Method for improving efficiency of a refrigerator appliance during a defrost cycle

Abstract

A method for operating a refrigerator appliance during a defrost cycle of the refrigerator appliance is provided. The method includes deactivating a compressor of the refrigerator appliance at a beginning or commencement of the defrost cycle until a predetermined period of time elapses or a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance rises to a preselected temperature. The method can improve an energy efficiency of the refrigerator appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage;   a compressor positioned within said cabinet;   an evaporator heater positioned within the chilled chamber of said cabinet; and   a controller in operative communication with said compressor and said evaporator heater, said controller configured for:
 initiating a defrost cycle of the refrigerator appliance; 
 deactivating said compressor for a predetermined period of time or until the chilled chamber of said cabinet rises to a preselected temperature at a commencement of the defrost cycle; and 
 operating said evaporator heater during the defrost cycle after said step of deactivating. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured for activating said compressor during the defrost cycle after said step of deactivating and prior to said step of operating. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the chilled chamber of said cabinet drops to about negative ten degrees Fahrenheit during said step of activating. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the preselected temperature is less than about thirty-four degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about two hours. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an evaporator fan positioned within the chilled chamber of said cabinet, said controller further configured for switching off the evaporator fan of the refrigerator appliance for the predetermined period of time or until the chilled chamber of said cabinet rises to the preselected temperature at the commencement of the defrost cycle. 
     
     
         7 . A method for operating a refrigerator appliance during a defrost cycle, the refrigerator appliance having a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber, a compressor, and an evaporator heater, the method comprising:
 deactivating the compressor of the refrigerator appliance at a commencement of the defrost cycle;   maintaining the compressor of the refrigerator appliance in a deactivated state until a predetermined period of time elapses or until the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance rises to a preselected temperature;   activating the compressor of the refrigerator appliance during the defrost cycle after said step of maintaining; and   operating the evaporator heater of the refrigerator appliance during the defrost cycle after said step of activating.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance drops to about negative ten degrees Fahrenheit during said step of activating. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the preselected temperature is less than about thirty-four degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about two hours. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a refrigerator appliance during a defrost cycle, the refrigerator appliance having a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber, a compressor, and an evaporator heater, the method comprising:
 deactivating the compressor of the refrigerator appliance for a predetermined period of time at a commencement of the defrost cycle; and   operating the evaporator heater of the refrigerator appliance during the defrost cycle after said step of deactivating.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising activating the compressor of the refrigerator appliance during the defrost cycle after said step of deactivating and prior to said step of operating. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance drops to about negative ten degrees Fahrenheit during said step of activating. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about two hours. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further includes an evaporator fan, the method further comprising switching off the evaporator fan of the refrigerator appliance for the predetermined period of time at the commencement of the defrost cycle. 
     
     
         16 . A method for operating a refrigerator appliance during a defrost cycle, the refrigerator appliance having a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber, a compressor, and an evaporator heater, the method comprising:
 deactivating the compressor of the refrigerator appliance until the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance rises to a preselected temperature at a commencement of the defrost cycle; and   operating the evaporator heater of the refrigerator appliance during the defrost cycle after said step of deactivating.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the preselected temperature is less than about thirty-four degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising activating the compressor of the refrigerator appliance during the defrost cycle after said step of deactivating and prior to said step of operating. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance drops to about negative ten degrees Fahrenheit during said step of activating. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further includes an evaporator fan, the method further comprising switching off the evaporator fan of the refrigerator appliance until the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance rises to the preselected temperature at the commencement of the defrost cycle.