A cold storage includes a box with a cold storage chamber, a compressor constituting a refrigeration circuit that cools the inside of the cold storage chamber, a defrost heater that heats an evaporator constituting the refrigeration circuit, and a control apparatus that controls the compressor and the defrost heater. The control apparatus operates the defrost heater when the compressor is not operated. When an outside air temperature is equal to or higher than a chamber temperature in the cold storage chamber, the control apparatus operates the compressor upon the chamber temperature rising up to a first threshold and stops the compressor upon the chamber temperature dropping down to a second threshold lower than the first threshold. When the outside air temperature is lower than the chamber temperature, the control apparatus does not operate the compressor even when the chamber temperature rises up to the first threshold.

A refrigerator including a refrigerator main body having a refrigerating chamber therein, a cold air passage duct provided within the refrigerator main body and having a cold air passage therein to discharge the cold air into the refrigerating chamber, a control case attached to one surface of the cold air discharge duct and having a cold air discharge opening through which the cold air is discharged, and a knob provided between the cold air passage duct and the control case and attached to the control case to be reciprocally movable in one direction, the knob opening and closing at least part of the cold air discharge opening.

A refrigerator includes a temperature-controlled drawer within a fresh food compartment. The drawer includes a temperature dampening member in thermal communication with a freezing air source and an interior or the drawer. The member is made of a thermally conductive material. In use, heat is conducted away from the interior of the drawer through the temperature dampening member in communication with the freezing air source. Thus, freezing of a foodstuff within the drawer is minimized or prevented, a temperature variance within the drawer is minimized, and humidity within the drawer is not adversely affected by dry freezing air source.

A control method for controlling a refrigerator includes a first step for driving a compressor for compressing a refrigerant and a fan for moving air, a second step for driving the compressor and stopping the fan, a third step for stopping the compressor and driving the fan, and a fourth step for stopping the compressor and the fan.

Method and system for maintaining temperature-sensitive materials within a target temperature range for an extended time. In one embodiment, the system keeps materials within a temperature range of +2° C. to +8° C. and includes an insulated container, a product box, ice packs, and organic phase-change material (PCM) packs. The ice packs are preconditioned to a very low temperature, such as −20° C. The organic PCM packs do not require preconditioning and may be kept at room temperature. In use, the frozen ice packs and the warm organic PCM packs may be loaded into the insulated container, together with a payload in the product box. Preferably, the frozen ice packs are sandwiched between a pair of organic PCM packs on each face of the product box. The masses of ice and organic PCM are selected so that, upon thermal equilibration, the ice and organic PCM are within the target temperature range.

Disclosed are an in-line direct cryogenic method and system for cooling heated fluid food products, such as sauces. The method includes injecting cryogen directly into the fluid to be cooled while the flow rate of the fluid to be cooled is adjusted in response to downstream temperature measurements and while maintaining the injection rate of the cryogen into the fluid. According to the method the flow of the sauce is adjusted during the flow of the cryogen to achieve process stability, product uniformity and efficient use of the cryogen.

The present invention discloses an air volume adjustment device for a refrigerator. The air volume adjustment device comprises: a fan capable of introducing cold air from an evaporator into the first air inlet cavity and the second air inlet cavity; a baffle arranged between a first air inlet cavity of a first compartment and a second air inlet cavity of a second compartment, which is capable of moving among a plurality of positions to adjust the volume of air entering the first air inlet cavity and the second air inlet cavity; and an operating knob and a potentiometer which are connected to the front side and the rear side of the baffle, respectively. The operating knob is capable of operably driving the baffle to move. The potentiometer transfers an electrical signal corresponding to a position of the baffle to the controller for controlling the fan or the compressor.

A refrigerator includes a body configured to include a storage compartment, a door portion configured to include an inner door pivotably coupled to the body to open/close the storage compartment and an outer door pivotably provided in front of the inner door, an ice making chamber formed at the door portion to be divided from the storage compartment by the inner door and to be opened or closed by the outer door, an ice making system accommodated in the ice making chamber, a dispenser provided at the door portion to provide water and ice, and a water filter mountable at the door portion to purify water supplied from an external water supply source. The ice making chamber is easily accessible by opening only the outer door while the inner door is closed and prevent cold air in the storage compartment from flowing out.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close the storage space, a gap adjusting member configured to be provided between the door and the cabinet and to adjust a gap between the door and the cabinet, and a seating part configured to protrude from the door and to support the gap adjusting member. The gap adjusting member includes a contact part exposed to the rear of the door and being in contact with the cabinet in a state where the door is closed, and a plurality of adjusting parts protruding from the contact part toward the seating part at different heights from each other. The gap between the door and the cabinet is adjusted by selecting a height of the adjusting part which is in contact with the seating part by rotating the gap adjusting member.

A refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise comprising a refrigerator, a lower door hinge cover arranged at the lower end of the refrigerator, and a light-sensing device installed in the lower door hinge cover. The light-sensing device is electrically connected to the refrigerator through a wireless transmission or a wire connection mode. The light-sensing device is internally provided with a light-sensing element, a power supply module, a controller, a refrigerator refrigeration system and a light intensity storage module. The light-sensing element is configured to convert a detected light signal into an electrical signal and transmit the electrical signal to the controller. The controller may then determine a target temperature according to the intensity of the converted electrical signal. Through the refrigerator light-sensing system, the power consumption of the refrigerator can be reduced, and the noise can be reduced, providing a better user experience.