Refrigerator having a dew prevention and/or control device and method for preventing formation of dew therein and/or thereon

Abstract

A refrigerator having a dew prevention and/or control device and a method for preventing the formation of dew in and/or on the refrigerator includes a compressor adapted to compress a refrigerant, a condenser adapted to condense the refrigerant from the compressor, an evaporator adapted to cool air existing therearound by evaporating the refrigerant that passes through the condenser, a pipe between the condenser and the evaporator, configured to pass through the refrigerator body, humidity sensors and/or detectors configured to determine a humidity around the refrigerator, and a controller adapted to vary rotational speed of the fan in accordance with the humidity determined by the humidity sensors and/or detectors, thereby efficiently preventing the formation of dew on or in the refrigerator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator for preventing formation of dew in a refrigerator, comprising:
 a compressor adapted to compress a refrigerant;   a condenser adapted to condense the refrigerant from the compressor;   an evaporator adapted to cool air existing therearound by evaporating the refrigerant that passes through the condenser;   a fan adapted to blow the refrigerant towards the condenser;   a pipe between the condenser and the evaporator, configured to pass through the refrigerator body;   humidity sensors and/or detectors adapted to determine a humidity around the refrigerator; and   a controller adapted to vary a rotational speed of the fan in accordance with the humidity determined by the humidity sensors and/or detectors.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors and/or detectors adapted to determine a temperature around the refrigerator, and the controller controls the rotational speed of the fan in accordance with the temperature around the refrigerator. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant passes through the condenser at a relatively high temperature and a relatively low pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate that partitions a cold storage space and a freezer in the refrigerator. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the pipe is configured to carry refrigerant to the condenser, and the controller controls the temperature of the pipe by blowing air over the condenser using the fan. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotational speed of the fan is proportional to the temperature of the pipe and inversely proportional to the humidity around the refrigerator. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the humidity sensor and/or detector determines that the humidity around the refrigerator is greater than humidity conditions that promote formation of dew, and an output of the fan is maintained at a maximum rotational rate. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein when the humidity sensors and/or detectors determine that the humidity is less than 60%, the rotational speed of the fan is 100% of the maximum rotational speed at a rated load. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein when the humidity sensors and/or detectors determine that the humidity is in a range between 60% and 70%, the rotational speed of the fan is 80% of the maximum rotational speed at the rated load. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein when the humidity sensors and/or detectors determine that the humidity is in a range between 70% and 80%, the rotational speed of the fan is 60% of the maximum rotational speed at the rated load. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein when the humidity sensors and/or detectors determine that the humidity is in a range between 80% and 90%, the rotational speed of the fan is 40% of the maximum rotational speed at the rated load. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein when the humidity sensors and/or detectors determine that the humidity is in a range between 90% and 100%, the rotational speed of the fan is 20% of the maximum rotational speed at the rated load. 
     
     
         13 . A method for preventing formation of dew in and/or on a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 determining a humidity around the refrigerator;   varying a rotational speed of a fan in the refrigerator in accordance with the determined humidity; and   controlling a temperature of a pipe in the refrigerator.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the humidity promotes dew formation, and the method further comprises decreasing the rotational speed of the fan and/or increasing the temperature of the pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising determining a temperature around the refrigerator, and controlling the rotational speed of the fan in accordance with the humidity and the temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 compressing a refrigerant in a tube;   condensing the compressed refrigerant; and   evaporating the condensed refrigerant.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the refrigerant passes through the condenser at a relatively high temperature and a relatively low pressure. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising controlling the temperature of the tube by blowing air over a condenser coupled to the pipe with the fan. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotational speed of the fan proportional to the temperature of the pipe and inversely proportional to the humidity around the refrigerator body. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising maintaining a rotational speed of the fan at a maximum rotational speed when the humidity around the refrigerator is greater than the humidity that promotes the formation of dew.