REFRIGERATOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

• Main Authors: KIM, YONG HAN, YOON, SINN BONG, SI, JONG EON, CHOI, JONG CHUL, CHANG, EUI YOUNG, LEE, WON JE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; Korean
• Published: 07.02.2013
• Subjects: BLASTING; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; ICE-BOXES; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE; REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; WEAPONS

PURPOSE: A refrigerator and a method for controlling the same are provided to reduce overall power usage and to build a smart grid by distributing electricity consumption and reducing a peak power during the busiest timeslot for electricity consumption. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises an evaporator, a compressor, a valve, a fan, a heater, and a control device. The evaporator cools the storage compartment. The compressor provides refrigerants to the evaporator. The valve controls the flow of refrigerants which are supplied from the compressor to the evaporator. The fan blows heat-exchanged air from the evaporator. The heater defrosts the evaporator. The control device communicates with the power source and operates a power saving mode by controlling operation for at least one of the compressor, the valve, the fan, and the heater after receiving a power saving mode signal from the power source. The power saving signal comprises a first power saving mode as well as a second power saving mode on the basis of the degree of concentration of electricity consumption. The control device controls the operation of at least one of the compressor, the valve, the fan, and the heater for a first running time if the power saving mode signal is on the first power saving mode. [Reference numerals] (531a) First energy saving level ?; (531b,532b,533b) Resetting the target temperature of a freezer compartment; (531c,532c,533c) Operating a second valve, a second fan, and a compressor on the basis of the temperature of the freezer compartment; (532a) Second energy saving level ?; (532d,533i) Ice making operation timing ?; (532e) Downgrading the operation of the compressor; (533a) Being verified as a third energy saving level; (533d) Defrosting operation timing ?; (533e) Delaying the defrosting operation for a first operation time; (533f) Is the ice making operation being executed ?; (533g) Completing ice making and removal; (533h) Delaying the ice making operation until the first operation time is elapsed; (533j) Delaying the ice making operation for the first operation time; (AA) Operation time; (BB,EE,GG,JJ,LL,MM) No; (CC,FF,HH,II,KK,NN) Yes; (DD) End