Refrigerator appliance with enhanced odor control

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a food storage chamber. A method of operating the refrigerator appliance includes operating a fan of the refrigerator appliance at a first level during a normal mode. The first level is determined by a call for cooling based on a set temperature for the food storage chamber. The method also includes operating the fan at a second level greater than the first level during an enhanced odor control mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising a cabinet defining a food storage chamber therein, the method comprising:
 operating a fan of the refrigerator appliance at a first level during a normal mode, the first level determined by a call for cooling based on a set temperature for the food storage chamber; and   operating the fan at a second level greater than the first level during an enhanced odor control mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after operating the fan at the second level, measuring a temperature within the food storage chamber, comparing the measured temperature with the set temperature, and activating a heat source when the measured temperature is less than the set temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the heat source comprises a light. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the heat source comprises a heater. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, while operating the fan at the first level during the normal mode, receiving a user input, wherein the enhanced odor control mode is initiated in response to the user input. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is an evaporator fan. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises an air filter proximate to the fan, the air filter and the fan upstream of the food storage chamber with respect to an air flow path within the refrigerator appliance, whereby operating the fan comprises urging air across the air filter and into the food storage chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first level comprises a first speed and the second level comprises a second speed greater than the first speed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first level comprises a first on time and the second level comprises a second on time longer than the first on time. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a food storage chamber therein;   a fan; and   a controller, wherein the controller is configured for:
 operating the fan at a first level during a normal mode, the first level determined by a call for cooling based on a set temperature for the food storage chamber; and 
 operating the fan at a second level greater than the first level during an enhanced odor control mode. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for, after operating the fan at the second level, measuring a temperature within the food storage chamber, comparing the measured temperature with the set temperature, and activating a heat source when the measured temperature is less than the set temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the heat source comprises a light. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the heat source comprises a heater. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for, while operating the fan at the first level during the normal mode, receiving a user input, and is further configured for initiating the enhanced odor control mode in response to the user input. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the fan is an evaporator fan. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising an air filter proximate to the fan, the air filter and the fan upstream of the food storage chamber with respect to an air flow path within the refrigerator appliance, whereby operating the fan comprises urging air across the air filter and into the food storage chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the first level comprises a first speed and the second level comprises a second speed greater than the first speed. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the first level comprises a first on time and the second level comprises a second on time longer than the first on time.