Refrigerator and control method thereof
US9222715B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 2012 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D29/00
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A refrigerator is disclosed herein. The refrigerator may include a compressor to compress a refrigerant, a condenser to condense the refrigerant passed through the compressor, a capillary tube that lowers a temperature and pressure of the refrigerant passed through the condenser, an evaporator to evaporate the refrigerant passed through the capillary tube, a thermal storage device for auxiliary cooling that undergoes heat exchange with the refrigerant to store thermal energy, an energy management device that receives electric rate information, and a controller configured to control the compressor based on the electric rate information received at the energy management device. The controller may control an operation of the thermal storage device to provide auxiliary cooling for the refrigerator when the compressor is not operational or when electric rates are relatively high.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.