A refrigerator appliance may be provided that includes a housing, a first fluid-motivating unit (FMU), a second FMU, and a controller. The housing may define a chilled chamber. The first FMU may be mounted to the housing. The second FMU may be mounted to the housing apart from the first FMU. The controller may be in operable communication with the first FMU and the second FMU. The controller may be configured to initiate a cooling operation. The cooling operation may include activating the first FMU to generate a first fluid flow, increasing a speed setting of the first FMU gradually at a first predetermined ramp rate, activating the second FMU subsequent to activating the first FMU to generate a second fluid flow, and increasing a speed setting of the second FMU gradually.

A refrigerator-implemented method for optimizing placement of food items in different compartments of a refrigerator, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a request to store a first type of food item in the refrigerator, determining, using detection hardware, each type of food item already stored in one or more of the compartments of the refrigerator, comparing a characteristic of the first type of food item with a same type of characteristic for each type of food item already stored in the one or more of the compartments of the refrigerator, selecting a first of the compartments in which to store the first type of food item based at least in part on the comparison, and outputting, using an output device, a recommendation to store the first type of food item in the first compartment. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

A gas sensor includes a plurality of detectors discolored by reacting with different predetermined target gases, such that the gas sensor independently measures the amount of each target gas. A refrigerator for deciding a type and state of target food contained in a container by sensing a color change of a gas sensor mounted to the container including the target food, and a method for controlling the gas sensor are disclosed. The gas sensor for detecting a plurality of target gases includes a base and a plurality of detectors provided at the base. The detectors respectively detect different target gases, and each detector is discolored by reacting with each predetermined target gas.

A system for measuring and monitoring the closure of a refrigerated compartment of an appliance includes a controller having at least one input and at least one output for receiving and providing electrical signals to a plurality of electrical components of the appliance. The system includes a pressure sensor for monitoring the compartment to detect the presence of a negative pressure pulse indicative of a compartment closure.

A refrigeration control method and a refrigerator. The refrigeration control method for a refrigerator comprises: acquiring the refrigeration state of a first evaporator and the refrigeration state of a second evaporator; when the first evaporator performs refrigeration, acquiring the temperature of a second compartment; when the temperature of the second compartment is greater than the starting temperature of the second compartment and the difference therebetween is less than a first preset threshold, acquiring the temperature of a first compartment and determining whether the temperature of the first compartment is less than a preset first reference temperature, the first reference temperature being calculated according to the starting temperature of the first compartment and a set adjustment temperature; and when the temperature of the first compartment is less than the first reference temperature, switching the refrigerator into a state where the second evaporator performs refrigeration.

The present disclosure describes a thermally insulating packaging system configured to maintain within a closed environment a target temperature or temperature range that is lower than the temperature of the environment external to the system for transport of temperature-sensitive materials within the closed environment for an extended period of time.

An icemaker for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The icemaker includes an icemaker box selectively closeable by a door. An outer gasket is positioned about an inner edge of the door. A sealing gasket is positioned around a center portion of the door. A plurality of protrusions extend from a box rim of the icemaker box. A liner is aligned with and spaced apart from the box rim. A first gasket and a second gasket are positioned between the box rim and the liner.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to refrigerators and methods of controlling the refrigerators. The refrigerator comprises a compressor configured to operate at a first rotation speed and a controller configured to calculate a first average of levels of electric signals input to the compressor during a first reference period, and control the compressor to operate at a second rotation speed higher than the first rotation speed when the first average is greater than a first reference value.

The expansion device is configured to have a degree of opening corresponding to a fully closed state while the compressor is non-operational. The fan is configured to become non-operational when transition is made, while the compressor is non-operational, from a state in which a temperature difference between a detection temperature of the first temperature sensor and a detection temperature of the second temperature sensor is larger than a criterion value to a state in which the temperature difference is smaller than the criterion value. The fan is configured to become operational when transition is made, while the compressor is operational, from a state in which the temperature difference is smaller than a second criterion value to a state in which the temperature difference is larger than the second criterion value.

A method of controlling a refrigerator may include operating a first cooling cycle for a first storage compartment to drive a compressor and operating a first cooling fan for cooling the first storage compartment, and switching to a second cooling cycle for cooling a second storage compartment to drive the compressor and operating a second cooling fan for cooling the second storage compartment when a stop condition of the first cooling cycle is satisfied. The method may also include switching to a third cooling cycle for cooling the first storage compartment to drive the compressor and operating the first cooling fan when a stop condition of the second cooling cycle is satisfied.