Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a compressor configured to compresses a refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, a first evaporator and a second evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant condensed by the condenser, a distributor configured to distribute the refrigerant condensed by the condenser to at least one of the first evaporator and the second evaporator, a plurality of first refrigerant channels configured to supply the refrigerant distributed from the distributor to the first evaporator, at least one second refrigerant channel configured to supply the refrigerant distributed from the distributor to the second evaporator and a capillary tube disposed in each of the first refrigerant channels and the at least one second refrigerant channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;   a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor;   a first evaporator and a second evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant condensed by the condenser;   a distributor configured to distribute the refrigerant condensed by the condenser to at least one of the first evaporator and the second evaporator;   a plurality of first refrigerant channels configured to supply the refrigerant distributed from the distributor to the first evaporator;   at least one second refrigerant channel configured to supply the refrigerant distributed from the distributor to the second evaporator; and   a capillary tube disposed in each of the first refrigerant channels and the at least one second refrigerant channel.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the capillary tubes include:
 a first capillary tube that is disposed in any one of the first refrigerant channels; and   a second capillary tube that is disposed in another one of the first refrigerant channels.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein an inner diameter of the first capillary tube is the same as an inner diameter of the second capillary tube. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the second capillary tube has a different inner diameter than an inner diameter of the first capillary tube. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the distributor includes:
 a first distributor configured to distribute the refrigerant condensed by the condenser to at least one of the first refrigerant channels and the at least one second refrigerant channel; and   a second distributor configured to distribute the refrigerant from the first distributor to at least one of the first refrigerant channels.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein, in accordance with a cooling load, the second distributor selectively opens and closes individual first refrigerant channels of the first refrigerant channels to change the amount of the refrigerant that is supplied to the first evaporator in accordance with cooling load. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one second refrigerant channel includes a plurality of second refrigerant channels, and
 the distributor further includes a third distributor configured to distribute the refrigerant from the first distributor to at least one of the second refrigerant channels.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein, in accordance with a cooling load, the second distributor selectively opens and closes individual second refrigerant channels of the second refrigerant channels to change the amount of the refrigerant that is supplied to the second evaporator. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the capillary tubes include:
 a third capillary tube that is disposed in any one of the second refrigerant channels; and   a fourth capillary tube that is disposed in another one of the second refrigerant channels.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein an inner diameter of the third capillary tube is the same as an inner diameter of the fourth capillary tube. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the second capillary tube has a different inner diameter than an inner diameter of the first capillary tube. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first distributor, the second distributor, and the third distributor is a 3-way valve. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the distributor is configured to selectively distribute the refrigerant to the first refrigerant channels and the at least one second refrigerant channel. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the distributor includes at least three refrigerant outlets and at least one of the three refrigerant outlets is connected to the at least one second refrigerant channel. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the distributor is a 4-way valve. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first evaporator has a larger capacity than a capacity of the second evaporator. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to control the distributor. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;   a condenser configured to condense the refrigerator compressed by the compressor;   a distributor configured to distribute the refrigerant condensed by the condenser;   a first refrigerant channel and a second refrigerant channel configured to receive refrigerant distributed by the distributor;   an evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant distributed by the distributor through at least one of the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel;   a first capillary tube disposed in the first refrigerant channel; and   a second capillary tube disposed in the second refrigerant channel, the second capillary tube having a different inner diameter than an inner diameter of the first capillary tube,   wherein the distributor distributes the refrigerant to at least one of the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel in accordance with cooling load.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a refrigerator compartment;   a freezer compartment;   a refrigerator compartment damper configured to control a flow of air cooled by the evaporator to the refrigerator compartment;   a freezer compartment damper configured to control a flow of air cooled by the evaporator to the freezer compartment; and   a control unit configured to control the freezer compartment damper, the refrigerator compartment damper and the distributor.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator according  claim 19 , wherein, in accordance with a first mode of operation, the control unit is configured to open the freezer compartment damper, close the refrigerator compartment damper, and control the distributor to distribute refrigerant to the first refrigerant channel, and
 wherein, in accordance with a second mode of operation, the control unit is configured to open the refrigerator compartment damper, close the freezer compartment damper, and control the distributor to distribute refrigerant to the second refrigerant channel.