The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator in which unnecessary operation of a compressor is prevented for saving power consumption of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a compressor, a refrigerating chamber evaporator and a freezing chamber evaporator connected to the compressor, a refrigerant valve for guiding refrigerant to the refrigerating chamber evaporator or the freezing chamber evaporator, and a control unit for controlling the refrigerant valve such that the refrigerant valve blocks or introduces the refrigerant to cause an inside pressure of the freezing chamber evaporator to be elevated higher than an inside pressure of the refrigerating chamber evaporator during evaporation at the refrigerating chamber evaporator for the compressor to draw in the refrigerant remained in the freezing chamber evaporator which did not evaporate.

A refrigeration circuit comprises in the direction of flow of a refrigerant at least one compressor; at least one heat rejecting heat exchanger; at least one expansion device; and at least one evaporator. The refrigeration circuit further comprises at least one heat recovery heat exchanger having a refrigeration circuit side and heat recovery system side and being configured for transferring heat between the refrigeration circuit side and the heat recovery system side, wherein the refrigeration circuit side is fluidly connected in parallel to the at least one heat rejecting heat exchanger; and at least one regulation valve, configured for regulating the flow of refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration circuit side of the at least one heat recovery heat exchanger. The at least one regulation valve is switchable between an open position, a closed position, and at least one intermediate position.

A refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator are provided. The method may include driving a refrigerating cycle including a first evaporator and a second evaporator by activating at least one compressor, supplying refrigerant to the first and second evaporators by controlling a flow adjuster, recognizing whether the refrigerant is unequally introduced into the first or second evaporator, by sensing a temperature of the first or second evaporator through at least one temperature sensor, reducing supply of the refrigerant to the first or second evaporator into which the refrigerant is unequally introduced, by adjusting the flow adjuster, storing information about an operation time of the flow adjuster, recognizing whether the at least one temperature sensor has malfunctioned, and determining an operation time of the flow adjuster according to whether the at least one temperature sensor has malfunctioned.

A method for controlling a vapour compression system (1) is disclosed, the vapour compression system (1) comprising an ejector (5). The method comprises controlling a compressor unit (2) in order to adjust a pressure inside a receiver (6), on the basis of a detected pressure of refrigerant leaving an evaporator (8). The portion of refrigerant leaving the evaporator (8) which is supplied to a secondary inlet (15) of the ejector is maximised and the portion of refrigerant supplied directly to the compressor unit (2) is minimised, while ensuring that the pressure of refrigerant leaving the evaporator (8) does not decrease below an acceptable level.

An air conditioning system and a method for controlling the same are provided. The air conditioning system includes an enhanced vapor injection compressor, first and second direction switching assemblies, first and second heat exchangers and a flash evaporator. The enhanced vapor injection compressor has an air discharge port, an air supplement port, first and second air suction ports, and an air return port. Pressure in a sliding vane chamber of an air cylinder corresponding to the second air suction port is equal to a discharge pressure at the air discharge port. A first pipe port of the first direction switching assembly is connected with the second air suction port, a second pipe port thereof is connected with the air discharge port and a third pipe port thereof is connected with the liquid accumulator, and the first pipe port is communicated with one of the second and third pipe ports.

An air conditioning system and a method for controlling the same are provided. The air conditioning system includes an enhanced vapor injection compressor, first and second direction switching assemblies, first and second heat exchangers and a flash evaporator. The enhanced vapor injection compressor has an air discharge port, an air supplement port, first and second air suction ports, and an air return port. Pressure in a sliding vane chamber of an air cylinder corresponding to the second air suction port is equal to a discharge pressure at the air discharge port. A first pipe port of the first direction switching assembly is connected with the second air suction port, a second pipe port thereof is connected with the air discharge port and a third pipe port thereof is connected with the liquid accumulator, and the first pipe port is communicated with one of the second and third pipe ports.

In a refrigerator control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, an operation corresponding to a deep-freezing chamber load, in which both a refrigeration chamber valve and a freezer chamber valve are opened, is performed when a deep-freezing chamber mode is turned on and the input condition of the operation corresponding to a deep-freezing chamber load is satisfied.

A method for controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a step for determining whether a defrosting period (POD) for defrosting a freezing chamber and a deep freezing chamber has elapsed; a step for, when it is determined that the defrosting period has elapsed, performing a deep cooling operation for bringing at least one among the temperature of the deep freezing chamber and temperature of the freezing chamber down to a temperature lower than a control temperature; and a step for defrosting the deep freezing chamber when the deep cooling operation is terminated, wherein, when the defrosting of the deep freezing chamber is started, a freezing chamber valve is closed to block cold air flow to the heat sink, the defrosting of the deep freezing chamber includes cold sink defrosting and heat sink defrosting performed after the cold sink defrosting is completed, and while the heat sink defrosting is being performed, a deep freezing chamber fan is driven to remove vapor generated during the cold sink defrosting.

A thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a cold sink; a thermoelectric element having a heat absorption surface coupled to the cold sink; a heat sink coupled to a heating surface of the thermoelectric element to dissipate heat transferred from the cold sink to the outside of the thermoelectric element; and a sealing cover for connecting the edge of the cold sink and the edge of the heat sink to surround the thermoelectric element, wherein the cold sink, the heat sink, and the thermoelectric element may be integrally formed by the sealing cover.

In addition, the thermoelectric element may be a cascade type thermoelectric element in which two thermoelectric elements having the same or different specifications are coupled to each other.

An air conditioning apparatus includes a first refrigerant circuit enclosing a first refrigerant, and a second refrigerant circuit enclosing a second refrigerant. The first refrigerant circuit includes a compressor configured to compress the first refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a first flow path through which the first refrigerant passes in an intermediate heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant. The second refrigerant circuit includes a pump configured to increase a pressure of the second refrigerant and transfer the second refrigerant, a second flow path through which the second refrigerant passes in the intermediate heat exchanger, and an indoor heat exchanger. At least one of the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant has a global warming potential lower than that of R32, and the second refrigerant has a lower flammable limit concentration higher than that of the first refrigerant.