Refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator capable of supplying hot and cold drinking water to a user. The refrigerator includes a cold water tank and a hot water tank and a Peltier effect thermoelectric element disposed between the tanks. When a unidirectional current is supplied to the thermoelectric element, its heat absorption portion can absorb heat from the cold water tank and cool down the water stored therein; and its heat generation portion can release to the hot water tank and heat up the water stored therein. The cold water tank can further be cooled by the cold air in the refrigerator; while the hot water tank can further be heated by the heat in the machine room.

What is claimed is : 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cold water tank configured to store water therein;   a hot water tank configured to store water therein;   a thermoelectric element disposed between the cold water tank and the hot water tank; and   a control unit configured to control supply of a current to the thermoelectric element,   wherein the thermoelectric element comprises:   a heat absorption portion operable to absorb heat and cool the cold water tank responsive to the current; and   a heat generation portion operable to generate heat and provide heat to the hot water tank responsive to the current.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a main body having the cold water tank therein; and 
 a machine room disposed in a lower portion of the main body, wherein the hot water tank is disposed in the machine room. 
 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2  further comprising a cooling member contacting the heat absorption portion of the thermoelectric element and operable to transfer heat between the heat absorption portion of the thermoelectric element and the cold water tank. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3  further comprising a heat radiation member contacting the heat generation portion of the thermoelectric element and operable to transfer heat between the heat generation portion of the thermoelectric element and the hot water tank. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the main body comprises:
 a refrigeration chamber;   a freezer; and   a cold air generation room located at a rear side of the refrigeration chamber or a rear side of the freezer, wherein the cold air generation room is configured to accommodate an evaporator for evaporating a refrigerant to generate cold air.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein water stored in the cold water tank is cooled by one of cold air generated in the evaporator and the heat absorption portion of the thermoelectric element. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the heat absorption portion of the thermoelectric element faces one of the refrigeration chamber and the freezer. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the heat generation portion of the thermoelectric element faces the machine room. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein water stored in the hot water tank is primarily heated by heat generated in the machine room and is secondarily heated by heat generated by the heat generation portion of the thermoelectric element. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further comprising a dispenser comprising a nozzle configured to dispense water stored in the hot water tank and the cold water tank, wherein the nozzle opens outside of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the current is unidirectional. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body;   a machine room in a lower portion of the main body;   a cold water tank;   a hot water tank;   a dispenser comprising a nozzle coupled to at least one of the hot water tank and the cold water tank and configured to selectively dispense water stored in the hot water tank and the cold water tank to a user; and   a thermoelectric element disposed between the cold water tank and the hot water tank and configured to absorb heat and release heat based on Peltier effect, and   wherein the thermoelectric element is configured to cool the cold water tank and heat the hot water tank.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12  further comprising a control unit configured to control supply of current to the thermoelectric element, wherein the thermoelectric element is operable to both absorb heat from the cold water tank and release heat to the hot water tank responsive to the current. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the current is unidirectional. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the hot water tank is disposed in the machine room. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the cold water tank is disposed in the main body and outside of the machine room. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein thermoelectric element comprises a heat absorption portion facing the cold water tank and a heat generation portion facing the hot water tank. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17  further comprising a cooling member contacting the heat absorption portion of the thermoelectric element and operable to transfer heat between the heat absorption portion of the thermoelectric element and the cold water tank. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 17  further comprising a heat radiation member contacting the heat generation portion of the thermoelectric element and operable to transfer heat between the heat generation portion of the thermoelectric element and the hot water tank.