Refrigerator

Abstract

Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment, a duct unit formed with a plurality of discharge holes for discharge of cold air to the storage compartment, the duct unit providing a path for movement of the cold air, a guide provided inside the duct unit, the guide being configured to guide the cold air to be discharged to the storage compartment by dividing the cold air, moving to the top of the duct unit, into opposite sides, and a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant so as to supply the cold air to the duct unit. The guide includes a Phase Change Material (PCM) having a melting point at a lower temperature than a temperature inside the storage compartment, the temperature inside the storage compartment being set to initiate driving of the compressor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet defining a storage compartment;   a duct unit defining a plurality of discharge holes that are configured to discharge cold air into the storage compartment, the duct unit defining a path for movement of the cold air;   a guide provided inside the duct unit, the guide being configured to divide cold air that is moving toward the plurality of discharge holes of the duct into opposite sides of the guide; and   a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant to thereby generate the cold air supplied to the duct unit,   wherein the guide includes a Phase Change Material (PCM) having a melting point at a lower temperature than a set temperature inside the storage compartment, the compressor being configured to be driven based on the temperature inside the storage compartment reaching the set temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide is configured to undergo heat exchange with the cold air within the duct unit. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the compressor is configured to supply cold air having a lower temperature than the melting point of the phase change material, and
 wherein the guide is configured to increase the temperature of the cold air that is supplied to the storage compartment while the compressor is operated.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the storage compartment is lowered in temperature by the guide while the compressor is not operating. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the duct unit includes:
 a duct cover that is exposed to the storage compartment;   a first insulation member attached to a back of the duct cover; and   a second insulation member installed to a back of the first insulation member to thereby define a space for passage of the cold air between the first insulation member and the second insulation member,   wherein the guide is installed between the first insulation member and the second insulation member.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the guide includes a tapered portion having an upwardly increasing cross sectional width. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the guide includes a body that is charged with the phase change material, and
 wherein the body has greater thermal conductivity than the phase change material.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the body is formed of HDPE(5200B). 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the body is not charged in a lower end region thereof with the phase change material, and a guide member is provided in the lower end region of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the duct cover includes a protrusion, and
 wherein the first insulation member and the guide respectively define through-holes for penetration by and coupling with the protrusion.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the discharge holes are located in the duct cover and the first insulation member, and
 wherein the discharge holes are arranged at opposite sides of the guide that is interposed therebetween.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein the guide has a lowermost end that is located lower than a lowermost end of the discharge holes. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment is a refrigerating compartment, and
 wherein the phase change material has a melting point near 0° C.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature inside the storage compartment;   a fan installed in the duct unit; and   a controller configured to drive the fan based on the temperature inside the storage compartment being increased to a prescribed temperature or higher.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the discharge holes are maintained in an open state. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet defining a storage compartment;   a duct unit defining a plurality of discharge holes that are configured to discharge cold air into the storage compartment, the duct unit defining a path for movement of the cold air;   a guide provided inside the duct unit, the guide being configured to divide cold air that is moving toward the plurality of discharge holes of the duct into opposite sides of the guide; and   a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant to thereby generate the cold air supplied to the duct unit,   wherein the guide includes a Phase Change Material (PCM) having a melting point at a lower temperature than a set temperature inside the storage compartment, the compressor being configured to be driven based on the temperature inside the storage compartment reaching the set temperature, and   wherein the compressor is configured to generate cold air having a lower temperature than the freezing point of the phase change material.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator according to  claim 16 , wherein the phase change material is configured to accumulate cold air by being changed to a solid phase while the compressor is driven. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator according to  claim 16 , wherein the phase change material is configured to discharge cold air by being changed to a liquid phase while the compressor is not driven. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator according to  claim 16 , wherein a temperature that causes the compressor to stop driving is lower than a temperature that initiates driving of the compressor. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator according to  claim 16 , wherein the duct unit includes:
 a duct cover that is exposed to the storage compartment;   a first insulation member attached to a back of the duct cover; and   a second insulation member installed to a back of the first insulation member to thereby define a space for passage of the cold air between the first insulation member and the second insulation member,   wherein the guide is installed between the first insulation member and the second insulation member.