A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet in which a storage space is formed; a main evaporator which is installed at one side of an inner portion of the storage space to cool the storage space; a case which is installed on the other side of the inner portion of the storage space and defines a deep-freezing storage chamber; a drawer which is accommodated in the case so as to be retractable and withdrawable and in which food is stored; and a rapid cooling module which is provided on a rear side of the inner portion of the case and rapidly cools the deep-freezing storage chamber, in which the rapid cooling module includes an auxiliary evaporator in which a low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant flow, and a thermoelectric device which is installed so that an exothermic surface is attached to the surface of the auxiliary evaporator and an endothermic surface faces the drawer, thereby cooling the deep-freezing storage chamber.

A cylindrical hole is formed between peripheral belt portions of two container constituent plates of a thermal storage material container of an evaporator with a cool storage function. A cylindrical portion of a thermal storage material charging member having a thermal storage material charging passage is disposed in the cylindrical hole and brazed to the two container constituent plates. That portion of the thermal storage material charging member which protrudes from the cylindrical hole includes a crushed portion and a cylindrical uncrushed portion. The crushed portion seals the thermal storage material passage. The cylindrical portion of the thermal storage material charging member is smaller in outside diameter than the uncrushed portion, and the cylindrical portion and the uncrushed portion have the same inside diameter. The cylindrical portion has an inward protrusion protruding into a thermal storage material containing space, and the inward protrusion has a radially expanding engagement portion.

A method for controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: determining whether or not an ultra-low temperature compartment mode is turned on; determining whether or not an ultra-low temperature compartment load-responsive operation input condition is satisfied; and determining whether or not a freezer compartment load-responsive operation input condition is satisfied, wherein if the ultra-low temperature compartment mode is turned on, and the ultra-low temperature compartment load-responsive operation input condition and the freezer compartment load-responsive operation input condition are both satisfied, a corresponding ultra-low temperature compartment load-responsive operation is preferentially performed.

Perishable products, such as food items or biological samples, often require specific temperature control to prolong their shelf life or maintain their integrity during storage and transportation. Supercooling, achieved by subjecting the products to pulsed electric fields, can effectively reduce their temperature while preserving their quality. The present disclosure addresses the various drawbacks in the related art by providing a method and system for selectively applying pulsed electric fields to perishable products using a plurality of electrodes. The method includes supplying power to different combinations of electrodes positioned within a container housing the perishable products, obtaining measurement data for each combination, selecting the combination based on the obtained measurement data, and applying a pulsed electric field between the selected electrodes to cool the perishable products.

Perishable products, such as food items or biological samples, often require specific temperature control to prolong their shelf life or maintain their integrity during storage and transportation. Supercooling, achieved by subjecting the products to pulsed electric fields, can effectively reduce their temperature while preserving their quality. The present disclosure addresses the various drawbacks in the related art by providing a method and system for selectively applying pulsed electric fields to perishable products using a plurality of electrodes. The method includes supplying power to different combinations of electrodes positioned within a container housing the perishable products, obtaining measurement data for each combination, selecting the combination based on the obtained measurement data, and applying a pulsed electric field between the selected electrodes to cool the perishable products.

A two-stage cascade refrigeration system is provided having a first refrigeration stage and a second refrigeration stage. The first refrigeration stage defines a first fluid circuit for circulating a first refrigerant, and has a first compressor, a condenser, and a first expansion device that is in fluid communication with the first fluid circuit. The second refrigeration stage defines a second fluid circuit for circulating a second refrigerant, with the second refrigeration stage having a second compressor, a second expansion device, and an evaporator that is in fluid communication with the second fluid circuit. A heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid circuits to exchange heat between the first and second refrigerants. At least one of the first or second compressors is a variable speed compressor.

A two-stage cascade refrigeration system is provided having a first refrigeration stage and a second refrigeration stage. The first refrigeration stage defines a first fluid circuit for circulating a first refrigerant, and has a first compressor, a condenser, and a first expansion device that is in fluid communication with the first fluid circuit. The second refrigeration stage defines a second fluid circuit for circulating a second refrigerant, with the second refrigeration stage having a second compressor, a second expansion device, and an evaporator that is in fluid communication with the second fluid circuit. A heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid circuits to exchange heat between the first and second refrigerants. At least one of the first or second compressors is a variable speed compressor.

A method for controlling a refrigerator includes a step in which it is determined whether a period of defrosting (POD) for defrosting a freezing compartment and a deep-freezing compartment has elapsed; a step in which, when it is determined that the period of defrosting has elapsed, a deep cooling operation for cooling at least one from among the temperature of the deep-freezing compartment and the temperature of the freezing compartment to be lower than a control temperature is performed; and a step in which, when the deep cooling operation finishes, a defrosting operation for defrosting the freezing compartment and the deep-freezing compartment is performed.

A chest freezer includes a plurality of insulated walls forming a compartment that includes an upwardly facing opening. A door is configured to selectively provide access to the compartment through the upwardly facing opening. A breaker strip forms at least a portion of an upper periphery of the compartment. A channel is formed in at least a portion of the breaker strip. The channel is configured to permit attachment of a storage container thereto. A cantilevered storage container for a chest freezer is also provided.

A chest freezer includes a plurality of insulated walls forming a compartment that includes an upwardly facing opening. A door is configured to selectively provide access to the compartment through the upwardly facing opening. A breaker strip forms at least a portion of an upper periphery of the compartment. A channel is formed in at least a portion of the breaker strip. The channel is configured to permit attachment of a storage container thereto. A cantilevered storage container for a chest freezer is also provided.