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 method of reducing moisture content of a cooling compartment includes increasing a temperature of the cooling compartment to a minimum temperature level, decreasing the temperature of the cooling compartment to a maximum temperature level, and draining any condensed moisture from the cooling compartment. A system for reducing moisture content of a cooling compartment includes a coil assembly configured to increase a temperature of the cooling compartment to a minimum temperature level and decrease the temperature of the cooling compartment to a maximum temperature level, and a drain for draining any condensed moisture from the cooling compartment.

A system and method for controlling a refrigeration system is disclosed. The system includes a cooled compartment, at least one heat source selectively activated to provide heat, at least one sensor, and a controller. The sensor detects a temperature and a relative humidity of ambient air that surrounds the cooled compartment. The controller is in communication with the at least one heat source and the at least one sensor. The controller includes logic for calculating a dew point temperature based on the temperature and the relative humidity. The controller also includes logic for selecting a region of operation based on at least one of the dew point temperature and the relative humidity, where the region of operation is representative of ambient conditions that surround the cooled compartment. The controller further includes logic for determining if the at least one heat source is activated based on the region of operation.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, a fan configured to send air to a heat exchanger, and a controller. The controller is configured to switch among a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation. In the first operation, the heat exchanger is caused to act as an evaporator. In the second operation, the heat exchanger is caused to act as a radiator to defrost the heat exchanger. In the third operation that is performed after the second operation, a compressor is stopped and the fan is operated at a constant rotational speed. The controller is configured to finish the third operation and start the first operation when a physical value positively correlated with electric power supplied to the fan falls to or below a threshold value during the third operation.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a compressor in a first refrigerant path between a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger; a first flow rate adjustment device in a second refrigerant path between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; a refrigerant storage device provided in a third refrigerant path between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, connected in parallel with a part of the second refrigerant path, and configured to store refrigerant flowing from the second refrigerant path; a second flow rate adjustment device provided in the third refrigerant path, and configured to adjust a flow rate of refrigerant between the refrigerant storage device and the second refrigerant path; and a controller configured to control the second flow rate adjustment device to block flow of refrigerant from the second refrigerant path into the refrigerant storage device when cooling operation is started.

A refrigerator a duct arranged to partition an inner space of a storage chamber body into a storage chamber and an air flow channel, wherein the duct has an ejection hole defined therein; a roll-bond evaporator disposed in the air flow channel, wherein the roll-bond evaporator has a top and a bottom, a left end and a right end; a blowing fan configured to draw air from the storage chamber to blow the air into the air flow channel; and a defrost sensor closer to one of the top and bottom than the other of the top and the bottom, wherein said one is closer to the blowing fan than the other, wherein the sensor is closer to one of the left end and the right end than the other of the left end and the right end.

A method of defrosting an indoor coil in a refrigeration system including, while the system is operating in the refrigeration mode, with a controller of the refrigeration system, determining a defrost commencement time at which the refrigeration system is to commence operating in the defrost mode. With the controller, one or more defrost energy conservation processes are initiated prior to the defrost commencement time, to decrease a rate at which thermal energy is transferred from the refrigerant in the outdoor coil to ambient air around the outdoor coil. The defrost energy conservation process continues until a defrost energy conservation termination criterion is satisfied, at which time the defrost energy conservation process is terminated. Upon termination of the defrost energy conservation process, operation of the refrigeration system in the defrost mode is commenced.

A refrigerator includes an evaporator arranged in a heat exchange chamber and having refrigerant pipes through which refrigerant flows and fins configured to guide heat exchange between the refrigerant and cold air, wherein the evaporator includes a first and a second side spaced apart from each other, and the fins of the evaporator guide flow of air such that the cold air introduce into the first and second sides is combined with each other in the space between the first and second sides.

A refrigerator a duct arranged to partition an inner space of a storage chamber body into a storage chamber and an air flow channel, wherein the duct has an ejection hole defined therein; a roll-bond evaporator disposed in the air flow channel, wherein the roll-bond evaporator has a top and a bottom, a left end and a right end; a blowing fan configured to draw air from the storage chamber to blow the air into the air flow channel; and a defrost sensor closer to one of the top and bottom than the other of the top and the bottom, wherein said one is closer to the blowing fan than the other, wherein the sensor is closer to one of the left end and the right end than the other of the left end and the right end.

A refrigerator including a main body including a storeroom; an evaporator arranged in the back of the storeroom and configured to generate cold air; a defrost heater arranged under the evaporator into which air flows and configured to remove frost or ice formed on the evaporator; a temperature sensor arranged on the top of the evaporator and configured to measure temperature; and a controller configured to stop operation of the defrost heater in a first defrost cycle based on a first measurement measured by the temperature sensor and stop operation of the defrost heater in a second defrost cycle based on a second measurement, which is different from the first measurement.