Refrigerator and method for controlling operation of the same

Abstract

Disclosed are a refrigerator, having a main body in which a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment having different preset storage temperatures are formed, and a compressor and a condenser to refrigerate each storage compartment, the refrigerator including: first and second evaporators corresponding to the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment, respectively; a first refrigerant tube connecting sequentially the compressor, the condenser and the first and second evaporators in series; a second refrigerant tube diverged from the first refrigerant tube at a front end of the first evaporator and connected to a front end of the second evaporator; and a 2-way switching valve provided between a diverging point of the second refrigerant tube and the first evaporator and closing/opening the first refrigerant tube.

1 . A refrigerator, having a main body in which a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment having different preset storage temperatures are formed, and a compressor and a condenser to refrigerate each storage compartment, the refrigerator comprising: 
 first and second evaporators corresponding to the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment, respectively;    a first refrigerant tube connecting sequentially the compressor, the condenser and the first and second evaporators in series;    a second refrigerant tube diverged from the first refrigerant tube at a front end of the first evaporator and connected to a front end of the second evaporator; and    a switching valve disposed between a diverging point of the branch refrigerant tube and the first evaporator and closing/opening the first refrigerant tube.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 an inside temperature sensor to sense an inside temperature of the first storage compartment; and    a control unit to control the switching valve such that the switching valve closes the first refrigerant tube when the inside temperature of the first storage compartment sensed by the inside temperature sensor reaches the preset storage temperature.    
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the preset storage temperature of the first storage compartment is higher than the preset storage temperature of the second storage compartment.  
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , further comprising a first decompressing unit disposed between the switching valve and the first evaporator and a second decompressing unit disposed between the branch point and the second evaporator.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , further comprising a third decompressing unit disposed between the first evaporator and the second evaporator.  
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching valve is a 2-way switch valve.  
   
   
       7 . A method to control an operation of a refrigerator comprising a main body in which a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment are formed, a second refrigerant tube from a first refrigerant tube, which connects sequentially the compressor, the condenser and first and second evaporators corresponding to the first and second storage compartments, at an front end of the first evaporator, the branch refrigerant tube being connected the second evaporator; and a compressor and a condenser for refrigerating each storage compartment, the method comprising: 
 presetting storage temperatures of the first and second storage compartments such that a preset storage temperature of the first storage compartment is higher than a preset storage temperature of the second storage compartment;    driving the compressor to perform a refrigerating operation;    opening a switching valve provided between a diverging point of the second refrigerant tube and the first evaporator;    sensing an inside temperature of the first storage compartment; and    closing the switching valve when the sensed inside temperature of the first storage compartment reaches the preset storage temperature of the first storage compartment.    
   
   
       8 . The method to control an operation of refrigerator according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 sensing the inside temperature of the second storage compartment; and    halting an operation of the compressor when the sensed inside temperature of the second storage compartment reaches the preset storage temperature of the second storage compartment.    
   
   
       9 . The method to control an operation of refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the switching valve is a 2-way switching valve.  
   
   
       10 . A refrigerator having a main body in which n storage compartments having different preset storage temperatures are formed, and a compressor and a condenser to refrigerate each storage compartment, comprising: 
 n evaporators corresponding to n storage compartments, respectively;    a main refrigerant tube connecting sequentially the compressor, the condenser and the n evaporators in series;    n−1 branch refrigerant tubes diverged from the main refrigerant tube at a front end of the first evaporator and connected to a front end of any one of n−1 evaporators; and except the first one    a n-way valve provided at a rear side of a diverging point of the branch refrigerant tube connected to a front end of the evaporator, which corresponds to the storage compartment having a lowest preset storage temperature, among n−1 evaporators except the first evaporator, and closing/opening the main refrigerant tube and the other n−2 branch tubes.    
   
   
       11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 10 , further comprising 
 n inside temperature sensors to sense inside temperatures of the n storage compartments; and    a control unit to control the n-way valve according to a sensing result of each inside temperature sensor so as to prevent an inflow of the refrigerant into the evaporator corresponding to the storage compartment reaching the preset storage temperature.    
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein the n is 3 (three).  
   
   
       13 . A method to control an operation of a refrigerator comprising a main body in which a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment are formed, and a compressor and a condenser for refrigerating each storage compartment, a second refrigerant tube from a first refrigerant tube, which connects sequentially the compressor, the condenser and first and second evaporators corresponding to the first and second storage compartments, at an front end of the first evaporator, the second refrigerant tube being connected the second evaporator; the method comprising: 
 driving the compressor; and    flowing a refrigerant into the first refrigerant tube and the second refrigerant tube simultaneously to operate the first and the second storage compartments at the same time.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprises 
 sensing an inside temperature of the first storage compartment; and    closing switching valve to stop flowing the refrigerant to the first refrigerant tube when the sensed the inside temperature of the first storage compartment is lower than a predetermined temperature of the first storage compartment.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprises: 
 sensing an inside temperature of the second storage compartment; and    halting an operation of the compressor when the sensed the inside temperature of the first storage compartment is lower than a predetermined temperature of the second storage compartment.