A method, and related refrigerated device, is provided for controlling a heater element of a refrigerated device having a compartment including an access door engageable with a perimeter of a compartment opening when the door is closed and a refrigeration circuit for cooling the compartment to a set point temperature, wherein the heater element heats a surface of the perimeter of the compartment opening to inhibit formation of condensation on the surface. The method involves: determining a temperature and relative humidity of ambient air surrounding the refrigerated device; determining a dew point temperature of the ambient air based upon the temperature and the relative humidity of the ambient air; and defining an energization level for the heater element based at least in part upon each of (i) the determined dew point temperature, (ii) the temperature of the ambient air and (iii) the set point temperature of the compartment.

A refrigerator comprises: a storage compartment, at least divided into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment a first evaporator, arranged at a cooling compartment connected to the storage compartments through supply air ducts; a second evaporator, arranged inside the freezing compartment a switching valve, used to switch the flow of a refrigerant to a refrigerant channel connected to the second evaporator; a fan, used to enable cooled air in the first evaporator to flow from the cooling compartment to the storage compartments; a first air duct damper, inserted in the supply air duct connected to the refrigerating compartment and a second air duct damper, inserted in the supply air duct connected to the freezing compartment.

An ice maker and method of operation for a refrigeration appliance, the ice maker including an ice maker frame having an air inlet provided at a first end thereof. An ice tray is rotatably secured to the ice maker frame and configured to form ice pieces therein. An air handler includes an outlet diffuser having a central body defined by a first wall-and a radially spaced apart second wall, wherein a plurality of radially extending fins are disposed between the first and second walls. Each of the fins is spaced apart, one from the other, along an outer peripheral surface of the first wall. In an installed position, the outlet diffuser is disposed directly adjacent the air inlet at the first end of the ice maker frame. A method is provided for synchronizing an ice making cycle of an ice making unit and a defrost cycle of an evaporator.

A method for controlling a refrigerator includes: a step for determining whether or not a defrosting initiation condition is satisfied with respect to an evaporator; a step for, if the defrosting initiation condition is satisfied, detecting a pressure differential by means of one differential pressure sensor for measuring the pressure differential between a first through hole, which is positioned between the evaporator and an inlet port having air flowing in from a storage chamber, and a second through hole which is positioned between the evaporator and a discharge port having air discharged to the storage chamber; and a defrosting step for variably defrosting in accordance with the measured pressure differential.

Provided is a method for adaptive control of a refrigeration system, the method including calculating a Number of Transfer Units (NTU) rate or an indicator representing the ease of variation of temperature (FVT) of an evaporator of the refrigeration system, to detect a frost level in the evaporator, to define the most suitable defrosting time, the energization of the drainage resistors and the adaptive management of the evaporator fan combining different operating modes, including an ice-free mode that uses only the cooling capacity of the refrigerant, and different modes with ice, which take advantage of the latent heat stored in the ice to save energy, depending on the frost level in the evaporator.

The resent invention provides a refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having a storage chamber; a door for opening and closing the storage chamber; a case having a discharge port through which air is discharged to the storage chamber; an evaporator provided inside the case and for supplying cold air by means of heat exchange with air; a fan installed on the discharge port and for generating the airflow discharging to the storage chamber the air which has been heat exchanged in the evaporator; and a differential pressure sensor having a first pipe, of which one end is positioned on a part where the air is withdrawn to the fan, and a second pipe of which one end is positioned on a part where the air is discharged from the fan.

Provided are a refrigerator and an energy-saving control method and apparatus therefor. The refrigerator includes an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice discharge electric motor (1), an ice storage bin (2) and an ice storage bin position switch (3). The method includes: detecting and determining that the ice storage bin (2) is in a full ice state; controlling the ice maker so that same stops making ice, and acquiring the state of at least one of the ice discharge electric motor (1) and the ice storage bin position switch (3); and according to the state of at least one of the ice discharge electric motor (1) and the ice storage bin position switch (3), determining that the ice maker needs to do heating and ice detection actions.

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 first storage compartment's influence on a second storage compartment, when the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment have different temperature ranges and are cooled by a single cooler, is reduced. A refrigerator includes a compressor for compressing and circulating a refrigerant, a cooler provided to generate cold air through circulation of the refrigerant, a first storage compartment having an temperature maintained within a first range, a second storage compartment having an temperature maintained within a second range different from the first range, a first air passage for guiding cold air generated in the cooler to the first storage compartment, a second air passage for guiding cold air generated in the cooler to the second storage compartment, and a switching unit for guiding the cold air generated in the cooler to selectively flow into any one of the first air passage and the second air passage.

A method for controlling a refrigerator includes operating a heater of the refrigerator in a first mode to increase a temperature of an evaporator of the refrigerator to a predetermined temperature, the first mode comprising a continuous operation of the heater, 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, maintaining operation of the heater in the first mode based on a determination that the period of time is outside of the reference period of time, and operating the heater in a second mode that is different from the first mode based on a determination that the period of time is within the reference period of time.