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EP-4737823-A1 - REFRIGERATOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING REFRIGERATOR

EP4737823A1EP 4737823 A1EP4737823 A1EP 4737823A1EP-4737823-A1

Abstract

A refrigerator according to one embodiment may include a storage compartment including a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment, a compressor configured to compress refrigerant and discharge the compressed refrigerant, a first door configured to open and close the first storage compartment, a second door configured to open and close the second storage compartment, an evaporator disposed on one side of the storage compartment and generates cold air using the refrigerant, a first blower fan disposed in the first storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment, a second blower fan disposed in the second storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment, and a controller configured to control operations of the compressor, the first blower fan, and the second blower fan.

Inventors

  • LIM, HYOUNG KEUN
  • LEE, JAEDUCK

Assignees

  • LG Electronics Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251030

Claims (14)

  1. A refrigerator comprising: a storage compartment (12) including a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment; a compressor (16) configured to compress refrigerant and discharge the compressed refrigerant; a first door (22a) configured to open and close the first storage compartment; a second door (22b) configured to open and close the second storage compartment; an evaporator (32) disposed on one side of the storage compartment (12) and generates cold air using the refrigerant; a first blower fan (410a) disposed in the first storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment (12); a second blower fan (410b) disposed in the second storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment (12); and a controller (30) configured to control operations of the compressor (16), the first blower fan (410a), and the second blower fan (410b), wherein the controller (30) is configured to: drive the compressor (16) and drive the first blower fan (410a) at a predetermined first speed when a temperature of the storage compartment (12) is greater than or equal to a first reference temperature value and the opening of the first door (22a) is detected, drive the second blower fan (410b) at the second speed while decelerating a speed of the first blower fan (410a) to a predetermined second speed when it is determined that a first deceleration condition is satisfied, and terminate the operations of the compressor (16), the first blower fan (410a), and the second blower fan (410b) when the temperature of the storage compartment (12) is less than a predetermined fourth reference temperature value.
  2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the controller (30) is configured to determine that the first deceleration condition is satisfied when an operation time of the first blower fan (410a) exceeds a predetermined first reference time, when a temperature of the first storage compartment is less than a predetermined second reference temperature value, or when a temperature of the second storage compartment is greater than or equal to a predetermined third reference temperature value.
  3. The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller (30) is configured to: drive the second blower fan (410b) at the first speed in response to detection of the second door (22b) being opened after detection of the first door (22a) being opened, and decelerate a speed of at least one of the first blower fan (410a) and the second blower fan (410b) to the second speed when it is determined that a predetermined second deceleration condition is satisfied.
  4. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller (30) is configured to determine that the second deceleration condition is satisfied when an operation time of the first blower fan (410a) or an operation time of the second blower fan (410b) exceeds a predetermined first reference time, or when a temperature of the second storage compartment is less than a predetermined second reference temperature value.
  5. A method for controlling a refrigerator including: a storage compartment (12) including a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment, a compressor (16) configured to compress refrigerant and discharge the compressed refrigerant, a first door (22a) configured to open and close the first storage compartment, a second door (22b) configured to open and close the second storage compartment, an evaporator (32) disposed on one side of the storage compartment (12) and generates cold air using the refrigerant, a first blower fan (410a) disposed in the first storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment (12), a second blower fan (410b) disposed in the second storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment (12), and a controller (30) configured to control operations of the compressor (16), the first blower fan (410a), and the second blower fan (410b), the method comprising: driving the compressor (16) when a temperature of the storage compartment (12) is greater than or equal to a predetermined first reference temperature value and an opening of the first door (22a) is detected; driving the first blower fan (410a) at a predetermined first speed; driving the second blower fan (410b) at a predetermined second speed while decelerating a speed of the first blower fan (410a) to the second speed when it is determined that a predetermined first deceleration condition is satisfied; and terminating operation of the compressor (16), the first blower fan (410a), and the second blower fan (410b) when a temperature of the first storage compartment is less than a predetermined fourth reference temperature value.
  6. The method of claim 5, wherein it is determined that the first deceleration condition is satisfied when an operation time of the first blower fan (410a) exceeds a predetermined first reference time, when a temperature of the first storage compartment is less than a predetermined second reference temperature value, or when a temperature of the second storage compartment is greater than or equal to a predetermined third reference temperature value.
  7. The method of claim 5 or 6, further comprising: driving the second blower fan (410b) at the first speed in response to detection of the second door (22b) being opened after detection of the first door (22a) being opened, and decelerating a speed of the second blower fan (410b) to the second speed when it is determined that a predetermined second deceleration condition is satisfied.
  8. The method of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein it is determined that the second deceleration condition is satisfied when an operation time of the first blower fan (410a) or an operation time of the second blower fan (410b) exceeds a predetermined first reference time, or when a temperature of the second storage compartment is less than a predetermined second reference temperature value.
  9. A refrigerator comprising: a storage compartment (12) including a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment; a compressor (16) configured to compress refrigerant and discharge the compressed refrigerant; a first door (22a) configured to open and close the first storage compartment; a second door (22b) configured to open and close the second storage compartment; an evaporator (32) disposed on one side of the storage compartment (12) and generates cold air using the refrigerant; a first blower fan (410a) disposed in the first storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment (12); a second blower fan (410b) disposed in the second storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment (12); and a controller (30) configured to control the operations of the compressor (16), the first blower fan (410a), and the second blower fan (410b), wherein the controller (30) is configured to: drive the compressor (16), drive a blower fan (410a, 410b) corresponding to a storage compartment having a higher temperature among the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment at the first speed, and drive a blower fan (410a, 410b) corresponding to a storage compartment having a lower temperature among the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment at the second speed when a temperature of the storage compartment (12) is greater than or equal to a predetermined first reference value, decelerate a speed of the blower fan (410a, 410b) driven at the first speed to the second speed when it is determined that a predetermined deceleration condition is satisfied, and terminate the operations of the compressor (16), the first blower fan (410a), and the second blower fan (410b) when the temperature of the storage compartment (12) is less than a predetermined second reference temperature value.
  10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the controller (30) is configured to determine that the deceleration condition is satisfied when an operation time of the blower fan (410a, 410b) driven at the first speed exceeds a predetermined first reference time, or when a temperature of the storage compartment having the higher temperature is lower than a temperature of the storage compartment having the lower temperature.
  11. The refrigerator of claim 9 or 10, wherein the controller (30) is configured to: drive the compressor (16) and drive the first blower fan (410a) and the second blower fan (410b) at the same speed when a temperature of the first storage compartment and a temperature of the second storage compartment are the same and terminate the operations of the compressor (16), the first blower fan (410a), and the second blower fan (410b) when the temperature of the storage compartment (12) is less than the second reference temperature value.
  12. A method for controlling a refrigerator including a storage compartment including a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment, a compressor configured to compress refrigerant and discharge the compressed refrigerant, a first door configured to open and close the first storage compartment, a second door configured to open and close the second storage compartment, an evaporator disposed on one side of the storage compartment and generates cold air using the refrigerant, a first blower fan disposed in the first storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment, a second blower fan disposed in the second storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment, and a controller configured to control the operations of the compressor, the first blower fan, and the second blower fan, the method comprising: driving the compressor (16) when a temperature of the storage compartment (12) is greater than or equal to a predetermined first reference temperature value; driving a blower fan (410a, 410b) corresponding to a storage compartment having a higher temperature among the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment at the first speed; driving a blower fan (410a, 410b) corresponding to a storage compartment having a lower temperature among the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment at the second speed; decelerating a speed of the blower fan (410a, 410b) driven at the first speed to the second speed when it is determined that a predetermined deceleration condition is satisfied; and terminating the operations of the compressor (16), the first blower fan (410a), and the second blower fan (410b) when the temperature of the storage compartment (12) is less than a predetermined second reference temperature value.
  13. The method of claim 12, wherein it is determined that the deceleration condition is satisfied when an operation time of the blower fan (410a, 410b) driven at the first speed exceeds a predetermined first reference time, or when a temperature of the storage compartment having the higher temperature is lower than a temperature of the storage compartment having the lower temperature.
  14. The method of claim 12 or 13, further comprising: driving the compressor (16) when the temperature of the first storage compartment and the temperature of the second storage compartment are the same; driving the first blower fan (410a) and the second blower fan (410b) at the same speed; and terminating the operations of the compressor (16), the first blower fan (410a), and the second blower fan (410b) when the temperature of the storage compartment (12) is less than the predetermined second reference temperature value.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0150710 filed on October 30, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND FIELD The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator. DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART A refrigerator is a home appliance that stores food for a long time using cold air generated by circulating refrigerant through a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerator includes one or more storage compartments for storing items in a refrigerated or frozen state. Each storage compartment can be opened or closed by a swing-type door or accessed by pulling out a drawer. The storage compartment can include a freezer compartment for storing items in a frozen state and a refrigerator compartment for storing items in a refrigerated state. During the operation of the refrigerator, when the temperature inside the storage compartment rises to a predetermined level or higher, cold air generated by an evaporator can be supplied into the storage compartment by a blower fan, cooling the interior of the storage compartment. Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2014-0097860 discloses a method for operating a refrigerator having a single blower fan. The refrigerator may include a door for opening and closing the storage compartment. A double-door refrigerator can include two doors which are hinge-coupled to both sides of a cabinet, respectively, and open and close left and right spaces of a storage compartment. According to the related art, when one of the doors of the double-door refrigerator is opened and the temperature inside a storage compartment rises, a compressor and a blower fan are driven, cooling the interior of the storage compartment. According to such a control method, hot air from a storage space (e.g., the left storage space) corresponding to the open door (e.g., the left door) is introduced into the storage space (e.g., the right storage space) corresponding to the unopened door (e.g., the right door) by the operation of the blower fan. Accordingly, the time and power required to cool the entire storage compartment increase. SUMMARY The present disclosure is directed to providing a refrigerator for supplying cold air into a storage compartment through a plurality of blower fans. The present disclosure is also directed to providing a refrigerator capable of evenly and quickly supplying cold air generated by an evaporator into a storage compartment. The present disclosure is also directed to providing a refrigerator capable of minimizing the loss of cold air generated by an evaporator during a process of supplying the cold air into a storage compartment. The present disclosure is also directed to providing a refrigerator that enhances cooling efficiency by increasing a cold air circulation speed between a storage compartment and an evaporator. The present disclosure is also directed to providing a refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator, which can lower the temperature inside a storage compartment more quickly while consuming less power than in the related art when the temperature inside the storage compartment rises due to a door being opened. Objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above objects, and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure that are not described can be more clearly understood by various embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, the objects and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized by the components stated in the claims and combinations thereof. According to one embodiment, there is provided a refrigerator including a storage compartment including a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment, a compressor configured to compress refrigerant and discharge the compressed refrigerant, a first door configured to open and close the first storage compartment, a second door configured to open and close the second storage compartment, an evaporator disposed on one side of the storage compartment and generates cold air using the refrigerant, a first blower fan disposed in the first storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment, a second blower fan disposed in the second storage compartment and configured to introduce the cold air into the storage compartment, and a controller configured to control operations of the compressor, the first blower fan, and the second blower fan. The controller is configured to drive the compressor and drive the first blower fan at a predetermined first speed when a temperature of the storage compartment is greater than or equal to a first reference temperature value and the opening of the first door is detected, drive the second blower fan at the second speed while decelerating a speed of the first blower fan to a predetermined second speed when it is determined that a fi