller is configured to, based on a determination that the sensed amount of the electrical load of the radiating fan is more than satisfies a reference value, reduce the rpm of the radiating fan.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the first value is 930 RPM, the second value is 1090 RPM, and the third value is 1300 RPM.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first evaporator, wherein the refrigerant channel is located between the first condenser and the first evaporator.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein refrigerant passes through the refrigerant channel during the freezing cycle, and a refrigerant does not pass through the refrigerant channel during the refrigerating cycle.

13 . A method for controlling a refrigerator, comprising:
determining whether a freezing cycle or a refrigerating cycle are operated; and controlling a radiating fan for a first condenser and a second condenser during the freezing cycle or the refrigerating cycle based on a determination that the freezing cycle or the refrigerating cycle is operated, wherein a refrigerant channel, located between a body and a door of the refrigerator, operates during the freezing cycle, wherein the refrigerant channel is coupled to the first condenser, and wherein, for a predetermined time interval, an average operation time of the freezing cycle is longer than an average operation time of the refrigerating cycle.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the controlling a radiating fan comprising:
controlling, based on a determination that the freezing cycle is operated while the refrigerating cycle is not operated, an rpm of the radiating fan at a first value to reduce an amount of heat radiated from a refrigerant passing through the refrigerant channel.

15 . The method of claim 14 , the controlling a radiating fan comprising:
controlling, based on a determination that the refrigerating cycle is operated while the freezing cycle is not operated, the rpm of the radiating fan at a second value that is larger than the first value.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
sensing humidity at a front surface of the refrigerator, wherein the controlling a radiating fan comprising: controlling, based on a determination that the first compressor is operating while the second compressor does not operate and a determination that humidity at the front surface of the refrigerator sensed by the humidity sensor satisfies a preset value, the rpm of the radiating fan at the second value that is larger than the first value.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the controlling a radiating fan comprising:
controlling, based on a determination that both of the first and second compressors are operating, the rpm of the radiating fan at a third value that is larger than the second value.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the controlling a radiating fan comprising:
controlling, based on a determination that the freezing cycle and the refrigerating cycle are not operated, the rpm of the radiating fan at a fourth value that is smaller than the first value, the second value, and the third value.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the controlling a radiating fan comprising:
sensing an amount of an electrical load of the radiating fan; and reducing the rpm of the radiating fan when the sensed amount of the electrical load of the radiating fan satisfies a reference value.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first value is 930 RPM, the second value is 1090 RPM, and the third value is 1300 RPM.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Choi Hojin

Classifications

• F25D19/04

  with more than one refrigeration unit · CPC title

• F25D17/06

  by forced circulation · CPC title

• F25D29/00 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F25D21/04

  Preventing the formation of frost or condensate · CPC title

• F25D11/022 Primary

  with two or more evaporators · CPC title