REFRIGERATOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

摘要

A refrigerant recovery operation method for use in a refrigerator in which a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber are independently cooled is disclosed. The refrigerator and the method for controlling the same guarantee a sufficiently long refrigerant recovery operation time by performing the refrigerant recovery operation not only when the compressor starts operation but also before the compressor stops operation, resulting in implementation of the highest operation efficiency of a refrigerating chamber. The refrigerator guarantees high reliability of the compressor by increasing the refrigerant recovery amount within a predetermined pressure range in which the compressor can operate, and maintains an optimum refrigerant amount by variably controlling the refrigerant recovery operation time according to the outdoor air temperature, resulting in improvement of energy efficiency.

主权项

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a compressor; a condenser configured to condense refrigerant compressed by the compressor; a freezing chamber evaporator and a refrigerating chamber evaporator connected in parallel to each other at an outlet of the condenser; a flow passage switching valve configured to switch a flow passage of the refrigerant in a manner that the refrigerant flows toward one of the freezing chamber evaporator and the refrigerating chamber evaporator; and a controller configured to control the flow passage switching valve in a manner that a refrigerant recovery operation is performed not only when the compressor starts operation but also before the compressor stops operation.