Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a refrigeration cycle system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentially passes; a blower fan sending air cooled by the evaporator to a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment; and a damper regulating air sent from the evaporator to the refrigerator compartment, in which when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is not satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a concurrent operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is opened, and first voltage is applied to the blower fan, and when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a freezer compartment single operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is closed, and second voltage lower than the first voltage is applied to the blower fan. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the power consumed in the freezer compartment single operation mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a body having a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment formed therein;   a refrigeration cycle system disposed in the body, including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentially passes, and to cool air with the refrigerant;   a blower fan to send the air cooled by the evaporator to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment; and   a damper to regulate the air sent from the evaporator to the refrigerator compartment,   wherein when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a concurrent operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is opened, and first voltage is applied to the blower fan, and   when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and refrigerator compartment temperature is satisfactory in the concurrent operation mode, the refrigerator operates in a freezer compartment single operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is closed, and second voltage lower than the first voltage is applied to the blower fan.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein when the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory in the freezer compartment single operation mode, the compressor is stopped and the voltage applied to the blower fan is stopped. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein when the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory in the freezer compartment single operation mode, the refrigerator operates in a blower fan-additional operation mode in which the compressor is stopped and the blower fan is kept operating for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein when the predetermined time passes, the voltage applied to the blower fan is stopped. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the second voltage is applied to the blower fan in the blower fan-additional operation mode. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein third voltage lower than the second voltage is applied to the blower fan in the blower fan-additional operation mode. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a refrigerator comprising:
 operating a compressor, opening a damper regulating air cooled by an evaporator and supplied to the refrigerator compartment, and applying first voltage to a blower fan sending the air cooled by the evaporator to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is not satisfactory; and   keeping the compressor operating, closing the damper, and applying second voltage lower than the first voltage to the blower fan, when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature becomes satisfactory.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprises stopping the compressor and stopping the second voltage applied to the blower fan, when the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory while the second voltage is applied to the blower fan. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprises stopping the compressor and keeping the blower fan operating for a predetermined time, when the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory while the second voltage is applied to the blower fan. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second voltage applied to the blower fan is stopped, after the predetermined time passes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second voltage is applied to the blower fan for the predetermined time. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a body having a freezer compartment formed therein;   a refrigeration cycle system disposed in the body, including a compressor, a condenser, a hot line, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentially passes;   a blower fan to circulate the air in the freezer compartment through the evaporator and the freezer compartment;   a condenser fan to send air to the condenser; and   a humidity sensor to sense humidity,   wherein when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the humidity sensed by the humidity sensor is less than a predetermined level, first power is inputted to the compressor and the condenser fan is operated in a first rotational speed, and   when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the humidity sensed by the humidity sensor is at the predetermined level or more, second power higher than the first power is inputted to the compressor and the condenser fan is rotated at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed.   
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a refrigerator, comprising:
 sensing humidity with a humidity sensor;   operating a condenser fan to send air to a condenser at a first rotational speed and inputting first power to a compressor compressing a refrigerant, when the sensed humidity is less than predetermined humidity and the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory, and operating the condenser fan at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed and inputting second power higher than the first power to the compressor, when the sensed humidity is at the predetermined humidity or more and the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory.   
     
     
         14 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a body having a freezer compartment formed therein;   a refrigeration cycle system disposed in the body and including a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant control valve, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentially passes; and   a blower fan to circulate the air in the freezer compartment through the evaporator and the freezer compartment,   wherein when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory, the compressor and the blower fan are started first and then the refrigerant control valve is opened, and   when freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory after the refrigerant control valve is opened, the refrigerant control valve is closed first and then the compressor and the blower fan are stopped.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the refrigerant control valve is opened when a first predetermined time passes after the compressor and the blower fan are started. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the compressor and the blower fan are stopped when a second predetermined time passes after the refrigerant control valve is closed. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , further comprising a condenser fan to send air to the condenser, wherein the condenser fan is operated with the compressor and stopped with closing of the refrigerant control valve. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a refrigerator, comprising:
 starting a compressor compressing a refrigerant and starting a condenser fan sending air to a condenser and a blower fan circulating air through an evaporator and the freezer compartment, when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory;   opening a refrigerant control vale disposed between the condenser and the evaporator, when a first predetermined time passes after the compressor, the condenser fan, and the blower fan are started;   stopping the condenser fan and closing the refrigerant control valve, when the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory; and   stopping the compressor and the blower fan when a second predetermined time passes after the refrigerant control vale is closed.   
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a body having a freezer compartment formed therein;   a refrigeration cycle system disposed in the body and including a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant control valve, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentially passes; and   a blower fan to send air cooled by the evaporator to the freezer compartment,   wherein when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory, the compressor is started first and then the refrigerant control valve is opened and the blower fan is started, and   when freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory after the refrigerant control valve is opened, the refrigerant control valve is closed first and then the compressor and the blower fan are stopped.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein the refrigerant control valve is opened when a first predetermined time passes after the compressor is started, and
 the blower fan is started when the first predetermined time passes after the compressor is started.   
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator of  claim 20 , wherein the compressor and the blower fan are stopped, when a second predetermined time passes after the refrigerant control valve is closed. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigerator of  claim 20 , further comprising a condenser fan to send air to the condenser, wherein the condenser fan is operated with the compressor and stopped with closing of the refrigerant control valve. 
     
     
         23 . A method of operating a refrigerator, comprising:
 starting a compressor compressing a refrigerant and starting a condenser fan sending air to a condenser, when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory;   opening a refrigerant control vale disposed between the condenser and the evaporator, when a first predetermined time passes after the compressor, the condenser fan, and the blower fan are started;   stopping the condenser fan and closing the refrigerant control valve, when the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory; and   stopping the compressor and the blower fan when a second predetermined time passes after the condenser fan is stopped.