A method for controlling a refrigerator includes providing an initial input value to a heater configured to supply heat to an evaporator, performing a continuous operation of the heater based on the initial input value to increase a temperature of the evaporator to a predetermined temperature, determining a period of time taken to increase the temperature of the evaporator to the predetermined temperature, determining whether the period of time is within a reference period of time, operating the heater based on a first input value that is equal to the initial input value based on a determination that the period of time is outside of the reference period of time, and operating the heater based on a second input value that is less than the initial input value based on a determination that the period of time is within the reference period of time.

A method of reducing moisture content of a cooling compartment includes increasing a temperature of the cooling compartment to a minimum temperature level, decreasing the temperature of the cooling compartment to a maximum temperature level, and draining any condensed moisture from the cooling compartment. A system for reducing moisture content of a cooling compartment includes a coil assembly configured to increase a temperature of the cooling compartment to a minimum temperature level and decrease the temperature of the cooling compartment to a maximum temperature level, and a drain for draining any condensed moisture from the cooling compartment.

A system and method for controlling a refrigeration system is disclosed. The system includes a cooled compartment, at least one heat source selectively activated to provide heat, at least one sensor, and a controller. The sensor detects a temperature and a relative humidity of ambient air that surrounds the cooled compartment. The controller is in communication with the at least one heat source and the at least one sensor. The controller includes logic for calculating a dew point temperature based on the temperature and the relative humidity. The controller also includes logic for selecting a region of operation based on at least one of the dew point temperature and the relative humidity, where the region of operation is representative of ambient conditions that surround the cooled compartment. The controller further includes logic for determining if the at least one heat source is activated based on the region of operation.

A dual redundant cooling system for a container is provided. The dual redundant cooling system includes a first cooling unit and a second cooling unit. The first cooling unit is positioned in a first cabinet attached to the container. The first cooling unit includes a first controller operating a first cooling loop to cool an interior of the container. The second cooling unit is positioned in a second cabinet attached to the container and adjacent the first cabinet. The second cooling unit includes a second controller operating a second cooling loop to cool the interior of the container. The first cooling unit and the first cooling loop are separate from the second cooling unit and the second cooling loop. The first controller and the second controller communicate a switch signal between each other so that either the first cooling unit is a primary cooling unit operating the first cooling loop or the second cooling unit is the primary cooling unit operating the second cooling loop. The switch signal switching the primary cooling unit. The system interface box positioned in the second cabinet and connected to the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit. The system interface box has a first switch adapted to power on or power off the first cooling unit and a second switch adapted to power on or power off the second cooling unit.

An ice making system includes a tank that stores a medium to be cooled, an ice making machine that cools the medium and makes ice, a pump that circulates the medium between the tank and the ice making machine, a de-icing mechanism that heats the medium and melts the ice in the ice making machine, and a control device that controls operations of the ice making machine, the pump, and the de-icing mechanism. The ice making machine includes a cooling chamber that cools the medium, an inflow port through which the medium flows into the cooling chamber, and a discharge port through which the medium is discharged from the cooling chamber. The control device activates the de-icing mechanism when a pressure difference between a pressure of the medium at the inflow port and a pressure of the medium at the discharge port exceeds a predetermined value.

A heat pump system including a charge compensator having a liquid line port for an inflow of a refrigerant into the charge compensator and for an outflow of the refrigerant from the charge compensator. The heat pump system further includes an isolation valve configured to control flows of the refrigerant to and from the charge compensator through a liquid line piping of the heat pump system based on whether the heat pump system is operating in a cooling mode, a defrost mode, or a heating mode, where the liquid line port is fluidly coupled to the liquid line piping of the heat pump system.

A refrigerator includes an inner case forming a storage compartment; a cold air duct guiding the flow of air within the storage compartment and forming a heat exchange space with the inner case; an evaporator disposed in the heat exchange space between the inner case and the cold air duct; a bypass passage disposed at the cold air duct so as to allow a portion of the flow of air to bypass the evaporator; a sensor disposed in the bypass passage and including a sensor housing, a sensor PCB, a heating element, a temperature element for sensing a temperature of the heating element, and a molding material with which the sensor housing is filled; a defroster for removing frost formed on the surface of the evaporator; and a control unit for controlling the defroster on the basis of the value output from the sensor.

A refrigerator and method utilize a pair of tandem evaporators to provide cooling for both a compartment and an ice making system of a refrigerator. An upstream evaporator in the pair of tandem evaporators provides cooling for a compartment such as a freezer, fresh food, flexible cooling, or quick cooling compartment, while a downstream evaporator is in fluid communication with the upstream evaporator to receive a portion of the air cooled by the upstream evaporator and further cool the received portion for use in cooling one or more components of the ice making system.

A cooling device is capable of protecting an electronically controlled expansion valve in a main refrigerant circuit from the liquid hammer phenomenon due to high-pressure liquid refrigerant when cooling operation starts. The cooling device includes a main refrigerant circuit, a defrosting refrigerant circuit, and a controller. In the main refrigerant circuit, a compressor, a condenser, a main opening-closing valve, an expansion valve in which the flow rate of refrigerant is variable, and an evaporator are connected via refrigerant pipes. The defrosting refrigerant circuit connects the refrigerant outlet side of the compressor in the main refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant inlet side of the evaporator in the main refrigerant circuit to each other and includes a valve mechanism.

A refrigerator includes a first heater, a second heater, and a third heater, and the third heater is located inside a frost detection flow path and generates heat. Accordingly, during a defrosting operation, the inside of the frost detection flow path may be prevented from being blocked. Or freezing of the frost check sensor provided in the frost detection flow path may be prevented.