Refrigerator

Abstract

In a refrigerator according to the present disclosure, even if the temperature of a hot gas flow path through which a high-temperature refrigerant flows gradually decreases due to heat exchange while passing through an evaporator, the hot gas flow path is provided with heat from a heating source and reheated by a heat transfer member, sufficient heat may be provided until the hot gas completely passes through the evaporator.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor that compresses a refrigerant;   a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the compressor;   an expansion valve that decompresses the refrigerant condensed by the condenser;   an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve;   a refrigerant flow path that guides a flow of the refrigerant returning from the condenser, through the expansion valve and the evaporator to the compressor;   a hot gas flow path provided separately from the refrigerant flow path and guiding a flow of a high-temperature refrigerant compressed in the compressor so that the high-temperature refrigerant passes through an area where heat is required, without passing through the expansion valve and is returned to the compressor; and   a heating source that supplies heat while being heated by power supply.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat transfer member that conducts heat from the heating source to the hot gas flow path. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the heat transfer member contacts at least one portion of the heating source or any one portion of the hot gas flow path. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein one end of the heat transfer member is in surface contact with the heating source while surrounding at least a portion of the heating source. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the heating source is positioned adjacent to one side of the evaporator. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of a hot gas inlet side portion or a hot gas outlet side portion of the hot gas flow path is connected to the other side of the evaporator. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hot gas flow path is connected to pass through an adjacent portion of the heating source. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator includes a plurality of rows of heat exchange fins spaced apart from each other from one side to another side, and
 the hot gas flow path is formed to sequentially penetrate from the heat exchange fins of one outer row to the heat exchange fins in the other outer row among the heat exchange fins in each row.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the hot gas flow path includes:
 a first path formed to sequentially penetrate from the heat exchange fins of the one outer row to the heat exchange fins of the other outer row;   a second path extending from the first path and formed to sequentially penetrate the heat exchange fins of the other outer row; and   a third path extending from the second path and formed to sequentially penetrate the heat exchange fins of the one outer row.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the heating source is located adjacent to the second path. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor that compresses a refrigerant,   a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and discharges the condensed refrigerant to a discharge flow path,   a first expansion that decompresses the refrigerant condensed in the condenser,   a first evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the first expansion valve,   a first refrigerant flow path that guides the flow of the refrigerant passing through the first expansion valve and the first evaporator from the discharge flow path,   a second expansion valve that decompressed the refrigerant condensed in the condenser,   a second evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed in the second expansion valve,   a second refrigerant flow path that guides the flow of the refrigerant passing through the second expansion valve and the second evaporator from the discharge flow path;   a hot gas flow path that guides the flow of the refrigerant from the discharge flow path to the second evaporator through the first evaporator;   a physical property adjustment part provided in the hot gas flow path and adjusting physical properties of the refrigerant flowing to the second evaporator through the first evaporator;   a guide flow path that guides the refrigerant flowing to the second evaporator through the second expansion valve or the physical property adjustment part; and   a flow path switching valve that switches the flow path so that the refrigerant flows from the discharge flow path to at least one of the first refrigerant flow path, the second refrigerant flow path, or the hot gas flow path.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the physical property adjustment part is configured to provide a different resistance from the second expansion valve. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the physical property adjustment part is formed to have different resistance by varying the length or diameter from the second expansion valve. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the hot gas flow path includes;
 a first path from the flow path switching valve to the first evaporator, and   a second path from the first path to the physical property adjustment part through the first evaporator.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the first path is formed to have the same diameter as the discharge flow path. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the second path is formed to have a larger diameter than the first path. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the first evaporator includes a plurality of heat exchange fins, and the second path is connected to be in contact with each heat exchange fin of the first evaporator while passing therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein a heating source is provided in the first evaporator or at an adjacent portion of the first evaporator. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the hot gas flow path is formed to be heated by receiving heat from the heating source. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein, when the first evaporator is defrosted, the flow path switching valve operates such that the refrigerant passing through the discharge flow path passes through the hot gas flow path.