Provided are a refrigeration cycle that is formed by connecting a compressor, a condenser, expansion means, and an evaporator and that performs cooling operation; an evaporator heating device that heats the evaporator; a drain pan that receives drain-water from the evaporator and drains the drain-water; a drain-pan heating device that heats the drain pan; frost detecting means including a light-emitting element that emits light to the evaporator and a light-receiving element that receives reflected light from the evaporator and outputs a voltage according to the reflected light; and a control device that controls on-off operation of the evaporator heating device and the drain-pan heating device. The control device determines a frosting condition on the evaporator from an output of the frost detecting means and individually controls the evaporator heating device and the drain-pan heating device in accordance with the determination result.

A preferred embodiment utilizes the waste heat from a refrigerant cycle to aid in the removal of condensate from a refrigerated case used primarily by grocery stores. Certain embodiments use a heating element to boil off condensate or a pump to remove the condensate. Another embodiment utilizes a wicking element and a shroud that directs hot air from the condenser through the wick thereby increasing the condensate evaporation rate. Yet another embodiment utilizes the hot gas tube from the refrigeration system routed through the bottom of the condensate tray to pre-heat the condensate to accelerate evaporation. Alternative embodiments combine certain features to create even more efficient system such as a heating element used with the wick system or the hot gas system used with the wick system. In some embodiments, a mold and mildew inhibitor is added to the condensate to maintain cleanliness.

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.

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 refrigerator and an anti-condensation method for the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a first storage compartment, a second storage compartment adjacent the first storage compartment, a separation wall separating the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment, and a heater in the separation wall. The first storage compartment is adapted to be set at a refrigerating temperature, and the second storage compartment is adapted to be set at a freezing temperature. In the anti-condensation method, the heater is controlled to work in an anti-condensation mode when a refrigeration system stops cooling the first storage compartment, to heat a surface of the separation wall facing the first storage compartment, which can significantly reduce the probability of condensation on the surface and is beneficial to reduce the impact of the working of the heater on the refrigeration system.

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having a body having a storage compartment; a door to open or close the storage compartment; a cover plate disposed at an inside the storage compartment; a cooling space formed in between the cover plate and an upper wall of the body; an evaporator provided at the cooling space to generate cool air; a blower fan provided at the cooling space to forcedly circulate the cool air generated at the evaporator; a cool air supplying hole formed at the cover plate to supply the cool air of the cooling space to the storage compartment; and a cool air collecting hole formed at the cover plate to collect the cool air heated at the storage compartment to the cooling space, and a rear wall of the storage compartment of the refrigerator may be evenly leveled and usefulness of space may be increased.

A refrigerator includes: a compressor; an evaporator; a main condenser; a dew-prevention pipe; a bypass provided in parallel with a first channel from the main condenser to the dew-prevention pipe, and connected with the evaporator; a switching section provided on a downstream side of the main condenser, in which the switching section opens and closes the first channel, and a second channel from the main condenser to the bypass; and a control section. When defrosting the evaporator, the control section operates in such a manner that a refrigerant staying in the evaporator, the dew-prevention pipe, and the bypass is collected in the main condenser by closing the first channel and the second channel during an operation of the compressor, and thereafter, a high-pressure refrigerant collected in the main condenser is supplied to the evaporator through the bypass by stopping the compressor and opening the second channel.

A refrigerator and a control method for the same are disclosed. A refrigerator includes a storage compartment, a drawer movably provided in the storage compartment and provided with a marker, a camera that photographs inside the drawer from outside the drawer, and a controller that senses a position of the marker in photographs taken through the camera at time intervals, and that determines state information about the drawer based on a change in position of the marker in the photographs. A method includes recognizing closing of the drawer by sensing a start of opening of the drawer; acquiring an image of the drawer interior using the camera; processing the image to recognize the marker from the image; tracing a movement of the marker; acquiring a final image of the drawer interior using the camera when closing of the drawer begins; and displaying the final image.

An evaporator pan system includes an evaporator pan, a heating element positioned at least partially within the evaporator pan, a thermistor positioned at least partially within the evaporator pan, and a controller coupled to the heating element and the thermistor. The controller detects a first current passing through the thermistor. The controller further determines the first current meets a threshold current, indicating a presence of a threshold volume of liquid within the evaporator pan. The controller further activates the heating element to cause evaporation of at least a portion of the liquid within the evaporator pan.

A refrigerator comprises: a refrigerator body (10), at the interior of which a cooling chamber (11) and at least one storage space are confined, wherein the cooling chamber (11) is arranged at the bottom of the refrigerator body (10) and below the storage space; door bodies (20) arranged on a front surface of the refrigerator body (10) to operably open and close the storage space; and an evaporator (21), which is wholly horizontally placed in the shape of a flat cube in the cooling chamber (11) and configured to provide cold energy to the storage space, wherein a bottom wall of the cooling chamber (11) below the evaporator (21) is provided with a water pan (40) to receive condensate water generated by the evaporator (21), and the bottom of the water pan (40) is provided with compensation heating wires (80).