Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator with a main body including a refrigerating compartment at a temperature higher than a freezing temperature and a freezing compartment at a temperature lower than the freezing temperature, a deep-freezing storage chamber within the main body at a temperature lower than that of the freezing compartment. The refrigerator further includes a compressor, a condenser connected to an outlet-side of the compressor, a first expansion valve connected to an outlet-side of the condenser, a first evaporator connected to an outlet-side of the first expansion valve, and a heater disposed outside the first expansion valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body comprising a refrigerating compartment maintained at a temperature higher than a freezing temperature and a freezing compartment maintained at a temperature lower than the freezing temperature;   a deep-freezing storage chamber disposed within the main body, the deep-freezing storage chamber being maintained at a temperature lower than that of the freezing compartment;   a compressor compressing a refrigerant at a high temperature and a high pressure;   a condenser connected to an outlet-side of the compressor to condense the high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant;   a first expansion valve connected to an outlet-side of the condenser to expand the refrigerant so that the refrigerant has a low-temperature low-pressure two-phase state;   a first evaporator connected to an outlet-side of the first expansion valve to change the refrigerant into a low-temperature low-pressure gas refrigerant; and   a heater disposed outside the first expansion valve, the heater supplying heat into the first expansion valve to lower an evaporation temperature of the refrigerant to a temperature lower than that of the freezing compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is disposed in such a manner that the heater contacts an outer circumferential surface of the first expansion valve. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the compressor comprises a linear compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the first evaporator is an evaporator used for cooling cool air supplied into the deep-freezing storage chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one additional evaporator for cooling one or all of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment; and   at least one additional expansion valve connected to an inlet-side of the at least one additional evaporator.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the first expansion valve and the at least one additional expansion valve are connected parallel to each other, and
 the refrigerator further comprises:   a switching valve disposed the first and the at least one additional expansion valves are branched to switch a flow direction of the refrigerant.