An apparatus for cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units includes a cryochamber having a cryo-access port. The cryochamber is electrically cooled at cryogenic temperatures. A unit holder is located inside the cryochamber and is configured to hold a plurality of container units. A user access area is provided for selectively permitting access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus. A motive grasper is provided for selectively removing the chosen container unit from the cryochamber through the cryo-access port, and selectively placing the chosen container unit into the user access area.

In a refrigerator control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, a control unit intermittently turns on a temperature sensor on a predetermined cycle when a deep-freezing chamber mode is turned off, so that the temperature sensor senses the internal temperature of a deep-freezing chamber for a first set time, and the sensed internal temperature of the deep-freezing chamber is transmitted to the control unit so as to minimize power consumption.

A method for controlling a refrigerator including: determining whether a defrosting period for a freezing chamber and a deep freezing chamber has elapsed; 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 defrosting the deep freezing chamber when the deep cooling operation is terminated. When the defrosting of the deep freezing chamber is started, a freezing chamber valve is closed to block cold air flow. 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 includes a control module which controls a first compressor, a second compressor, a first fan, a second fan, and a third fan, in which the control module performs a high-temperature initial simultaneous operation when the outside air temperature is at the outside air set temperature or more, performs a high-temperature initial alternation operation when the freezing compartment temperature is at the freezing compartment set temperature or less and the refrigerating compartment temperature is at the refrigerating compartment set temperature or less during the high-temperature initial simultaneous operation. The control module drives the first compressor and the second compressor together during the high-temperature initial simultaneous operation, and alternately drives the first compressor and the second compressor during the high-temperature initial alternation operation.

A refrigeration heating assembly and method of operation are generally provided herein. The heating assembly may include an inner glass tube, a resistive heating element, an outer glass tube, a first end cap, a second end cap, and a sensor assembly. The inner glass tube may include a continuous inner wall defining a central passage. The resistive heating element may be disposed within the central passage. The outer glass tube may include a continuous outer wall disposed about the inner glass tube. A radial gap may be defined between the glass tubes. The first end cap may be positioned on the outer glass tube and the inner glass tube at a first end. The second end cap may be positioned on the outer glass tube and the inner glass tube at a second end. The sensor assembly may be disposed in fluid communication with the radial gap.

A blast cell system is disclosed that includes a plurality of bays that are spaced across the blast cell, arranged to hold items to be cooled, wherein each bay is separated from each other bay so as to prevent cross-flow of air from one bay to another bay; a plurality of louvers, each covering a different bay of the plurality of bays; one or more flow sensors, temperature sensors, or both positioned to sense conditions for each of the plurality of bays; and a controller programmed to modulate open-closed positions of each of the plurality of louvers separately from others of the plurality of louvers, so as to allow different volumes of cooling air to flow through each respective bay.

An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.

A freezer includes a plurality of shelves in an insulated payload bay; a plurality of evaporators coupled to the payload bay with a multiplicity of coolant tubes in each evaporator, wherein each tube enters and then exits the payload bay, further comprising one or more cryogenic valves coupled to the coolant tubes; a pump to force coolant flowing through the evaporators with a pressure of at least 90 psi to supply the coolant at each evaporator with at least 20 gallons per hour of coolant; and a plurality of fans to circulate cooled air in the payload bay.

A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the refrigerator compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with the ice maker tray portion; an ice bucket for storing ice disposed in the ice compartment; and an air handler/auger motor assembly disposed at a rear portion of the ice compartment behind the ice bucket. The air handler/auger motor assembly includes an air passage having a fan disposed therein. An inlet of the fan communicates with an airflow passage under the ice maker tray/evaporator, such that the fan creates a suction and draws cool air from the ice maker tray/evaporator and discharges the cool air through the air passage and to the ice bucket to prevent any ice in the ice bucket from melting.

A refrigerator includes a first freezing cycle in which a first refrigerant circulates and having a first compressor, a first condenser, at least one first expansion mechanism, and at least one first evaporator, the first freezing cycle configured to cool freezing and refrigerating compartments, a freezing compartment sensor, a refrigerating compartment sensor, a second freezing cycle in which a second mixed refrigerant having a lower evaporation temperature than the first refrigerant circulates and having a second compressor, a second condenser, a second expansion mechanism, and a second evaporator, the second freezing cycle configured to cool a deep freezing compartment, a deep freezing compartment sensor, and a controller configured to operate the first freezing cycle and the second freezing cycle independently or simultaneously, thereby more efficiently cooling the freezing and refrigerating compartments and the deep freezing compartment.