REFRIGERATOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20170176083A1
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: SUL, Heayoun, KIM, Dongseok
• Granted Patent: US 10,718,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/02731 using one three-way valve
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0251 with on-off operation
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/111 of condenser fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/112 of evaporator fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2104 of an indoor room or compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/02 Subcoolers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/39 Dispositions with two or more expansion means arranged in series, i.e. multi-stage expansion, on a refrigerant line leading to the same evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/02 for compression type machines, plants or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/02 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/04 arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 6/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with several condenser circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 6/04 arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 7/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with cascade operation, i.e. with two or more circuits, the heat from the condenser of one circuit being absorbed by the evaporator of the next circuit F25B9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/006 with cold storage accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/065 with compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

Disclosed are a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator according to one aspect includes a main body having a storage chamber; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; an evaporation expander configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant depressurized by the evaporation expander and thus to cool the storage chamber; a condensing expander installed between the condenser and the evaporation expander and configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; and a subsidiary condenser installed between the condensing expander and the evaporation expander and configured to condense the refrigerant depressurized by the condensing expander.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body having a storage chamber;

a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;

a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor;

an evaporation expander configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed by the condenser;

a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant depressurized by the evaporation expander and thus to cool the storage chamber;

a condensing expander installed between the condenser and the evaporation expander and configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; and

a subsidiary condenser installed between the condensing expander and the evaporation expander and configured to condense the refrigerant depressurized by the condensing expander.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a refrigerant pipe configured to guide a flow of the refrigerant condensed by the condenser;

a first branch passage branched from the refrigerant pipe;

a second branch passage branched from the refrigerant pipe and in which the condensing expander is installed; and

a valve device installed at the refrigerant pipe and configured to branch the refrigerant to the first and second branch passages,

wherein the evaporation expander, the first evaporator, the condensing expander, and the subsidiary condenser are installed at the second branch passage.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising:

a cold storage expander configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; and

a cold storage evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant depressurized by the cold storage expander,

wherein the cold storage expander and the cold storage evaporator are installed at the first branch passage.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising a cold storage part having a phase change material (PCM) therein and in which the subsidiary condenser and the cold storage evaporator are installed,

wherein the cold storage part exchanges heat with each of the subsidiary condenser and the cold storage evaporator.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the valve device is a three-way valve having one inlet port and first and second outlet ports,

wherein the first branch passage is connected with the first outlet port,

wherein the second branch passage is connected with the second outlet port.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, further comprising an input part configured to receive an input of a desired temperature of the storage chamber, and a temperature sensor provided at an inside of the storage chamber,

wherein, when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor satisfies the desired temperature, the first outlet port is opened and the second outlet port is closed by the valve device and thus the refrigerant is guided to flow to the cold storage evaporator.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor does not satisfy the desired temperature, the second outlet port is opened and the first outlet port is closed by the valve device and thus the refrigerant is guided to flow

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising a subsidiary evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant depressurized by the first evaporation expander.

13. A method of controlling a refrigerator which comprises a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator configured to cool a storage chamber, an evaporation expander provided at an entrance side of the evaporator to depressurize a refrigerant, and a cold storage evaporator configured to store cold air in a cold storage part, comprising:

driving the compressor, and introducing the refrigerant passing through the condenser into at least one of the evaporator and the cold storage evaporator by a valve device; and

determining whether a temperature of the storage chamber satisfies a desired temperature,

wherein, when the temperature of the storage chamber does not satisfy the desired temperature, the refrigerant flows through a condensing expander provided at an entrance side of the evaporator and a subsidiary condenser, and is introduced into the evaporator.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, when the temperature of the storage chamber satisfies the desired temperature, the refrigerant flows through a cold storage expander provided at an entrance side of the cold storage evaporator and a subsidiary condenser, and is introduced into the cold storage evaporator.