Methods of operation for refrigerator appliance configurations with a controller, a condenser, at least one evaporator, a compressor, and two refrigeration compartments. The configuration may be equipped with a variable-speed or variable-capacity compressor, variable speed evaporator or compartment fans, a damper, and/or a dual-temperature evaporator with a valve system to control flow of refrigerant through one or more pressure reduction devices. The methods may include synchronizing alternating cycles of cooling each compartment to a temperature approximately equal to the compartment set point temperature by operation of the compressor, fans, damper and/or valve system. The methods may also include controlling the cooling rate in one or both compartments. Refrigeration compartment cooling may begin at an interval before or after when the freezer compartment reaches its lower threshold temperature. Freezer compartment cooling may begin at an interval before or after when the freezer compartment reaches its upper threshold temperature.

A refrigerator comprises: a cabinet having a refrigerating chamber; a refrigerating chamber evaporator provided to correspond to the refrigerating chamber, and configured to generate cool air by a driving of a compressor; an evaporator temperature sensor mounted to the refrigerating chamber evaporator, and configured to sense a temperature; a blower fan configured to supply cool air generated from the refrigerating chamber evaporator to the refrigerating chamber; and a controller configured to determine whether to stop the blower fan or not, based on a temperature of the refrigerating chamber evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor when the compressor is stopped.

A refrigerator includes a first storage chamber, a second storage chamber spatially-separated from the first storage chamber, a first refrigeration cycle system to cool the first storage chamber using a first refrigeration cycle, and a second refrigeration cycle system installed to be separated from the first refrigeration cycle system to cool the second storage chamber using a second refrigeration cycle in an independent manner from the first refrigeration cycle. The first and second storage chambers maintain first and second target temperatures, respectively. The first and second refrigeration cycle systems circulate different kinds of refrigerants to cool the first and second storage chambers, respectively.

A refrigerator (100) includes: a cabinet (110), in which are defined a cooling chamber (150) at a lower portion and a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment which are spaced side by side above the cooling chamber (150); and an evaporator, arranged in the cooling chamber (150) and configured to cool an airflow entering the cooling chamber (150) to form a cooled airflow. At least one first return air inlet communicated with the cooling chamber (150) is formed in a left sidewall of the first storage compartment such that a return airflow of the first storage compartment enters the cooling chamber (150) to be cooled via the first return air inlet. At least one second return air inlet communicated with the cooling chamber (150) is formed in a right sidewall of the second storage compartment such that a return airflow of the second storage compartment enters the cooling chamber (150) to be cooled via the second return air inlet. The available compartment volume of the refrigerator is increased, and the return air inlets communicated with the cooling chamber (150) are formed in left and right sidewalls of the cabinet respectively.

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 refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention can comprise: a refrigerator chamber; a freezer chamber partitioned from the refrigerator chamber; a deep-freezing chamber accommodated inside the freezer chamber and partitioned from the freezer chamber; and a freezer evaporator chamber formed on the rear side of the deep-freezing chamber. A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention can further comprise a partition wall comprising a grill fan, which partitions the freezer evaporator chamber and the freezer chamber, and a shroud which is connected to the back surface of the grill fan and forms a flow path for supplying cold air of the freezer evaporator chamber to the freezer chamber.

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.

A storage and dispensing system for storing and dispensing temperature sensitive items is provided. The system includes a storage chamber, a dispensing chamber, an electro-mechanical module, and a cooling system. The storage chamber has walls defining plural compartments formed integrally therein for storing the temperature sensitive items at an ultra-low temperature. Each compartment is formed as a cylindrical sector with an inclined bottom surface. The plural compartments are arranged circumferentially around a vertical axis and stacked together in one or more rows, thereby an individual temperature sensitive item is slidable out of a respective compartment to the dispensing chamber by gravitational force. The electro-mechanical module is configured to rotate the storage chamber about the vertical axis. The storage chamber does not include any mechanical or electrical components inside, which avoids the need for devices that can tolerate an extremely low temperature environment.

An ice maker for producing and storing ice pieces. The ice maker is mountable to a liner of a fresh food compartment at an intersection of a top wall and a lateral side wall of the liner. The ice maker includes an ice tray for forming ice pieces. An ice bin receives and stores ice pieces produced by the ice tray. A housing contains the ice tray and ice bin. The housing has a first side, a second side, a bottom and a top. A first cavity is formed in the first side and a second cavity is formed in the bottom. A thermal insulation is disposed in the first cavity and the second cavity. The second side of the ice maker housing does not include thermal insulation.