Defrost Fan Control Device

Abstract

A defrost fan control device for a refrigerator is provided. The device comprises a container, a heat exchanger, a chamber, a suction pump, a condensate spraying device, an evaporation coil, and a blower. The suction pump is for sucking up the condensate from the container. The condensate spraying device is for spraying the condensate sucked up by the suction pump within the chamber. The evaporation coil is disposed around the condensate spraying device such that the condensate from the suction pump lands on an inner surface of the evaporation coil and evaporates the condensate. The blower is for inducing air flow within the chamber, whereby the evaporated condensate is exhausted from the chamber.

1 . A defrost fan control device for a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator includes a storage space that is cooled by refrigerant flowing through an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser, the device comprising:
 a defrost fan configured for blowing off moisture from the storage space;   a defrost heater disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator and configured for melting frost and ice melt away from the evaporator;   a defrost thermostat disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator and configured for ending a defrosting process by the defrost fan and the defrost heater when the temperature in a vicinity of the evaporator falls into a predetermined range of temperature; and   a defrost timer for turning off a cooling process and turning on the defrosting process for predetermined time periods,   wherein the defrost fan, the defrost heater, or the defrost fan and the defrost heater operate when the compressor operates,   wherein the operations of the defrost fan, the defrost heater, or the defrost fan and the defrost heater are controlled by the defrost timer independently from the operation of the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 1 , wherein the defrost fan is disposed in the storage space. 
     
     
         3 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 1 , wherein the defrost heater is disposed at locations where frost and ice form in the storage space. 
     
     
         4 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 3 , wherein a substantial amount of the frost and ice melts away when the temperature in the vicinity of the evaporator falls into the predetermined range of temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 4 , further comprising a frost-ice sensor for detecting frost and ice formed at the locations. 
     
     
         6 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 5 , wherein the defrost fan and the defrost heater are configured to operate when the frost-ice sensor detects frost or ice at the locations. 
     
     
         7 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 1 , wherein the defrost timer is configured for operating the defrost fan and the defrost heater periodically with a first time period. 
     
     
         8 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 7 , wherein the first time period comprises about one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, and twenty four hours. 
     
     
         9 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 1 , wherein the defrost timer is configured to operate the defrost fan and the defrost heater for a plurality of second time periods. 
     
     
         10 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of second time periods are predetermined according to temporal change and statistics of operation, energy consumption, load of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         11 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 10 , wherein the defrost timer is configured to set the time periods and frequency of the time periods. 
     
     
         12 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 10 , further comprising a information storing device for recording operation parameters of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         13 . The defrost fan control device of  claim 12 , wherein the operation parameters comprise an operation time of the defrost fan and the defrost heater, a state of the defrost thermostat, an ambient temperature, a temperature in the storage space, and a date-and-time.