Refrigerator and control method thereof

Abstract

A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator may include a compressor which compresses a refrigerant; a condenser which condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; a switching valve which is connected to an outlet of the condenser; an evaporator; a first flow path which connects one branched side of the switching valve to the evaporator; a defrosting heater for removing frost formed on the evaporator; a memory; and a processor. The processor controls the switching valve to shut off the first flow path if a defrosting start condition is satisfied while the refrigerant circulates through the first flow path, and operates the defrosting heater if a first condition is satisfied in a state while the first flow path is shut off.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;   a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed in the compressor;   a switching valve having branched sides and connected to an outlet of the condenser;   an evaporator;   a first flow path which connects one branched side, from among the branched sides of the switching valve, and the evaporator;   a defrosting heater configured to remove frost formed on the evaporator;   memory; and   a processor configured to be in communication with the memory and to:
 in a state while the refrigerant circulates through the first flow path, control the switching valve to shut off the first flow path based on a defrost condition for starting defrosting being satisfied, and 
 in a state while the first flow path is shut off, operate the defrosting heater based on a first condition. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 in a state while the first flow path is shut off, operate the compressor during a time determined.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 based on the defrosting heater being operated and a determined time passing, control the switching valve to open the first flow path.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second flow path which connects an other branched side, from among the branched sides of the switching valve, and the evaporator, and   the processor is configured to:
 in a state while the first flow path is shut off, open the second flow path based on the refrigerant condensed by the condenser satisfying a second condition, and 
 in a state while the second flow path is opened and the first flow path is shut off, operate the defrosting heater based on the first condition. 
   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 in a state while the first flow path is shut off, based on a temperature of the refrigerant condensed by the condenser becoming greater than or equal to a determined value, control the switching valve to open the second flow path.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 operate the defrosting heater based on the second flow path being opened and a temperature of the evaporator being greater than or equal to a determined value.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 operate the defrosting heater based on the second flow path being opened and a determined time passing.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the second flow path comprises:
 a capillary tube.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 in a state while the first flow path is opened, continuously operate the compressor by a first time, and   in a state while the first flow path is shut off, continuously operate the compressor by a second time longer than the first time.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fan configured to discharge heat generated from the condenser, and   the processor is configured to:   in a state while the first flow path is shut off, stop an operation of the fan while the refrigerant is being condensed by the condenser.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a storage chamber, and   the processor is configured to:
 control the switching valve to transport the refrigerant to the evaporator through the first flow path such that the storage chamber is cooled. 
   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 control the switching valve to transport the refrigerant to the evaporator through the second flow path such that frost formed on the evaporator is removed.   
     
     
         13 . A control method of a refrigerator, the control method comprising:
 by a processor,
 while a refrigerant circulates through a first flow path, controlling a shut off of the first flow path based on a defrost condition for starting defrosting being satisfied; and 
 in a state while the first flow path is shut off, controlling an operation of a defrosting heater based on a first condition being satisfied. 
   
     
     
         14 . The control method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 by the processor controlling, in a state while the first flow path is shut off, an operation of a compressor during a determined time.   
     
     
         15 . The control method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 by the processor controlling, based on the defrosting heater being operated and a determined time passing, opening the first flow path.