Apparatus and method for diagnosing valve failure of refrigerator

Abstract

An apparatus is for diagnosing a valve failure of a refrigerator by detecting whether or not a first valve configured to control flow of a refrigerant circulating in a first refrigeration compartment and a second valve configured to control flow of a refrigerant circulating in a second refrigeration compartment are abnormal. The apparatus includes a first temperature sensor measuring a temperature in the first refrigeration compartment, a second temperature sensor measuring a temperature in the second refrigeration compartment, and a controller configured to determine whether or not the first valve and the second valve are abnormal by comparing changes in temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor in a state where the first valve or the second valve is opened. The apparatus further includes a display configured to display the determination result indicating whether or not the first valve and the second valve are abnormal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for diagnosing a valve failure of a refrigerator by detecting whether or not a first valve configured to control flow of a refrigerant circulating in a first refrigeration compartment and a second valve configured to control flow of a refrigerant circulating in a second refrigeration compartment are abnormal, the apparatus comprising:
 a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature in the first refrigeration compartment;   a second temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature in the second refrigeration compartment;   a controller configured to determine whether or not the first valve and the second valve are abnormal by comparing changes in temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor in a state where the first valve or the second valve is opened; and   a display configured to display a determination result of the controller, the determination result indicating whether or not the first valve and the second valve are abnormal.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to calculate temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigerant compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened and based thereon determines that the first valve and the second valve are in a “normal” state when the temperature in the first refrigerant compartment is decreased and the temperature in the second refrigerant compartment is constant. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to calculate temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigerant compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened and based thereon determines that “valve connection failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve when the temperature in the first refrigerant compartment is constant and the temperature in the second refrigerant compartment is decreased, wherein “valve connection failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve are reversely connected to refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigerant compartment and the second refrigerant compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to calculate temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigerant compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened and based thereon determines that “valve leakage failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve when both of the temperature in the first refrigerant compartment and the temperature in the second refrigerant compartment are decreased, wherein “valve leakage failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve maintain the refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigerant compartment and the second refrigerant compartment in an open state. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to calculate temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigerant compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened and based thereon determines that “valve operation failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve when the first refrigerant compartment and the temperature in the second refrigerant compartment are constant, wherein “valve operation failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve maintain the refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigerant compartment and the second refrigerant compartment in a closed state. 
     
     
         6 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a first refrigeration compartment comprising a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature in the first refrigeration compartment;   a second refrigeration compartment comprising a second temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature in the second refrigeration compartment;   a first valve configured to control flow of a refrigerant circulating in the first refrigeration compartment;   a second valve configured to control flow of a refrigerant circulating in the second refrigeration compartment; and   a device for diagnosing a valve failure by detecting whether the first valve and the second valve are abnormal, the device comprising:
 a controller configured to determine if the first valve and the second valve are abnormal by comparing changes in temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor in a state where the first valve or the second valve is opened; and 
 a display configured to display a determination result of said controller, the determination result indicating whether or not the first valve and the second valve are abnormal. 
   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is operable to calculate temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigerant compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened and based thereon determines that the first valve and the second valve are in a “normal” state when the temperature in the first refrigerant compartment is decreased and the temperature in the second refrigerant compartment is constant. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is operable to calculate temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigerant compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened and based thereon determines that “valve connection failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve when the temperature in the first refrigerant compartment is constant and the temperature in the second refrigerant compartment is decreased, wherein “valve connection failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve are reversely connected to refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigerant compartment and the second refrigerant compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is operable to calculate temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigerant compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened and based thereon determines that “valve leakage failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve when both of the temperature in the first refrigerant compartment and the temperature in the second refrigerant compartment are decreased, wherein “valve leakage failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve maintain the refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigerant compartment and the second refrigerant compartment in an open state. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is operable to calculate temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigerant compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened and based thereon determines that “valve operation failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve when the first refrigerant compartment and the temperature in the second refrigerant compartment are constant, wherein “valve operation failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve maintain the refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigerant compartment and the second refrigerant compartment in a closed state. 
     
     
         11 . A method for diagnosing a valve failure of a refrigerator by detecting whether a first valve and a second valve are abnormal, the first valve being configured to control flow of a refrigerant circulating in a first refrigeration compartment and a second valve being configured to control flow of a refrigerant circulating in a second refrigeration compartment, the method comprising:
 measuring temperatures in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment;   determining whether the first valve and the second valve are abnormal by comparing changes in the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor in a state where the first valve or the second valve is opened; and   displaying an indication of whether the first valve and the second valve are abnormal.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said determining whether the first valve and the second valve are abnormal comprises:
 calculating temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened; and   when the temperature in the first refrigeration compartment is decreased and the temperature in the second refrigeration compartment is constant, determining that the first valve and the second valve are in a “normal” state.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said determining whether the first valve and the second valve are abnormal comprises:
 calculating temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the first valve is opened; and   when the temperature in the first refrigeration compartment is decreased and the temperature in the second refrigeration compartment is constant, determining that the first valve and the second valve are in a “normal” state;   when the temperature in the first refrigeration compartment is constant and the temperature in the second refrigeration compartment is decreased, determining that “valve connection failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve, wherein “valve connection failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve are reversely connected to refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigerant compartment and the second refrigerant compartment;   when both of the temperature in the first refrigeration compartment and the temperature in the second refrigeration compartment are decreased, determining that “valve leakage failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve, wherein “valve leakage failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve maintain the refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment in an open state; and   when the temperatures in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment are constant, determining that “valve operation failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve, wherein “valve operation failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve maintain the refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment in a closed state.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein in said determining whether the first valve and the second valve are abnormal comprises:
 calculating temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the second valve is opened; and   when the temperature in the second refrigeration compartment is decreased and the temperature in the first refrigeration compartment is constant, determining that the first valve and the second valve are in a “normal” state.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said determining whether the first valve and the second valve are abnormal comprises:
 calculating temperature changes in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment for a preset period of time in a state where the second valve is opened;   when the temperature in the second refrigeration compartment is decreased and the temperature in the first refrigeration compartment is constant, determining that the first valve and the second valve are in a “normal” state;   when the temperature in the second refrigeration compartment is constant and the temperature in the first refrigeration compartment is decreased, determining that “valve connection failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve, wherein “valve connection failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve are reversely connected to refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigerant compartment and the second refrigerant compartment;   when both of the temperature in the first refrigeration compartment and the temperature in the second refrigeration compartment are decreased, determining that “valve leakage failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve, wherein “valve leakage failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve maintain the refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment in an open state; and   when the temperatures in the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment are constant, determining that “valve operation failure” has occurred in the first valve and the second valve, wherein “valve operation failure” indicates that the first valve and the second valve maintain the refrigerant flow paths of the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment in a closed state.