Refrigerator and control method thereof

Abstract

A refrigerator and control method thereof, the refrigerator including a main body having a plurality of storage compartments, a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, a plurality of evaporators corresponding to the respective storage compartments, a main refrigerant pipe to connect the compressor, the condenser and the evaporators in series, at least one branch refrigerant pipe which is branched between the condenser and one of the evaporators to be connected with an inlet of one of the remaining evaporators, and a selection valve which is provided on a branching point of the at least one branch refrigerant pipe to open and close the main refrigerant pipe and the at least one branch refrigerant pipe, respectively. The refrigerator adjusts a flow of a refrigerant flowing through respective evaporators according to preset temperatures of respective storage compartments in a refrigerator.

1 . A refrigerator having a main body including a plurality of storage compartments, and a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, the refrigerator comprising: 
 a plurality of evaporators which are provided corresponding to the respective storage compartments;    a main refrigerant pipe to connect the compressor, the condenser and the evaporators in series;    at least one branch refrigerant pipe which is branched between the condenser and one of the evaporators to be connected with an inlet of one of the remaining evaporators; and    a selection valve which is provided on a branching point of the at least one branch refrigerant pipe to open and close the main refrigerant pipe and the at least one branch refrigerant pipe, respectively.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , the refrigerator further comprising: 
 a plurality of inner temperature sensors which sense inner temperatures of the respective storage compartments; and    a controller which controls the selection valve not to supply refrigerant to the evaporator corresponding to a respective storage compartment when the respective storage compartment satisfies a preset temperature when sensed by the respective inner temperature sensor.    
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein preset temperatures of the storage compartments are lowered in sequence, and wherein 
 the evaporators are connected with the main refrigerant pipe in series corresponding to the storage compartments.    
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the storage compartments comprise first, second and third storage compartments of which preset temperatures are lowered in sequence, and wherein the evaporators comprise first, second and third evaporators which are connected with the main refrigerant pipe in series corresponding to the first, second and third storage compartments, respectively.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one branch refrigerant pipe comprises: 
 a first branch refrigerant pipe which is branched from the branching point to be connected with an inlet of the second evaporator; and    a second branch refrigerant pipe which is branched from the branching point to be connected with an inlet of the third evaporator.    
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller controls the selection valve to open the main refrigerant pipe and close the first and second branch refrigerant pipes, when the respective storage compartments perform a cooling operation, to close the main refrigerant pipe and the second branch refrigerant pipe and open the first branch refrigerant pipe when the first storage compartment satisfies the preset temperature, and to close the main refrigerant pipe and the first branch refrigerant pipe and open the second branch refrigerant pipe when the second storage compartment satisfies the preset temperature when sensed by the inner temperature sensors of the first and second storage compartments.  
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , the refrigerator further comprising: 
 a plurality of decompressors to decompress refrigerant circulating respective evaporators, the decompressors comprising:    a first decompressor which is provided between the branching point and the first evaporator,    a second decompressor which is provided on the first branch refrigerant pipe, and    a third decompressor which is provided on the second branch refrigerant pipe, wherein the respective decompressors are provided to sequentially increase resistances according to a sequence of the first, second and third decompressors.    
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , further comprising a fourth decompressor which is provided between the first and second evaporators.  
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 8 , further comprising a fifth decompressor which is provided between the second and third evaporators.  
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein a total sum of resistances of the first and fourth decompressors is smaller than that of the second decompressor.  
   
   
       11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein a total sum of resistances of the first, fourth and fifth decompressors is smaller than that of the third decompressor.  
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein each decompressor comprises a capillary tube.  
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller controls the selection valve to open the main refrigerant pipe and the first and second branch refrigerant pipes when the respective storage compartments perform the cooling operation, to close the main refrigerant pipe and open the first and second branch refrigerant pipes when the first storage compartment satisfies the preset temperature, and to close the main refrigerant pipe and the first branch refrigerant pipe and open the second branch refrigerant pipe when the second storage compartment satisfies the preset temperature, when sensed by the inner temperature sensors of the first and second storage compartments.  
   
   
       14 . A refrigerator comprising a compressor and a condenser, the refrigerator further comprising: 
 first, second and third evaporators;    a branching part which is provided at an outlet of the condenser;    a first refrigerant path which is branched from the branching part to be connected with the first, second and third evaporators in series;    a second refrigerant path which is branched from the branching part to be connected with the second and third evaporators in series; and    a third refrigerant path which is branched from the branching part to be connected with the third evaporator.    
   
   
       15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the first, second and third refrigerant paths comprise first, second and third decompressors, respectively, of which resistances are increased in sequence.  
   
   
       16 . The refrigerator according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a fourth decompressor which is provided between the first evaporator and the second evaporator, and a fifth decompressor which is provided between the second evaporator and the third evaporator, and wherein    a resistance of the second decompressor is larger than a total sum of resistances of the first and fourth decompressors.    
   
   
       17 . A method of controlling a refrigerator having a main body which comprises first, second and third storage compartments of which preset temperatures are lowered in sequence, a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, and first, second and third evaporators which are provided corresponding to the respective storage compartments, the method comprising: 
 providing a main refrigerant pipe connecting the first, second and third evaporators in series, and at least one branch refrigerant pipe which is branched from an inlet of the first evaporator to be connected with an inlet of one of the second and third evaporators;    sensing inner temperatures of the respective storage compartments; and    opening and closing the main refrigerant pipe and the at least one branch refrigerant pipe not to supply a refrigerant to a respective evaporator corresponding to a respective storage compartment, when the sensed inner temperature of the respective storage compartment satisfies a preset temperature thereof.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the providing the at least one branch refrigerant pipe comprises: 
 providing a first branch refrigerant pipe which is branched from the inlet of the first evaporator to be connected with an inlet of the second evaporator, and a second branch refrigerant pipe which is branched from a branching point of the first branch refrigerant pipe to be connected with an inlet of the third evaporator.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the opening and closing the main refrigerant pipe and the respective branch refrigerant pipes comprises: 
 opening the main refrigerant pipe and closing the first and second branch refrigerant pipes when the compressor is driven;    closing the main refrigerant pipe and the second branch refrigerant pipe and opening the first branch refrigerant pipe when the sensed inner temperature of the first storage compartment satisfies a preset temperature; and    closing the main refrigerant pipe and the first branch refrigerant pipe and opening the second branch refrigerant pipe when the sensed inner temperature of the second storage compartment satisfies a preset temperature thereof.    
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the opening and closing the main refrigerant pipe and the respective branch refrigerant pipe comprises: 
 providing a first decompressor which is provided at the inlet of the first evaporator, a second decompressor which is provided on the first branch refrigerant pipe and a third decompressor which is provided on the second branch refrigerant pipe, having resistances of the first, second and third decompressors that increase in sequence;    opening the main refrigerant pipe and the first and second branch refrigerant pipes when the compressor is driven;    closing the main refrigerant pipe and opening the first and second branch refrigerant pipes when the sensed inner temperature of the first storage compartment satisfies a preset temperature thereof; and    closing the main refrigerant pipe and the first branch refrigerant pipe and opening the second branch refrigerant pipe when the sensed temperature of the second storage compartment satisfies a preset temperature thereof.    
   
   
       21 . A method of controlling a refrigerator having a plurality of storage compartments, a plurality of evaporators corresponding to the plurality of storage compartments, and a condenser and compressor, the method comprising: 
 setting preset temperatures for the storage compartments;    connecting the evaporators, the condenser and the compressor in series via a main refrigerant pipe;    connecting inlets of the evaporators to one another via at least one branch refrigerant pipe;    sensing inner temperatures of the storage compartments; and    opening and closing the main refrigerant pipe and the at least one branch refrigerant pipe to not supply refrigerant to a respective evaporator corresponding to a respective storage compartment when the sensed inner temperature of the respective storage compartment satisfies a preset temperature thereof.