The efficiency of a device for cooling or heating objects on a belt that moves through a path of a helix, in which gaseous cooling or heating medium is circulated within the device, is improved by positioning fans that circulate the cooling or heating medium so that the fans are distanced from the top of the helix.

A method for controlling a refrigerator, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a step in which it is determined whether a period of defrosting (POD) for defrosting a freezing compartment and a deep-freezing compartment has elapsed; a step in which, when it is determined that the period of defrosting has elapsed, a deep cooling operation for cooling at least one from among the temperature of the deep-freezing compartment and the temperature of the freezing compartment to be lower than a control temperature is performed; and a step in which, when the deep cooling operation finishes, a defrosting operation for defrosting the freezing compartment and the deep-freezing compartment is performed. When the defrosting operation starts, a freezing compartment valve is closed so as to prevent cold air from flowing to a freezing compartment evaporator and a heat sink, and at least a portion of a freezing compartment defrosting section and at least a portion of a deep-freezing compartment defrosting section overlap with each other.

A blast cell system is provided with simple and scalable designs that prevent short cycling of air flow through any pallets in blast cells. The blast cell includes a plurality of suction channels that provide independent fluid pathways for directing the air drawn from different rows in the blast cell into the fan.

The method for controlling the refrigerator includes operating a first cooling cycle for cooling the first storage compartment to operate the compressor and operating a first fan for the first storage compartment, and switching the first cooling cycle to a second cooling cycle for cooling the second storage compartment to operate the compressor and operating a second fan when a stop condition of the first cooling cycle is satisfied. A temperature of each storage compartment is sensed at sampling time intervals in each cooling cycle. Further, a cooling power of the compressor is determined for each sampling time based on a sensed current temperature of the storage compartment, and the compressor is operated at the determined cooling power.

A refrigerator damper system employs a fluidic valve providing switching of air between refrigerated compartments without the need for a movable valve plate such as can be obstructed by ice. In one embodiment, a bidirectional fan provides switching from a first compartment to a second compartment and then from a second compartment to a first compartment with change of fan direction.

A refrigerator includes a lowermost storage liner, an evaporator, an air supply duct, and at least one air supply fan. A storage compartment and a cooling chamber positioned under the storage compartment are defined in the storage liner. The evaporator is disposed in the cooling chamber and is configured to cool air passing through the evaporator so as to form cooling air supplied to the storage compartment. The air supply duct is disposed in a space defined by the storage liner and is configured to convey the cooling air cooled by the evaporator to the storage compartment. The air supply fan is disposed in the air supply duct and is configured to promote air circulation between the cooling chamber and the storage compartment. According to the refrigerator of the present invention, by disposing the air supply fan in the air supply duct, the cooling chamber is prevented from being occupied by the air supply fan, the height of the cooling chamber can be reduced, the storage volume of the storage compartment above the cooling chamber can be increased, the distance between the air supply fan and the evaporator can be relatively increased, and the

There is disclosed a refrigerator including an evaporator configured to generate cold air; and a grill fan assembly configured to blow the cold air generated by the evaporator to a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, wherein the grill fan assembly may include a freezing fan module configured to blow cold air to the refrigerator compartment comprising a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber and the freezer compartment; a first flow path opening/closing damper configured to selectively block the cold air blown to the first storage chamber; and a second flow path opening/closing damper configured to selectively block the cold air blown to the second storage chamber, and the first flow path opening/closing damper and the second flow path opening/closing damper may overlap in at least predetermined area in a front-rear direction.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a freezing compartment below a refrigerating compartment, an ice making compartment at a side of the refrigerating compartment, an evaporator, a shroud that is disposed at a front side of the evaporator, a grille panel coupled to a front surface of the shroud, a first cool air guide channel defined between the grille panel and the shroud and configured to guide cool air to a freezing compartment, a second cool air guide channel defined between the grille panel and the shroud and configured guide cool air to the ice making compartment, a freezing fan module disposed between the grille panel and the shroud and configured to supply cool air to the first cool air guide channel, and an ice making fan module disposed between the grille panel and the shroud and configured to supply cool air to the second cool air guide channel.

A blast cell system is provided with simple and scalable designs that prevent short cycling of air flow through any pallets in blast cells. The blast cell includes a plurality of suction channels that provide independent fluid pathways for directing the air drawn from different rows in the blast cell into the fan.

An icemaker assembly includes a housing that defines a slot. A tray is operably coupled to the housing and defines a plurality of recesses. A duct is coupled to the housing and is disposed around the slot. The duct directs cool air along the tray. A fan is operably coupled to the housing at an acute angle relative to a planar extent of the tray. The fan and the duct evenly distribute cool air along the tray.