Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator is disclosed wherein an ion generator is arranged in a cold air duct which supplies cold air to a storage compartment, and a desired portion of the cold air duct is treated for anti-static. The ions from the ion generator are used for the purpose of sterilization and deodorization and are effectively discharged into the storage compartment. The anti-static-treatment of the cold air duct prevents the ions generated from the ion generator from being lost due to static in the cold air duct. The anti-static treatment is carried out by coating polyethylene on a portion of the cold air duct. The cold air duct includes a plurality of uniformly spaced cold air outlets, whereby the ions generated from the ion generator are uniformly distributed into the overall portion of the storage compartment through the cold air outlets.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising: 
 at least one storage compartment;    a cold air duct inside the storage compartment;    a cooling fan to discharge cold air into the cold air duct; and    an ion generator to generate ions disposed in the cold air duct,    wherein the ions are discharged into the storage compartment via the cold air duct.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the cold air duct includes an anti-static-treated portion to prevent the ions generated from the ion generator from being lost due to static of the cold air duct by the ions.  
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the anti-static-treated portion of the cold air duct extends from a point where a flow velocity of the cold air in the cold air duct is reduced from an initial velocity at a cold air inlet of the cold air duct by 25% or more to a cold air outlet of the cold air duct.  
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the anti-static treatment is defined by coating the cold air duct with a material having a surface resistance of 10 5  Ω/sq or less on the portion of the cold air duct.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the anti-static treatment is defined by coating polyethylene on the portion of the cold air duct.  
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the cold air duct includes a plurality of uniformly spaced cold air outlets, 
 and the ions generated from the ion generator are uniformly distributed into the overall portion of the storage compartment through the cold air outlets.    
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the cooling fan is arranged at a lower portion of the storage compartment; and    the ion generator is arranged at a lower end of the cold air duct.    
   
   
       8 . A refrigerator, comprising: 
 at least one storage compartment;    a cold air duct inside the storage compartment; and    an ion generator to generate ions disposed in the cold air duct,    wherein the ions are discharged into the storage compartment via the cold air duct to sterilize and deodorize air in the storage compartment.