Patent Publication Number: US-2023145778-A1

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that can store food at a low temperature in an internal storage space that is shielded by a door. To this end, the refrigerator is configured to store the stored food in an optimal state by cooling the inside of the storage space using cold air generated through heat exchange with the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle. 
     Recently, refrigerators are gradually becoming larger and multifunctional according to changes in dietary habits and the trend of luxury products and a refrigerator having various structures and convenient devices for user convenience and efficient use of internal space has been released. 
     When the refrigerator is operated for a long period of time, wet air flowing thereinto from the outside may form frost in the inner area of the refrigerator, especially in a location adjacent to the evaporator, and when the frost is grown, the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator may decrease or the cooling performance in the refrigerator may be rapidly deteriorated by blocking the cold air flow path. 
     In order to solve this problem, a refrigerator is developed that disposes a defrost heater in a position adjacent to the evaporator, and, when a set condition for frost formation is satisfied, operates the defrost heater to remove the frost at the evaporator and in the region adjacent to the evaporator. 
     Representatively, Korea Registered Patent No. 10-1658233 discloses a refrigerator that determines an operation time of a defrost heater by detecting a change in a temperature in a refrigerator and an evaporator temperature to determine an accurate defrost time. 
     In addition, Korea Registered Patent No. 10-166045 discloses a refrigerator in which a heating portion for defrosting is operated by determining the amount of frost adhesion through a photographed image of a photographing apparatus for photographing an evaporator. 
     As described above, a refrigerator capable of minimizing power consumption by determining an appropriate defrosting time to operate a defrost heater is being developed. 
     However, all of these conventional techniques are to heat an evaporator with a very low temperature or a region adjacent to the evaporator, and in order to melt the frost, the heater must be heated to a high temperature for a sufficient time to dissolve the frost, thereby increasing the temperature in the entire refrigerator and thus there is a problem in that the operation of the compressor for cooling the inside of the refrigerator again becomes longer and thus power consumption increases. 
     In addition, there is a problem in that power consumption increases even when the defrost heater is operated for removing the frost. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     An object of an embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator capable of performing a defrosting operation while minimizing a temperature change in a storage space. 
     An object of an embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator capable of improving defrosting operation efficiency by reducing a defrosting operation time. 
     An object of an embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator capable of reducing power consumption by minimizing the operation of a defrosting heater. 
     Technical Solution 
     A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet forming a storage space; a machine room provided with a compressor and a condenser; a grill pan assembly provided in the storage space and configured to shield the evaporator from the front; and an air suction member configured to communicate the heat exchange space in which the evaporator is disposed and the machine room; in which the grill pan assembly may include a case configured to communicate with the heat exchange space; a fan provided in the case; a grill pan provided on the front surface of the case and having a cold air discharge port and a cold air suction port; an exhaust member configured to communicate the case and the machine room; an exhaust damper provided in the case and configured to open and close the exhaust member; and a partition provided inside the case, and the partition may partition the inside of the case into a first space forming a flow path of cold air circulating between the heat exchange space and the storage space and a second space forming a flow path of heating air circulating between the machine room and the heat exchange space. 
     Based on the partition, the first space may be formed in the front, and the second space is formed in the rear. 
     The case may include a case plate forming a rear surface; and a case flange configured to extend forward along the circumference of the case plate, and in which a flow path forming portion spaced apart from the case flange and protruding to a lower height than the case flange to be shielded by the partition may be formed in the case plate. 
     The fan may be positioned inside the flow path forming portion. 
     The partition may be formed in a shape corresponding to the flow path forming portion and may be coupled to an end portion of the flow path forming portion to shield the second space. 
     The exhaust damper may maintain a closed state during a cooling operation in which the compressor is driven and may be opened during a defrosting operation for defrosting of the evaporator. 
     The partition may be provided with a discharge damper configured to selectively communicate the first space and the second space, and the discharge damper may be closed during the defrosting operation and opened during the cooling operation. 
     The case may be provided with a suction damper configured to open and close the suction port, and the suction damper may be closed during the defrosting operation and opened during the cooling operation. 
     A machine room fan configured to cool the compressor and the condenser may be provided in the machine room, the machine room fan may be driven during the defrosting operation, and the inlet of the air suction member may be positioned on the discharge side of the machine room fan, and the outlet of the exhaust member is positioned on the suction side of the machine room fan. 
     During the defrosting operation, both the fan and the machine room fan may be driven. 
     The partition may have a discharge flow path portion formed at a position corresponding to the exhaust damper and guiding air flow to the exhaust damper. 
     The partition may be provided with a discharge damper, when the fan is driven while the discharge damper is open, the cold air generated by the evaporator may pass through the first space and the storage space and flow into the heat exchange space, and when the fan is driven while the discharge damper is closed, the air in the machine room may flow into the machine room through the evaporator and the second space. 
     The air suction member may extend toward the defrost water receiver on the floor of the machine room. 
     The exhaust member may be formed to communicate with the second space and the machine room. 
     The outlet of the exhaust member may be positioned above the condenser. 
     In another aspect, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet forming a storage space; an evaporator provided in the storage space; a grill pan assembly provided in the storage space and forming a heat exchange space in which the evaporator is accommodated; a fan for circulating air between the heat exchange space and the storage space; a machine room forming a space independent of the storage space and having a compressor and a condenser; a machine room fan provided in the machine room and operated to cool the compressor and the condenser; an air suction member connecting the machine room and the heat exchange space and forming a passage through which air from the machine room is suctioned into the heat exchange space; an exhaust member connecting the machine room and the heat exchange space and forming a passage through which air in the heat exchange space is discharged to the machine room; and a machine room exhaust damper configured to open and close the exhaust member. 
     In addition, in another aspect, the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet forming a storage space; a grill fan assembly partitioning the storage space to form a heat exchange space in which the evaporator is accommodated; a machine room forming a space independent of the storage space and having a compressor and a condenser; and a drain hose extending from the heat exchange space to the inside of the machine room to discharge defrost water generated during the defrosting operation toward the machine room, in which the grill fan assembly may include a case having an open front and forming an air flow space therein; a fan provided in the case and configured to force an air flow between the storage space and the heat exchange space; a grill fan shielding the open front of the case to form one surface of the storage space, and having a cold air discharge port for discharging cold air to the storage space and a cold air suction port for suctioning air from the storage space; an exhaust member extending from one side of the case into the machine room and communicating the air flow space and the inside of the machine room; and a machine room exhaust damper for opening and closing the exhaust member from one side of the exhaust member. 
     Advantageous Effect 
     According to the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the following effects can be expected. 
     During the defrosting operation, the air in the machine room flows into the heat exchange space in which the evaporator is disposed, and an air circulation structure is provided between the heat exchange space and the machine room so that effective defrosting can be achieved. 
     In particular, the high temperature air inside the machine room can melt the frost on the air flow path including the evaporator and the heat exchange space, so that the defrost heater is not used or the use of the defrost heater is minimized so that the defrost operation can be performed, and thus there is an advantage of significantly reducing power consumption. 
     Then, the inside of the grill pan assembly is partitioned into a cold air flow space and a heated air flow space, and the operation of the dampers is adjusted during the defrosting operation and thus only the air flows between the machine room and the heated air flow space to be capable of performing the defrosting operation. At this time, the efficiency of the defrosting operation can be improved by preventing the infiltration of high-temperature air into the cold air flow space and the storage space by switching the dampers, and the temperature of the storage space can be prevented from increasing during the defrosting operation. 
     In addition, by driving the machine room fan, the air inside the machine room is supplied to the heat exchange space, and the air in the heat exchange space can be discharged to the machine room, and thus there is an advantage of implementing a machine room air supply structure with minimal additional configuration. 
     In addition, air from the machine room is suctioned through the drain hose from which the defrost water is discharged, and the air from the heat exchange space is discharged through an exhaust member communicating with the grill pan assembly and the machine room, so that the existing structure is utilized to the maximum extent and thus there is an advantage that can implement an air circulation structure between the inside of the machine room and the heat exchange space. 
     In particular, the drain hose and the exhaust member are disposed on the suction side and the discharge side of the machine room fan, respectively, and thus there is an advantage in that air can be circulated between the heat exchange space and the machine room by using the rotation of the machine room fan without adding a separate fan. 
     In addition, there is an advantage in that the fan in the refrigerator is driven together with the machine room fan, so that air circulation between the machine room and the heat exchange space is made more effectively, and thus the defrosting operation can be effectively performed. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram schematically illustrating a disposition state of a machine room and a heat exchange space of the refrigerator. 
         FIG.  3    is a partial perspective view illustrating a state where the door of the refrigerator is opened. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view illustrating a grill pan assembly of the refrigerator. 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view illustrating the grill pan assembly. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view illustrating a state where the grill pan of the grill pan assembly is separated. 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII′ of  FIG.  6   . 
         FIG.  8    is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the grill pan assembly. 
         FIG.  9    is a block diagram illustrating a connection relationship of the controller of the refrigerator. 
         FIG.  10    is a view illustrating operating states of main components during a defrosting operation. 
         FIG.  11    is a view illustrating the flow of cooling air during normal operation. 
         FIG.  12    is a view illustrating the flow of heating air during a defrosting operation. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even though they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing an embodiment of the present disclosure, a detailed description of a related known configuration or a function thereof will be omitted if it is determined that it is obvious to those skilled in the art. 
     In addition, the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described as an example of a bottom freeze type refrigerator in which a freezing chamber is provided below, for convenience of explanation and understanding, and it should be noted in advance that the present disclosure is not limited to the shape of the refrigerator and can be applied to various types of refrigerators. 
     For the convenience of explanation and understanding, the direction is defined. Hereinafter, with respect to the bottom surface on which the refrigerator is installed, a direction toward the bottom surface may be referred to as a down direction, and a direction which is opposite to the down direction and is toward the high surface of the cabinet may be referred to as an up direction. In addition, a direction toward the door may be referred to as a front direction, and a direction toward the inside of the cabinet with respect to the door may be referred to as a rear direction. In addition, when an undefined direction is discussed, the direction may be defined and explained based on each drawing. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  2    is a diagram schematically illustrating a disposition state of a machine room and a heat exchange space of the refrigerator, and  FIG.  3    is a partial perspective view illustrating a state where the door of the refrigerator is opened. 
     As illustrated in the drawing, the refrigerator  1  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may have an overall outer appearance formed by a cabinet  10  forming a storage space and doors  121  and  131  opening and closing the storage space. 
     The cabinet  10  may include an outer case  102  forming an outer appearance and an inner case  101  forming a storage space. In addition, an adiabatic material  103  may be filled in the region spaced apart from each other between the outer case  102  and the inner case  101 . 
     The storage space inside the cabinet  10  may be partitioned up and down by a barrier  11 , and the refrigerating chamber  12  may be formed at the upper side and the freezing chamber  13  may be formed at the lower side. Since the refrigerating chamber  12  is disposed above, the refrigerating chamber may be referred to as an upper storage space or a first storage space. In addition, since the freezing chamber  13  is disposed below, the freezing chamber may be referred to as a lower storage space or a second storage space. 
     The doors  121  and  131  form a front surface of the refrigerator  10  and may be rotatably mounted to the cabinet  10 . The doors  121  and  131  may include a refrigerating chamber door  121  for opening and closing the refrigerating chamber  12  and a freezing chamber door  131  for opening and closing the freezing chamber  13 . 
     In addition, the machine room  20  may be formed in a corner region including a portion of the rear surface and the lower surface of the cabinet  10 . The machine room  20  may be configured such that a compressor  21  and a condenser  22  constituting a refrigeration cycle for cooling the storage space may be disposed. In addition, an evaporator  41  may be disposed in the heat exchange space  132  to be described below. 
     In detail, a compressor  21  for compressing the refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure and a condenser  22  for condensing the refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure supplied from the compressor  21  may be provided in the machine room  20 . 
     At least a portion of the machine room  20  may be opened, and external air may flow therein and air inside the machine room  20  may be discharged. In addition, a machine room fan  23  may be provided inside the machine room  20 , and cooling of the compressor  21  and heat dissipation of the condenser  22  may be performed by driving the machine room fan  23 . 
     The machine room fan  23  may be disposed between the compressor  21  and the condenser  22 , and the machine room fan  23  may force the air flow in the internal space of the machine room  20  partitioned in the left and right direction. For example, the air outside the machine room  20  may flow into the machine room  20  by the driving of the machine room fan  23  and may radiate heat from the condenser  22  while passing through the condenser  22 . Then, the air passing through the condenser  22  passes through the machine room fan  23  and then passes through the compressor  21  to cool the compressor  21 . The air cooled by the compressor  21  may be discharged to the outside of the machine room  20 . 
     The evaporator  41  may be disposed on the rear side of the freezing chamber  13 . The evaporator  41  may be disposed in a heat exchange space  132  formed between the grill pan assembly  30  and the inner case  101  when a grill pan assembly  30  to be described below is mounted. 
     In addition, a water collection member  42  having an inclination is provided on a lower surface of the heat exchange space  132  to collect water falling from the evaporator  41  during a defrosting operation. In addition, the water collection member  42  may be provided with a drain hose  421  extending toward the defrost water receiver  24  inside the machine room  20  through the upper surface of the machine room  20 . Accordingly, water that has fallen to the water collection member  42  by the defrosting operation may be discharged to the defrost water receiver  24  provided in the machine room  20  through the drain hose  421 . 
     Meanwhile, the drain hose  421  may be a passage through which air inside the machine room  20  flows into the heat exchange space  132  during a defrosting operation. At this time, the drain hose  421  may be positioned on the side of the compressor  21  with respect to the machine room fan  23 , so that the air forced by the machine room fan  23  flows into the inside of the heat exchange space  132  through the drain hose  421 . Since the drain hose  421  serves as a passage through which the air inside the machine room  20  flows into the heat exchange space  132 , the drain hose may be referred to as an inlet passage or an air suction member. 
     In addition, the exhaust member  531  may be provided on the side of the condenser  22  with respect to the machine room fan  23 . The exhaust member  531  is formed to connect between the upper surface of the machine room  20  and the bottom surface of the heat exchange space  132 , and the air in the heat exchange space  132  can be discharged to the machine room  20 . In particular, when the machine room fan  23  is driven, a negative pressure may be generated on the condenser  22  side, and thus the air in the heat exchange space  132  can be discharged into the machine room  20  through the exhaust member  531 . In addition, the exhaust member  531  serves as a passage through which air is discharged and thus may be referred to as an exhaust passage. 
     Meanwhile, a defrost heater  43  may be provided at one side of the evaporator  41 . For example, the defrost heater  43  may be provided at the lower side or at the lower end of the evaporator  41 . The defrost heater  43  may be formed to have a smaller size or a smaller capacity than a general defrost heater  43 . In addition, if the defrosting can be sufficiently performed using the air inside the machine room  20 , the defrost heater  43  may be omitted. 
     A fan  44  in the refrigerator may be provided above the evaporator  41 . The cold air generated in the evaporator  41  by driving the fan  44  in the refrigerator may be supplied to the freezing chamber  13  and the refrigerating chamber  12 . Meanwhile, the fan  44  in the refrigerator may force air circulation between the machine room  20  and the heat exchange space  132  during a defrosting operation. In addition, the fan  44  in the refrigerator may be provided in the grill pan assembly  30  for guiding the flow of cold air generated by the evaporator  41 . 
     The grill pan assembly  30  may partition the inner space of the freezing chamber  13  in the front and rear direction. In other words, the grill pan assembly  30  may partition the internal space of the freezing chamber  13  into a space in which food is stored and the heat exchange space  132  in which the evaporator  41  is disposed. 
     A front surface of the grill pan assembly  30  forms a rear wall surface of a space of the freezing chamber  13 , in which food is stored. In addition, cold air discharge ports  321  and  322  for discharging cool air to the inside of the refrigerator and cold air suction port  323  for suctioning cool air in the refrigerator toward the evaporator  41  may be formed on the front surface of the grill pan assembly  30 . 
     In addition, the fan  44  in the refrigerator may be provided inside the grill pan assembly  30 , and a passage through which cold air may flow may be formed. In addition, a plurality of dampers  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  for opening and closing the flow path may be provided to supply cold air to various paths according to the driving state. In addition, the rear surface of the grill pan assembly  30  may shield the heat exchange space  132  in which the evaporator  41  is disposed. 
     Hereinafter, the structure of the grill pan assembly  30  will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG.  4    is a perspective view illustrating a grill pan assembly of the refrigerator,  FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view illustrating the grill pan assembly,  FIG.  6    is a perspective view illustrating a state where the grill pan of the grill pan assembly is separated,  FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII′ of  FIG.  6   , and  FIG.  8    is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the grill pan assembly. 
     As illustrated in the drawing, the grill pan assembly  30  may be formed to have a size corresponding to the size of the rear surface of the freezing chamber  13 , and may have an approximately rectangular front shape to partition the space in the freezing chamber  13  in the front and rear directions. In addition, the grill pan assembly  30  may be formed to have a predetermined width in the front and rear direction so that the fan  44  in the refrigerator is accommodated therein and a flow path of cold air is formed. 
     As a whole, the grill pan assembly  30  may includes a case  31  having an open front, a grill pan  32  shielding the open front of the case  31 , and a partition  33  partitioning the inner space of the case  31  in the front and rear direction. 
     In detail, the case  31  may include a case plate  311  forming a rear surface and a case flange  312  extending forward along the circumference of the case plate  311 . The case plate  311  may form a rear surface of the grill pan assembly  30 , and the case flange  312  may form a circumferential surface of the grill pan assembly  30 . 
     An upper portion of the case plate  311  may be stepped backward to form a space in which the fan  44  in the refrigerator can be accommodated. In addition, an inlet  311   a  through which air flows toward the fan  44  in the refrigerator may be opened at a position corresponding to the fan  44  in the refrigerator. The fan  44  in the refrigerator may be formed to have a centrifugal fan structure that suctions in air in an axial direction and discharges air in a circumferential direction. 
     In addition, a refrigerating chamber side opening  511  may be formed at an upper end of the case plate  311 . The refrigerating chamber side opening  511  is a passage for supplying cold air to the refrigerating chamber  12  and may be opened and closed by the refrigerating chamber damper  51 . The refrigerating chamber side opening  511  may be provided on the upper surface of the grill pan assembly  30  and may be formed to protrude rearward. In addition, the refrigerating chamber side opening  511  may be formed to communicate with a flow path toward the refrigerating chamber  12 . In addition, the refrigerating chamber side opening  511  may be opened toward the circumferential surface of the fan  44  in the refrigerator. Accordingly, some of the air discharged in the circumferential direction of the fan  44  in the refrigerator when the fan  44  in the refrigerator is driven may be naturally directed towards the refrigerating chamber side opening  511 . 
     A lower portion of the case plate  311  may protrude forward and be formed to be stepped. Accordingly, the lower portion of the case plate  311  may form a space in which the evaporator  41  may be formed at the rear. Accordingly, the cold air generated by the evaporator  41  may flow through the inlet  311   a  and may flow into the case plate  311  when the fan  44  in the refrigerator is driven. 
     Meanwhile, the case flange  312  may have a predetermined height, and an air flow space  310  may be formed inside the case  31 . The space inside the case  31  may be divided by the partition  33  into a front cold air flow space  310   b  and a rear heated air flow space  310   a . The front cold air flow space  310   b  and the rear heated air flow space  310   a  are referred to as respectively a front space  130   b  and a rear space  310   a  or a first air flow space  310   b  and a second air flow space  310   a . 
     In addition, a flow path forming portion  313  may be formed in the air flow space  310  formed by the case flange  312 . The flow path forming portion  313  may protrude from the case plate  311  and form the heating air flow space  310   a . The flow path forming portion  313  may be spaced apart from both left and right side surfaces of the case flange  312  and may extend downward from an upper end of the case flange  312 . In addition, the flow path forming portion  313  may be formed with a lower surface extending to connect the lower ends of the left and right side surfaces. The flow path forming portion  313  may be formed along the circumference of the partition  33 . 
     In addition, the flow path forming portion  313  may be formed to be symmetrical to both left and right sides with respect to the center line of the case  31 . In addition, the flow path forming portion  313  is formed to have a narrow width at a position corresponding to the fan  44  in the refrigerator, and air discharged in the circumferential direction of the fan  44  in the refrigerator by driving the fan  44  in the refrigerator may be directed upward and downward. 
     Meanwhile, the flow path forming portion  313  may be formed to be lower than the protrusion height of the case flange  312 . In addition, the extended end portion of the flow path forming portion  313  may be in contact with the circumference of the partition  33 . In other words, the heating air flow space  310   a  may be defined by the case plate  311 , the flow path forming portion  313 , and the partition  33 . 
     In addition, a machine room exhaust damper  53  may be provided on one side of the lower surface of the flow path forming portion  313 . The machine room exhaust damper  53  may communicate with the exhaust member  531 . Accordingly, the exhaust member  531  may be opened and closed according to the operation of the machine room exhaust damper  53 , and the heated air flow space  310   a  and the inside of the machine room  20  may be selectively communicated with each other. 
     The exhaust member  531  may be connected to the machine room exhaust damper  53  and may be formed in a tubular shape extending further downward from the heated air flow space  310   a  through the lower surface of the grill pan assembly  30 . In addition, the exhaust member  531  may be bent so as to penetrate and extend above a region of the machine room  20 , in which the condenser  22  is disposed. 
     In addition, a freezing chamber suction damper  54  may be provided on a lower surface of the flow path case  31 . The freezing chamber suction damper  54  may be configured to selectively determine the inflow of air into the freezing chamber  13 . The freezing chamber suction damper  54  may communicate with the cold air suction port  323 , and may communicate with the cold airflow space  310   b  inside the case  31 . In other words, the air inside the freezing chamber  13  may flow into the cold air flow space  310   b  according to whether the freezing chamber suction damper  54  is opened or closed. 
     The partition  33  is provided inside the case  31 , and may be coupled to the circumference of the flow path forming portion  313 . The partition  33  may be formed in a plate shape, and may form a front surface of the heated air flow space  310   a  in a state where the partition is coupled to the flow path forming portion  313 . 
     The partition  33  may include a plate portion  331  forming the heating air flow space  310   a  and a discharge flow path portion  332  at a lower end of the plate portion  331 . The plate portion  331  may be formed in a plate shape and may be in contact with the circumference of the flow path forming portion  313 . 
     The plate portion  331  may form the remaining region except for the flow path forming portion  313  and may substantially partition the air flow space  310  inside the case  31  in the front and rear direction. In addition, the upper end of the plate portion  331  is in contact with the upper end of the case flange  312  of the flow path case  31 , and both ends in the left and right direction and the lower end can be formed to be in contact with both ends and the lower end of the flow path forming portion  313 , respectively. Accordingly, the front surface of the heating air flow space  310   a  and the rear surface of the cold air flow space  310   b  may be defined by the plate portion  331 . 
     The discharge flow path portion  332  may be formed at a lower end of one side of the plate portion  331 . The discharge flow path portion  332  may be formed at a position corresponding to the machine room exhaust damper  53  and may be bent forward from the upper side of the machine room exhaust damper  53  to form a space so that the air of the heated air flow space  310   a  smoothly flows into the machine room exhaust damper  53 . 
     A freezing chamber discharge damper  52  may be provided at one upper end of the partition  33 . One side of the freezing chamber discharge damper  52  may be opened toward the fan  44  in the refrigerator, and the other side thereof may be opened toward the cold air flow space  310   b . The freezing chamber discharge damper  52  may be opened or closed according to the operating state of the refrigerator  1 , and the air discharged by the driving of the fan  44  in the refrigerator according to the opening and closing of the freezing chamber discharge damper  52  can be selectively supplied. In other words, when the freezing chamber discharge damper  52  is opened, the air discharged by the fan  44  in the refrigerator may be guided into the freezing chamber  13  through the cold air flow space  310   b . 
     When the partition  33  is mounted, the partition  33  may shield the fan  44  in the refrigerator. The fan  44  in the refrigerator may have a structure in which a fan and a motor are combined, and if necessary, the fan and the motor may be mounted in a separate case to be configured in a module state. 
     When the partition  33  is mounted, a cold air flow space  310   b  may be formed in front of the partition  33 . The cold air flow space  310   b  may provide a space in which the cold air supplied by the fan  44  in the refrigerator flows into the freezing chamber  13  through the grill pan  32 . 
     The grill pan  32  forms a front surface of the grill pan assembly  30 , and forms a surface exposed to the inside of the freezing chamber  13  when the grill pan assembly  30  is mounted in the freezing chamber  13 , and the shape of the rear wall of the storage space inside the freezing chamber  13  may be formed. 
     An upper cold air discharge port  321  may be formed at the upper end of the grill pan  32 , and an intermediate cold air discharge port  322  may be formed below the upper cold air discharge port  321 , that is, in the middle region of the grill pan  32 . The upper cold air discharge port  321  and the intermediate cold air discharge port  322  may communicate with the cold air flow space  310   b . Accordingly, the cold air supplied to the cold air flow space  310   b  may be effectively supplied to the inside of the refrigerator through the upper cold air discharge port  321  and the intermediate discharge port  322 . 
     Meanwhile, a cold air suction port  323  through which air from the freezing chamber  13  is suctioned may be formed in the center of the lower end of the grill pan  32 . The cold air suction port  323  may be formed at a position corresponding to the freezing chamber suction damper  54 . Accordingly, according to the opening and closing of the freezing chamber suction damper  54 , the air in the freezing chamber  13  may communicate with the heat exchange space  132  in which the evaporator  41  is accommodated through the cold air suction port  323 . 
     At this time, the freezing chamber suction damper  54  may be opened further below the lower end of the evaporator  41 , and therefore, when the fan  44  in the refrigerator is driven, the air flowing through the freezing chamber suction damper  54  may flow upward after being cooled completely through the evaporator  41 . 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the refrigerator  1  having the above structure will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG.  9    is a block diagram illustrating a connection relationship of the controller of the refrigerator,  FIG.  10    is a view illustrating operating states of main components during a defrosting operation,  FIG.  11    is a view illustrating the flow of cooling air during normal operation, and  FIG.  12    is a view illustrating the flow of heating air during a defrosting operation. 
     As illustrated in the drawing, the controller  50  controls the operation of the compressor  21  and the fan  44  in the refrigerator to cool the space in the refrigerator to a set temperature. 
     The operating state for cooling the refrigerating chamber  12  or the freezing chamber  13  may be referred to as a normal operating state. The air circulation structure during normal operation is illustrated in  FIG.  11   . 
     In detail, the compressor  21  and the fan  44  in the refrigerator may be driven to cool the storage space. By driving the compressor  21 , the refrigerant may be supplied to the evaporator  41  through the condenser  22  and the expansion device. In addition, the evaporator  41  may be in a low temperature state while the liquid refrigerant is vaporized. 
     In addition, the air inside the freezing chamber  13  may flow into the heat exchange space  132  by the driving of the fan  44  in the refrigerator and may be cooled while passing through the evaporator  41 . To this end, the freezing chamber suction damper  54  may be opened, and the air inside the freezing chamber  13  flowing through the cold air suction port  323  of the grill pan  32  flows below the evaporator  41  and flows upward along the evaporator  41 . 
     The air flowing upward in the heat exchange space  132  may be suctioned in an axial direction of the fan  44  in the refrigerator and discharged in a circumferential direction of the fan  44  in the refrigerator. At this time, the freezing chamber discharge damper  52  may be controlled in an open state. Accordingly, cold air may be supplied to the cold air flow space  310   b  by driving the fan  44  in the refrigerator, and the cold air may be supplied into the freezing chamber  13  through the cold air discharge ports  321  and  322  formed in the grill pan  32 , cold air is supplied to the inside of the freezing chamber  13  through the cold air discharge port  321 ,  322  formed in the grill pan  32 , and thus can cool the freezing chamber  13 . 
     Meanwhile, the cold air generated by the evaporator  41  may be supplied to the refrigerating chamber  12  to cool the refrigerating chamber  12 . 
     In detail, the controller  50  may open the refrigerating chamber damper  51  to cool the refrigerating chamber  12 . When the fan  44  in the refrigerator is driven while the refrigerator compartment damper  51  is open, the cool air cooled while passing through the evaporator  41  may be suctioned in the axial direction of the fan  44  in the refrigerator and then discharged in the circumferential direction. 
     Accordingly, the cold air discharged above the cold air flow space  310   b  flows toward the refrigerating chamber  12  through the open refrigerating chamber damper  51  and the refrigerating chamber side opening  511 . In this case, the refrigerating chamber side opening  511  is connected to a discharge duct (not illustrated) inside the refrigerating chamber  12  to supply cold air into the refrigerating chamber  12 . 
     The cold air supplied into the refrigerating chamber  12  and cooled in the refrigerating chamber  12  can be inhaled again toward the evaporator  41  through a suction duct  122  connected to communicate between the refrigerating chamber  12  and the heat exchange space  132 . Although not illustrated, a damper may be provided in the suction duct  122  to selectively adjust suction of cool air in the refrigerating chamber  12  into the heat exchange space  132 . The cooling of the refrigerating chamber  12  may be achieved by such a cooling air circulation structure. 
     Meanwhile, in the process of cooling the refrigerating chamber  12  and the freezing chamber  13 , frost may be formed on the evaporator  41 . In addition, when a defrost input signal is input, the controller  50  may remove the frost from the evaporator  41  or a position adjacent to the evaporator  41  through a defrosting operation. 
     For the defrosting operation, the controller  50  may allow the high-temperature air inside the machine room  20  to flow into the heat exchange space  132 , and the air flowing into the heat exchange space  132  may be returned again to the machine room  20  through the heating air flow space  310   a . In order to provide such an air circulation path, the controller  50  opens the machine room exhaust damper  53  and closes all the freezing chamber suction damper  54 , the freezing chamber discharge damper  52 , and the refrigerating chamber damper  51 , and thus the controller can prevent high-temperature air from affecting the temperature inside the refrigerating chamber  12  or the freezing chamber  13  by flowing of the high-temperature air into the refrigerating chamber  12  or the freezing chamber  13 . 
     In addition, the fan  44  in the refrigerator and the machine room fan  23  are driven so that the air in the machine room  20  sequentially circulates through the heat exchange space  132  and the heated air flow space  310   a . At this time, the defrost heater  43  may be turned off. Of course, the defrost heater  43  may not be provided. In addition, even if the defrost heater  43  is operated, the defrost heater may be operated at a temperature lower than the temperature of a normal defrosting operation, or may be operated only in some section of the entire defrosting operation section. 
     A circulation structure of heated air during the defrosting operation will be described with reference to  FIG.  12   . 
     When the compressor  21  is driven for cooling in the refrigerator, the temperature inside the machine room  20  increases due to heat generated by the compressor  21  and heat radiation from the condenser  22 . In addition, when the machine room fan  23  is driven, air is forced to flow from the condenser  22  side to the compressor  21  side. 
     In addition, in a state where the freezing chamber suction damper  54 , the freezer chamber discharge damper  52 , the refrigerating chamber damper  51  are closed, and the machine room exhaust damper  53  is open, when fan  44  in the refrigerator is driven, a negative pressure is generated in the heat exchange space  132 , and air inside the machine room  20  flows into the heat exchange space  132  through the drain hose  421 . 
     The high-temperature air inside the machine room  20  flows into the heat exchange space  132  through the lower surface of the heat exchange space  132  and moves upward through the evaporator  41 , and, in this process, can melt the frost formed on the evaporator  41 . In other words, as the high-temperature air inside the machine room  20  is continuously supplied, the temperature inside the heat exchange space  132  including the evaporator  41  increases to remove the frost. 
     Then, the air that has passed through the evaporator  41  passes through the fan  44  in the refrigerator and flows into the heated air flow space  310   a . In addition, the machine room exhaust damper  53  is in an open state on the lower surface of the heated air flow space  310   a , and the condenser  22  side of the machine room  20  to which the outlet of the exhaust member  531  is exposed is in a negative pressure state by driving of the machine room fan  23  so that the air in the heated air flow space  310   a  can be discharged into the machine room  20 . 
     As such, the high-temperature air inside the machine room  20  can be continuously supplied to pass through the evaporator  41  by driving the machine room fan  23  and the fan  44  in the refrigerator, and the air passing through the evaporator  41  may be discharged to the machine room  20  through the heating air flow space  310   a . The frost formed on the evaporator  41  can be melted by the circulation of the air in the machine room  20  as described above. 
     The controller  50  performs a defrosting operation until a set condition is satisfied. For example, the controller  50  performs the defrosting operation for a set time, and when the defrosting operation is ended by inputting the ending of the defrost to the controller, the controller  50  closes the machine room exhaust damper  53 , and opens the freezing chamber discharge damper  52 , the freezing chamber suction damper  54 , and the refrigerating chamber damper  51  according to operating conditions so that the inside of the refrigerator can be cooled again. 
     Industrial Applicability 
     The refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has high industrial applicability because power consumption can be reduced.