Method for controlling operation of refrigerator with two evaporators

Abstract

A method for controlling operation of a refrigerator having two evaporators is provided which allows food to be effectively stored in refrigerating and freezing chambers of the refrigerator. A Refrigerating-Freezing (RF) cycle and/or a Freezing (F) cycle of the refrigerator and compressor operation are controlled based on temperatures of various chambers within the refrigerator. This may be further enhanced by also controlling operation of the evaporators and their respective evaporator fans to further optimize cooling output and efficiency. In this manner, the various refrigerating and freezing chambers of the refrigerator can be maintained at an appropriate temperature, power consumption is minimized, and load on the compressor can be adequately managed so as to provide for effective food storage.

1 . A method for controlling operation of a refrigerator, in which a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber of the refrigerator are cooled by a Refrigerating-Freezing (RF) cycle, or by a Freezing (F) cycle, the method comprising: 
 starting a compressor;    carrying out an RF cycle or an F cycle depending on a temperature of the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber after the compressor is started; and    stopping operation of the compressor if a freezing chamber temperature and a refrigerating chamber temperature are within respective preset temperature ranges.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein starting a compressor comprises starting the compressor when either the freezing chamber temperature or the refrigerating chamber temperature exceeds an upper limit of a preset temperature range.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein if the refrigerating chamber comprises a plurality sections, the compressor is started if either a temperature of at least one of the plurality of sections of the refrigerating chamber or a temperature the freezing chamber exceeds an upper limit of a corresponding preset temperature range.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of sections of the refrigerating chamber comprises a designated section that has a greater temperature variation than the remaining plurality of sections.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 stopping the compressor when the freezing chamber temperature and the refrigerating chamber temperature are lower than respective preset fermenting temperatures; and    operating the compressor when at least one of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber is at a higher temperature than its respective preset fermenting temperature.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 operating a fermenting heater provided in the refrigerating chamber when the refrigerator is in a fermenting mode.    
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein, if the freezing chamber temperature and the refrigerating chamber temperature are each lower than respective preset fermenting temperatures and the refrigerating chamber comprises a plurality of sections, the compressor is stopped.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein if a temperature of at least one of the plurality of sections of the refrigerating chamber is higher than a preset fermenting temperature, the compressor is driven.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 operating an F cycle for a preset time period before a fermenting operation is stopped; and    operating an RF cycle when the fermenting operation is stopped.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the F cycle is operated so as to pre-cool the freezing chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the RF cycle is operated so as to cool the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber at the same time.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preset time period during which the F cycle is operated is calculated so as to maintain the freezing chamber temperature within a preset temperature range even if a refrigerant in an evaporator of the freezing chamber is heat-exchanged with air in the freezing chamber when the RF cycle is operated after the fermenting operation is stopped.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the preset time period is varied based on a capacity of the refrigerator.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 stopping operation of a freezing chamber evaporator fan for a preset time period when the fermenting operation is stopped.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the preset time period ranges from a time the fermenting operation is stopped to a time when the refrigerating chamber temperature falls within a preset temperature range.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the preset temperature range is based on a range of temperatures appropriate for food storage.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein carrying out an RF cycle or an F cycle comprises carrying out an F cycle that comprises operating a refrigerating chamber evaporator and a freezing chamber evaporator in succession.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein carrying out an RF cycle or an F cycle comprises carrying out an F cycle that comprises operating only a freezing chamber evaporator.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising carrying out the steps of  claim 1  as a series of cycles.