Refrigerator and operation control method thereof

Abstract

A refrigerator including a main body which has a plurality of storing compartments, a plurality of evaporators which are provided to correspond to the storing compartments respectively, a plurality of blowing fans which are provided to correspond to the evaporators respectively to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments, and a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, the refrigerator further includes: a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors which sense temperature of each evaporator; and a controlling part which, if temperature of the evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor is lower than a defrosting temperature of the evaporator after the compressor stops operating, controls the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having temperature lower than the defrosting temperature to be operated.

1 . A refrigerator comprising a main body which has a plurality of storing compartments, a plurality of evaporators which are provided to correspond to the storing compartments respectively, a plurality of blowing fans which are provided to correspond to the evaporators respectively to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments, and a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, the refrigerator further comprising:
 a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors which sense temperature of each evaporator; and   a controlling part which, if temperature of the evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor is lower than a defrosting temperature of the evaporator after the compressor stops operating, controls the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having temperature lower than the defrosting temperature to be operated.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature setting part which sets the temperature of each storing compartment,
 wherein the controlling part compares a new set temperature set by the temperature setting part with a former set temperature of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is applied, and if the new set temperature is lower than the former set temperature, the controlling part controls the blowing fan of the storing compartment, where the new set temperature is set, to be operated.   
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein operation time of the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set increases in proportion to difference between the new set temperature and the former set temperature. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators;   a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;   a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;   a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe;   a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and   a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment,   wherein if, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than a set temperature, the controlling part controls the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe, and controls the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe to be operated.   
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators;   a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;   a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;   a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe;   a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and   a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment,   wherein if, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than a set temperature, the controlling part controls the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe, and controls the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe to be operated.   
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators;   a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;   a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators;   a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe;   a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and   a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment,   wherein if, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than a set temperature, the controlling part controls the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe, and controls the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe to be operated.   
   
   
       7 . An operation control method of a refrigerator including a main body which has a plurality of storing compartments, a plurality of evaporators which are provided to correspond to the storing compartments respectively, a plurality of blowing fans which are provided to correspond to the evaporators respectively to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments, a compressor and a condenser which are provided in the main body, a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors which sense temperature of each evaporator, a temperature setting part which sets a temperature of each storing compartment, a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators, a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators, a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators, a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe, a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe, and a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment, the operation control method comprising:
 sensing a temperature of each evaporator through the respective evaporator temperature sensors after the compressor stops operating;   comparing the temperature of each evaporator sensed through the respective evaporator temperature sensors with a defrosting temperature of the evaporator; and   operating, if the temperature of the evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor is lower than the defrosting temperature of the evaporator, the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having temperature lower than the defrosting temperature.   
   
   
       8 . The operation control method of a refrigerator according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 comparing a new set temperature set by the temperature setting part with a former set temperature of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is applied; and   operating, if the new set temperature is lower than the former set temperature, the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set.   
   
   
       9 . The operation control method of a refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein an operation time of the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set increases in proportion to difference between the new set temperature and the former set temperature. 
   
   
       10 . The operation control method of a refrigerator according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 sensing, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed;   comparing the sensed temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed with a set temperature of each storing compartment;   controlling, if the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than the set temperature, the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe; and   operating the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe.   
   
   
       11 . The operation control method of a refrigerator according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 sensing, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed;   comparing the sensed temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed with a set temperature of each storing compartment;   controlling, if the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than the set temperature, the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe; and   operating the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe.   
   
   
       12 . The operation control method of a refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the refrigerator further comprises a supplying pipe which serially connects the compressor with the condenser and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators; a first branch pipe which branches off from the supplying pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators; a second branch pipe which is serially connected with the first branch pipe and is serially connected to the plurality of evaporators; a bypass pipe which branches off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe to bypass the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe; a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment, and
 the operation control method of a refrigerator further comprises   sensing, during operation of the compressor, the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed;   comparing the sensed temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed with a set temperature of each storing compartment;   controlling, if the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than the set temperature, the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and to open the bypass pipe; and   operating the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe.   
   
   
       13 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body partitioned into four storing compartments;   first through fourth evaporators, each one of the first through evaporator corresponding to one of the four storing compartments, each evaporator including a blowing fan to supply cold air whose heat has been exchanged at the evaporators to the storing compartments and an evaporator temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the evaporator;   a compressor and a condenser provided in the main body;   a controlling part which, if the temperature of one of the first through fourth evaporators sensed by the corresponding evaporator temperature sensor is lower than a defrosting temperature of the evaporator after the compressor stops operating, controls the blowing fan that corresponds to the evaporator having a temperature lower than the defrosting temperature to be operated.   
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a temperature setting part which sets the temperature of each storing compartment,   wherein the controlling part compares a new set temperature set by the temperature setting part with a former set temperature of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is applied, and if the new set temperature is lower than the former set temperature, the controlling part controls the blowing fan of the evaporator, where the new set temperature is set, to be operated.   
   
   
       15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein an operation time of the blowing fan of the storing compartment where the new set temperature is set increases in proportion to difference between the new set temperature and the former set temperature. 
   
   
       16 . The refrigerator according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a supplying pipe serially connecting the compressor to the condenser that supplies refrigerant to the first through fourth evaporators;   a first branch pipe branching off from the supplying pipe and serially connected to the first and third evaporators;   a second branch pipe serially connected to the first branch pipe and serially connected to the second and fourth plurality of evaporators;   a bypass pipe branching off between the first branch pipe and the supplying pipe that bypasses the refrigerant of the supplying pipe to the second branch pipe;   a selecting valve which is provided among the supplying pipe, the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe to selectively open or close the first branch pipe and the bypass pipe; and   a plurality of room temperature sensors which sense temperature of each storing compartment,   wherein, during operation of the compressor, if the temperature of each storing compartment where the first branch pipe is installed is lower than a set temperature, the controlling part controls the selecting valve to close the first branch pipe and open the bypass pipe, and controls the blowing fan which corresponds to each evaporator installed in the first branch pipe to be operated.