Refrigerator and control method thereof

Abstract

A control method includes determining whether to perform a defrosting operation of an evaporator, closing a valve to prevent refrigerant from moving into the evaporator if implementation of the defrosting operation is determined, performing a refrigerant collecting operation, and opening the valve upon completion of the defrosting operation. Intercepting a flow path of the refrigerant to prevent the refrigerant from moving into the evaporator during defrosting prevents explosion due to leakage of the refrigerant.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor;   a condenser to condense refrigerant compressed in the compressor;   an evaporator to evaporate the condensed refrigerant;   a valve to open or close a flow path of the refrigerant; and   a control unit to close the valve upon a defrosting operation of the evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines whether to perform the defrosting operation of the evaporator, closes the valve to prevent the refrigerant from moving into the evaporator if implementation of the defrosting operation of the evaporator is determined, performs a refrigerant collecting operation, and opens the closed valve upon completion of the defrosting operation. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the refrigerant collecting operation is performed in such a manner that the compressor is operated in a closed state of the valve to move the refrigerant distributed in the evaporator into the condenser. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator includes a freezing compartment evaporator and a refrigerating compartment evaporator. 
     
     
         5 . A control method of a refrigerator including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a valve, the control method comprising:
 determining whether to perform a defrosting operation of the evaporator;   closing the valve to prevent refrigerant from moving into the evaporator if implementation of the defrosting operation of the evaporator is determined;   performing a refrigerant collecting operation; and   opening the closed valve upon completion of the defrosting operation.   
     
     
         6 . The control method according to  claim 5 , wherein implementation of the refrigerant collecting operation includes operating the compressor in a closed state of the valve to move the refrigerant distributed in the evaporator into the condenser. 
     
     
         7 . The control method according to  claim 5 , wherein the evaporator includes a freezing compartment evaporator and a refrigerating compartment evaporator. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator comprising a freezing compartment evaporator, a refrigerating compartment evaporator, a freezing compartment fan and a refrigerating compartment fan, which are independently installed in a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, the refrigerator further comprising:
 a control unit to reduce revolutions per minute of the refrigerating compartment fan upon simultaneous cooling of the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment,   wherein the freezing compartment evaporator is located at a front end of the refrigerating compartment evaporator and is connected in series to the refrigerating compartment evaporator.   
     
     
         9 . A control method of a refrigerator including a refrigerating compartment evaporator, a freezing compartment evaporator located at a front end of the refrigerating compartment evaporator and connected in series thereto, a refrigerating compartment fan and a freezing compartment fan to enable independent cooling of a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, the control method comprising:
 determining whether or not a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment are simultaneously cooled; and   reducing revolutions per minute of the refrigerating compartment fan to reduce evaporation capacity of the refrigerating compartment if simultaneous cooling of the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment is determined.   
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a first refrigerant circuit, through which refrigerant discharged from a compressor moves toward an entrance of the compressor by way of a condenser, a valve, a first expansion device, a first evaporator and a second evaporator; and   a control unit to control opening/closing of the valve according to whether or not a defrosting operation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator is performed.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit determines whether to perform the defrosting operation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator, closes the valve to prevent the refrigerant from moving into the first evaporator and the second evaporator if implementation of the defrosting operation of any one of the first evaporator and the second evaporator is determined, performs a refrigerant collecting operation, and opens the closed valve upon completion of the defrosting operation 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant collecting operation is performed in such a manner that the compressor is operated in a closed state of the valve to move the refrigerant distributed in the first evaporator and the second evaporator into the condenser. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 10 , further comprising a second refrigerant circuit, through which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor moves toward a suction side of the compressor by way of the condenser, the valve, a second expansion device and the second evaporator. 
     
     
         14 . A control method of a refrigerator comprising: a first refrigerant circuit, through which refrigerant discharged from a compressor moves toward an entrance of the compressor by way of a condenser, a valve, a first expansion device, a first evaporator and a second evaporator; and a control unit to control opening/closing of the valve according to whether or not a defrosting operation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator is performed, the control method comprising:
 determining whether to perform a defrosting operation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator;   closing the valve to prevent refrigerant from moving into the first evaporator and the second evaporator if implementation of any one of the defrosting operation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator is determined;   performing a refrigerant collecting operation; and   opening the closed valve upon completion of the defrosting operation.   
     
     
         15 . A control method of a refrigerator comprising: a first refrigerant circuit, through which refrigerant discharged from a compressor moves toward an entrance of the compressor by way of a condenser, a valve, a first expansion device, a first evaporator and a second evaporator; a second refrigerant circuit, through which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor moves toward a suction side of the compressor by way of the condenser, the valve, a second expansion device and the second evaporator; and a control unit to control opening/closing of the valve according to whether or not a defrosting operation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator is performed, the control method comprising:
 determining whether to perform a defrosting operation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator;   closing the valve to prevent refrigerant from moving into the first evaporator and the second evaporator if implementation of any one of the defrosting operation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator is determined;   performing a refrigerant collecting operation; and   opening the closed valve upon completion of the defrosting operation.