Cooling apparatus for refrigerator and control method thereof

Abstract

A cooling apparatus for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure may include a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant, a decompressor configured to decompress the condensed refrigerant, an evaporator configured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerant and generate cold air inside the refrigerator, a defrosting flow path including a first end connected to a refrigerant flow path between the compressor and the condenser, and a second end connected to the refrigerant flow path between the decompressor and the evaporator, and a flow path switching valve configured to selectively direct the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the defrosting flow path or to the condenser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling apparatus for a refrigerator, comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;   a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant;   a decompressor configured to decompress the condensed refrigerant;   an evaporator configured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerant and generate cold air inside the refrigerator;   a defrosting flow path, comprising a first end connected to a refrigerant flow path between the compressor and the condenser, and a second end connected to the refrigerant flow path between the decompressor and the evaporator; and   a flow path switching valve configured to selectively direct the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the defrosting flow path or to the condenser.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flow path switching valve is further configured to direct the compressed refrigerant to the condenser while cooling the refrigerator, and to the defrosting flow path while defrosting the evaporator without passing through the condenser and the decompressor. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor comprises an inverter compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the inverter compressor is configured to control at least one of the temperature of the compressed refrigerant and the supply speed of the compressed refrigerant to the defrosting flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flow path switching valve comprises a 3-way valve. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit and a driving unit. 
     
     
         7 . A cooling apparatus for a refrigerator, comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;   a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant;   a first decompressor and a second decompressor configured to decompress a portion of or an entire amount of condensed refrigerant, respectively;   a first evaporator configured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerant from the first decompressor and generate cold air for a refrigeration compartment;   a second evaporator configured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerant from the second decompressor and generate cold air for a freezer;   a defrosting flow path comprising a first end connected to a first refrigerant flow path between the compressor and the condenser, and a second end connected to a refrigerant flow path between the first evaporator and the first decompressor or a third refrigerant flow path between the second evaporator and the second decompressor; and   a first flow path switching valve configured to direct a portion or an entire amount of compressed refrigerant from the compressor to at least one of the defrosting flow path and the condenser.   
     
     
         8 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein when defrosting the first evaporator and cooling the freezer,
 the second end of the defrosting flow path is connected to a refrigerant flow path; and   the first flow path switching valve directs a portion of the compressed refrigerant to the defrosting flow path and to the first evaporator without passing through the condenser and the first decompressor, and directs the remaining compressed refrigerant to the second evaporator through the condenser and the second decompressor.   
     
     
         9 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second flow path switching valve between the condenser and the first and second decompressors that directs the remaining compressed refrigerant from the condenser to the second decompressor.   
     
     
         10 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein when cooling the refrigeration compartment and defrosting the second evaporator,
 the second end of the defrosting flow path is connected to the third refrigerant flow path, and   the first flow path switching valve directs a portion of the compressed refrigerant to the defrosting flow path and to the second evaporator without passing through the condenser and the second decompressor, and directs the remaining compressed refrigerant to the first evaporator through the condenser and the first decompressor.   
     
     
         11 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second flow path switching valve between the condenser and the first and second decompressors, that directs the remaining compressed refrigerant passed through the condenser to the first decompressor.   
     
     
         12 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first flow path switching valve directs all the compressed refrigerant to the defrosting flow path, and the cooling apparatus further comprises:
 a third flow path switching valve on the defrosting flow path and configured to direct a portion of the compressed refrigerant directed to the defrosting flow path to the second evaporator; and   a fourth flow path switching valve on the defrosting flow path and configured to direct the remaining compressed refrigerant directed to the defrosting flow path to the first evaporator.   
     
     
         13 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the third and fourth flow path switching valves comprises a 3-way valve. 
     
     
         14 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein another one of the third and fourth flow path switching valves comprises a 4-way valve. 
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling a cooling apparatus of a refrigerator having a cooling cycle including a compressor, a condenser, a decompressor and an evaporator, the method comprising:
 determining whether to defrost the evaporator; and   supplying a refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator directly when defrosting the evaporator.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detecting whether the evaporator has been completely defrosted; and   directing the refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser when the evaporator has been completely defrosted.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cooling apparatus comprises:
 a defrosting flow path, having a first end connected to a first refrigerant flow path between the compressor and the condenser and a second end connected to a second refrigerant flow path between the decompressor and the evaporator; and   a flow path switching valve configured to selectively direct the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the defrosting flow path or to the condenser.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the compressor comprises an inverter compressor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising controlling a driving rate of the inverter compressor when defrosting the evaporator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein controlling the driving rate comprises controlling at least one of a temperature of the compressed refrigerant and a supply rate of the compressed refrigerant to the evaporator.