Method for operating a refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A method for operating a refrigerator appliance is provided. The method includes selecting a higher humidity setting or a lower humidity setting. A fan of the refrigerator appliance is operated in a first manner if the higher humidity setting is selected, and the fresh food fan is operated in a second, different manner if the lower humidity setting is selected. The method can assist with regulating humidity within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 selecting a higher humidity setting or a lower humidity setting;   operating a fresh food fan of the refrigerator appliance at a first speed if the higher humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting; and   working the fresh food fan at a second speed if the lower humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, the second speed being less than the first speed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing air from the fresh food fan across a fresh food evaporator of the refrigerator appliance during said step of operating and during said step of working 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said step of operating comprises operating the fresh food fan at the first speed if the higher humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, the first speed maintaining the fresh food evaporator at a first temperature during said step of operating; and   said step of working comprises working the fresh food fan at the second speed if the lower humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, the second speed maintaining the fresh food evaporator at a second temperature during said step of operating, the first temperature being greater than the second temperature.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising condensing or desublimating water vapor onto a fresh food evaporator of the refrigerator appliance during said step of operating and during said step of working. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 said step of operating comprises operating the fresh food fan at the first speed if the higher humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, a first volume of water condensing or desublimating onto the fresh food evaporator during said step of operating; and   said step of working comprises working the fresh food fan at the second speed if the lower humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, a second volume of water condensing or desublimating onto the fresh food evaporator during said step of working, the first volume of water being greater than the second volume of water.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting comprises utilizing a control panel of the refrigeration appliance to select the higher humidity setting or the lower humidity setting. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing refrigerant through a fresh food evaporator of the refrigerator appliance during said step of operating and during said step of working. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a humidity within a fresh food chamber of the refrigerator appliance is greater after said step of operating than after said working. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said step of operating comprises operating the fresh food fan at the first speed for a first time interval if the higher humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting; and   said step of working comprises working the fresh food fan at the second speed for a second time interval if the lower humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, the second time interval being less than the first time interval.   
     
     
         10 . A method for operating a refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 selecting a higher humidity setting or a lower humidity setting;   operating a fresh food fan of the refrigerator appliance for a first time interval if the higher humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting; and   working the fresh food fan for a second time interval if the lower humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, the second time interval being less than the first time interval.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising directing air from the fresh food fan across a fresh food evaporator of the refrigerator appliance during said step of operating and during said step of working. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising stopping a flow of refrigerant through the fresh food evaporator during said step of operating and during said step of working. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising vaporizing or sublimating water on a fresh food evaporator of the refrigerator appliance during said step of operating and during said step of working. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 said step of operating comprises operating the fresh food fan for the first time interval if the higher humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, a first volume of water vaporizing or sublimating from the fresh food evaporator during said step of operating; and   said step of working comprises working the fresh food fan for the second time interval if the lower humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, a second volume of water vaporizing or sublimating from the fresh food evaporator during said step of working, the first volume of water being greater than the second volume of water.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of selecting comprises utilizing a control panel of the refrigeration appliance to select the higher humidity setting or the lower humidity setting. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a humidity within a fresh food chamber of the refrigerator appliance is greater after said step of operating than after said working. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said step of operating comprises operating the fresh food fan at a first speed during the first time interval if the higher humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting; and   said step of working comprises working the fresh food fan at a second speed during the second time interval if the lower humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting, the second speed being less than the first speed.   
     
     
         18 . A method for operating a refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 selecting a higher humidity setting or a lower humidity setting; and   step for adjusting a humidity within a fresh food chamber of the refrigerator appliance to a higher humidity level if the higher humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting or a lower humidity level if the lower humidity setting is selected at said step of selecting.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said step for adjusting comprises changing a speed or an on time interval of a fan of the refrigerator appliance.