Refrigerator and refrigerator control method

摘要

A refrigerator with a multipurpose storage chamber (30) and a control method thereof are provided. In the refrigerator, the flow of cool air to the multipurpose storage chamber (30) is selectively controlled in accordance with a variety of operational modes. In order to accomplish such a cool air flow control, a refrigerating compartment fan (6) and a damper (9) are provided at positions above a refrigerating compartment evaporator (5). In addition, a flap (33) having a controllable opening angle, is provided at the inlet of an air guide path (34) guiding the cool air to the multipurpose storage chamber (30). The multipurpose storage chamber (30) of this refrigerator can thus effectively be used to store a variety of foods in accordance with storage characteristics of the foods. In addition, a thawing mode operation of the refrigerator is performed under the condition that it is not necessary to perform a refrigerating compartment cooling operation. It is thus possible to prevent an excessive increase in the temperature of the refrigerating compartment (10) caused by an operation of the defrosting heater (12) during such a thawing mode.