Patent Publication Number: US-10309696-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/257,532 filed on Sep. 6, 2016, now allowed, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/794,352 filed on Jul. 8, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,464,825, which is the Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/483,838 filed on May 30, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,109,819, which claims the benefits of priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2011-0051885 filed on May 31, 2011, 10-2011-0113337 filed on Nov. 2, 2011, 10-2011-0113338 filed on Nov. 2, 2011, 10-2011-0114572 filed on Nov. 4, 2011 and 10-2011-0126530 filed on Nov. 30, 2011, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. 
     In general, refrigerators are home appliances which can store foods at a low temperature in an inner storage space covered by a door. The refrigerators cool the inside of the storage space using cool air generated by heat-exchanging with a refrigerant that circulates in a refrigeration cycle to store the foods in an optimum state. 
     Recently, the refrigerator have been increasing in size and multi-functions are being provided to the refrigerator as dietary life changes and high quality is pursued. Therefore, refrigerators of various structures with consideration of user convenience are being brought to the market. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a separate storage space for quickly cooling foods in addition to a refrigerating compartment or a freezing compartment. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments provide a refrigerator having a separate space that can quickly cool foods in addition to a refrigerating compartment or a freezing compartment. 
     In one embodiment, a refrigerator comprises a main body in which a first storage compartment is defined; a heat exchange chamber defined in the main body; an evaporator received in the heat exchange chamber; a second storage compartment provided in the first storage compartment; and a quick cooling module to heat-exchange with a refrigerant pipe of the evaporator, the quick cooling module cooling an inside of the second storage compartment, wherein the quick cooling module comprises: a thermal conductive unit in thermal conduction with the refrigerant pipe; and a thermoelectric device having a first surface in thermal conduction with the thermal conductive unit to heat-exchange with the thermal conductive unit when current is supplied and a second surface facing the second storage compartment. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator including a quick cooling module according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating structures of a drawer assembly and the quick cooling module which are provided in a deep freezing storage compartment according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a quick cooling module according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a side sectional view of a drawer according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a drawer according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a side sectional view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a fifth embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration for controlling a refrigerator including the quick cooling module according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a process for controlling a quick cooling mode operation using the quick cooling module according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a sixth embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating the installed state of the quick cooling module and the drawer assembly according to the sixth embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a seventh embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to the seventh embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to an eighth embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating the installed state of the quick cooling module and the drawer assembly according to the eighth embodiment. 
         FIGS. 20 and 21  are perspective views illustrating various examples of a guide part according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The spirit and scope of the present disclosure, however, shall not be construed as being limited to embodiments provided herein. Rather, it will be apparent that other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure may easily be derived through adding, modifying, and deleting elements herein and it is intended to be covered by the appended claims. 
     Although a bottom freezer type refrigerator is exemplified as a refrigerator according to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the embodiments may be applied also to a top mount type refrigerator and a side-by-side type refrigerator. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator including a quick cooling module according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  1  including a quick cooling module according to an embodiment includes a main body  10  having a storage space therein, a door  20  selectively opening or closing the storage space, and a deep freezing storage compartment. 
     In detail, the inner storage space of the main body  10  is partitioned by a barrier  103  to define a refrigerating compartment  12  and a freezing compartment  13 . The refrigerating compartment  12  and the freezing compartment  13  are disposed horizontally or vertically according to an extension direction of the barrier  103 . For example, when the barrier  103  is horizontally disposed, the refrigerating compartment  12  may be defined above/below the freezing compartment  13 . In this embodiment, the refrigerating compartment  12  is disposed above the freezing compartment  13 . Alternatively, when the barrier is vertically disposed, the refrigerating compartment  12  and the freezing compartment  13  may be disposed horizontally parallel to each other. Here, the storage space including the refrigerating compartment  12  and the freezing compartment  13  may be defined as a first storage compartment, and the deep freezing storage compartment may be defined as a second storage compartment. The second storage compartment is a storage compartment which is maintained at a temperature less than that of the first storage compartment. For example, if the freezing compartment  13  is maintained at a temperature of about −18° C. to about −20° C., the deep freezing storage compartment corresponding to the second storage compartment is maintained at a temperature of about −50° C. to about −60° C. 
     Also, the deep freezing storage compartment may be disposed on an edge of a side of the freezing compartment  13 . A drawer assembly  30  for storing foods and a quick cooling module (see  FIG. 2 )  40  for quickly cooling the inside of the drawer assembly  30  are disposed in the deep freezing storage compartment. The quick cooling module  40  is disposed on a rear end of the drawer assembly  30 . This will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The refrigerating compartment  12  is selectively opened or closed by a refrigerating compartment door  21 . That is, the refrigerating compartment  12  may be selectively opened or closed by a single door or a pair of doors as shown in  FIG. 1 . The refrigerating compartment door  21  may be rotatably coupled to the main body  10 . 
     Also, the freezing compartment  13  is selectively opened or closed by a freezing compartment door  22 . In case of a bottom freezer type refrigerator, the freezing compartment door  22  may be withdrawably provided as shown in  FIG. 1 . That is, a freezing compartment receiving part may be provided as a drawer type. 
     The drawer assembly  30  may be received into the deep freezing storage compartment so that the drawer assembly  30  can withdraw in forward and backward directions. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating structures of the drawer assembly  30  and the quick cooling module  40  which are provided in the deep freezing storage compartment according to an embodiment. 
     In detail, the quick cooling module  40  is disposed on the rear end of the drawer assembly  30 . Also, the quick cooling module  40  may be fixed to the main body  10  or movable together with the drawer assembly  30 . 
     The quick cooling module  40  includes a thermal conductive unit  44  coupled to an evaporator E installed within the main body  10 , a thermoelectric device  41  attached to a front surface of the thermal conductive unit  44 , a heat dissipation member  42  coupled to a front surface of the thermoelectric device  41 , and a heat absorption-side blow fan  43  coupled to a front surface of the heat dissipation member  42 . The heat dissipation member  42  includes a heatsink. 
     In detail, the thermoelectric device  41  includes a device using a peltier effect in which heat absorption occurs in one surface and heat emission occurs in the other surface by supplying current. The peltier effect represents an effect in which heat absorption occurs in one terminal and heat emission occurs in the other terminal along a current flow direction when ends of two kinds of metals are connected to each other, and then current is applied into the ends of the metals. Also, when a flow direction of current applied into the thermoelectric device  41  is reversed, a heat absorption surface and a heat emission surface may be also reversed. In addition, an amount of supplied current may be controlled to adjust an amount of absorbed and emitted heat. 
     The quick cooling module  40  according to an embodiment has a structure in which the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device  41  is disposed to face the drawer assembly  30  of the deep freezing storage compartment, and the heat emission surface is disposed to face the evaporator E. Thus, foods stored in the drawer assembly  30  may be quickly cooled at a super low temperature using the heat absorption occurring in the thermoelectric device  41  in addition to cool air supplied from the evaporator E. 
     The drawer assembly  30  includes a drawer  32  and a case  31  in which the drawer  32  is withdrawably received. According to structures of products, only the drawer  32  may be received in the deep freezing storage compartment, or all the case  31  and the drawer  32  may be received in the deep freezing storage compartment. 
     In detail, a rear surface of the drawer assembly  30  contacts a front surface of the quick cooling module  40 , i.e., the heat absorption-side blow fan  43  to allow the cool air to forcibly flow into the drawer assembly  30  by the heat absorption-side blow fan  43 . 
     Also, the thermal conductive unit  44  may be a metal plate having high conductivity such as an aluminum plate. Also, in the thermal conductive unit  44 , one or a pair of plates is/are closely coupled to a refrigerant pipe of the evaporator E. In this embodiment, a pair of thermal conductive plates surround a portion of the refrigerant pipe of the evaporator E. To maximize a contact area between the refrigerant pipe and the thermal conductive unit  44 , a groove in which the refrigerant pipe is seated may be defined in a surface of the thermal conductive unit  44  contacting the refrigerant pipe. Alternatively, the refrigerant pipe may pass through a side surface of the thermal conductive unit  44  which is provided in one body, and a portion of the refrigerant pipe may be buried within the thermal conductive unit  44 . 
     The drawer  32  may have a rectangular shape with a top surface opened. A sliding guide  321  extends from front to rear on both sides of the drawer  32 . A plurality of rollers  323  are disposed on the sliding guide  321 . A cool air flow part  322  for transferring the cool air supplied from the heat absorption-side blow fan  43  into the drawer  32  is disposed on a rear surface of the drawer  32 . The cool air flow part  322  includes a cool air inflow hole  322   a  defined in an approximate center of the rear surface of the drawer  32  and a cool air discharge hole  322   b  defined around the cool air inflow hole  322   a . When the drawer  32  is completely inserted, the cool air inflow hole  322   a  is disposed in a front surface of the heat absorption-side blow fan  43 . Thus, air cooled by passing through the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device  41  and/or air passing through the evaporator E may be supplied into the drawer  32 . The cool air inflow hole  322   a  and the cool air discharge hole  322   b  may be converted according to a kind of heat absorption-side blow fan  43 . For example, when the heat absorption-side blow fan  43  is a suction fan, the cool air inflow hole  322   a  may serve as a cool air discharge hole. Also, when the heat absorption-side blow fan  43  is a blower fan, the cool air inflow hole  322   a  may serve as a cool air inflow hole. Also, the cool air inflow hole and the cool air discharge hole may be changed in position according to their installed positions. For example, the cool air inflow hole may be defined above the cool air discharge hole so that cool air inflows into an upper space of the drawer  32  to drop onto a bottom of the drawer  32  and then be discharged. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , this embodiment illustrates a structure in which only the drawer  32  is received into the deep freezing storage compartment. 
     In detail, the deep freezing storage compartment may be defined at an edge of a side of the freezing compartment  13 . Also, the deep freezing storage compartment may be defined as an independent storage space partitioned from the freezing compartment  13  by an insulation case  104 . That is, the insulation case  104  has a rectangular shape with a hollow interior. Also, the insulation case  104  may be integrated with an inner case  101  that will be described later. Also, the drawer  32  may be received into the storage space defined by the insulation case  104 . 
     The main body  10  includes an outer case  102  defining an outer appearance thereof and the inner case  101  provided within the outer case  102 . A foam-filled insulation material may be between the outer case  102  and the inner case  101 . Also, a heat exchange chamber  105  for receiving the evaporator E may be disposed between the outer case  102  and the inner case  101 . Here, the inner case  101  may be a partition for partitioning the heat exchange changer  105  from the second storage compartment. Alternatively, in a refrigerator according to a related art, a separate partition wall such as a plate or duct may be provided on a front surface of the inner case  101  to define the heat exchange chamber  105  between the partition wall and the inner case  101 , and also, the evaporator E may be received into the heat exchange chamber  105 . The insulation case  104  may closely abut to a front surface of the partition wall. The exemplified structure in which the heat exchange chamber is defined by the separate partition wall will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     A guide sleeve  101   a  protrudes from a wall of the freezing compartment  13  corresponding to a rear surface of the deep freezing storage compartment. The guide sleeve  101   a  may have a square pillar shape. A communication hole  101   b  is defined in the guide sleeve  101   a  having the square pillar shape. The communication hole  101   b  communicates with the heat exchange chamber  105 . Here, the wall of the freezing compartment  13  from which the guide sleeve  101   a  protrudes may be a rear surface of the inner case  101  or a front surface of the partition wall. The rear surface of the drawer  32  closely abut to a front surface of the guide sleeve  101   a . That is, when the drawer  32  is completely inserted into the deep freezing storage compartment, the rear surface of the drawer  32  closely abut to the front surface of the guide sleeve  101   a.    
     In detail, the quick cooling module  40  is received into an inner space of the guide sleeve  101   a , i.e., the communication hole  101   b . The heat absorption-side blow fan  43  of the quick cooling module  40  closely abut to the cool air inflow hole  322   a  defined in the rear surface of the drawer  32 . In this embodiment, the heat absorption-side blow fan is provided as a blower fan, and the cool air inflow hole  322   a  serves as the cool air discharge hole. The heat emission surface of the thermoelectric device  41  is closely attached to a front surface of the thermal conductive unit  44 . Thus, heat emitted from the heat emission surface may be transmitted into the refrigerant pipe of the evaporator E through the thermal conductive unit  44 . The heat dissipation member  42  attached to the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device  41  is cooled at a low temperature. Air cooled by colliding and heat-exchanging with the heat dissipation member  42  is supplied into the drawer  32  by the heat absorption-side blow fan  43 . Here, air existing within the drawer  32  is circulated to flow again into the heat dissipation member  42  through the cool air discharge hole  322   b . Here, a portion of the cool air passing through the evaporator E and the communication hole  101   b  may be supplied into the drawer  32 . 
     Thus, foods stored in the deep freezing storage compartment may be quickly frozen at a low temperature by the cool air generated in the evaporator E in addition to the cool air generated by the thermoelectric device  41 . 
     The thermoelectric device  41  may be operated when the evaporator E is operated to maximize a quick freezing effect. That is, current may be applied into the thermoelectric device  41  when a refrigeration cycle is operated to circulate the refrigerant into the evaporator E. Thus, the quick freezing may be smoothly performed. 
     In addition, when the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment are sufficiently cooled to a set temperature so that the refrigeration cycle is not operated, i.e., when an operation of the evaporator E is stopped, the deep freezing storage compartment may be independently operated using the quick cooling module  40 . That is, when the quick cooling within the deep freezing storage compartment is required in a state where the refrigeration cycle is stopped, current may be applied into the quick cooling module  40  to operate the thermoelectric device  41 , thereby generating cool air. Also, the air generated in the thermoelectric device  41  may be supplied into the drawer  32  by operating the heat absorption-side blow fan  43 . 
     In addition, since the heat emission surface of the thermoelectric device  41  is attached to the evaporator E using the thermal conductive unit  44  as a medium, when a freezing phenomenon occurs on the evaporator E, the thermoelectric device  41  may be used as a defrosting member. That is, when current is supplied into the thermoelectric device  41  to remove ice attached on the evaporator E, heat emitted from the heat emission surface of the thermoelectric device  41  may be transmitted into the refrigerant pipe of the evaporator E through the thermal conductive unit  44 . As a result, the ice attached to the evaporator E may be separated. Thus, it is unnecessary to perform a separate defrosting operation. 
     Furthermore, when the flow direction of the current supplied into the thermoelectric device  41  is reversed, a front surface of the thermoelectric device  41  serves as the heat emission surface. Thus, the deep freezing storage compartment may serve as a quick thawing compartment. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a second embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a drawer  32  and a case  31  are received in a deep freezing storage compartment, and a separate guide sleeve  101   a  is not required on a wall of a freezing compartment  13 . However, other components according to this embodiment are equal to those of the first embodiment. Thus, duplicated descriptions with respect to the components equal to those of the first embodiment will be omitted. 
     In detail, a drawer assembly  30  is received in a deep freezing storage compartment defined by an insulation case  104 . A rear surface of the case  31  constituting the drawer assembly  30  closely abut to a rear surface of the freezing compartment  13 . A communication hole  101   b  is defined in a rear wall of the freezing compartment  12 , i.e., an inner case  101 , and a quick cooling module  40  is received in the communication hole  101   b . A cool air hole is defined in the rear wall of the case  31 , particularly, a position corresponding to a cool air inflow hole  322   a  of the drawer  32 . A heat absorption-side blow fan  43  of the quick cooling module  40  is disposed in the cool air hole. Similar to the first embodiment, a thermoelectric device  41  of the quick cooling module  40  is fixed to a refrigerant pipe of an evaporator E using a thermal conductive unit  44  as a medium. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a third embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , this embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that a thermal conductive unit  44  constituting a part of the quick cooling module  40  is separated from a thermoelectric device  41 . 
     In detail, the quick cooling module  40  according to this embodiment includes a thermoelectric device  41 , a heat dissipation member  42  attached to a heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device  41 , a heat absorption-side blow fan  43  coupled to a front surface of the heat dissipation member  42 , a thermal conductive plate  46  attached to a heat emission surface of the thermoelectric device  41 , a thermal conductive unit  44  surrounding a portion of a refrigerant pipe of an evaporator E, and a heat pipe  45  connecting the thermal conductive unit  44  to the thermal conductive plate  46  to transmit heat. 
     In more detail, the evaporator E to which the thermal conductive unit  44  is attached is received in a heat exchange chamber  105 , and the thermal conductive plate  46  is attached to a rear wall of a freezing compartment  13 . Also, heat is transmitted from the thermal conductive plate  46  into the thermal conductive unit  44  by the heat pipe  45 . In a structure according to this embodiment, the heat exchange chamber  105  and a deep freezing storage compartment are separated from each other to block movement of cool air. That is, the deep freezing storage compartment is cooled by only the quick cooling module  40 . 
     Also, a portion of the quick cooling module  40  is disposed within a case  31 . Thus, a length of the drawer  32  in front and rear directions is less than that of the case  31  in front and rear directions. 
     According to this embodiment, heat generated in the thermoelectric device  41  is transmitted into the thermal conductive plate  46  during the quick freezing. Also, the heat transmitted into the thermal conductive plate  46  is transmitted into the thermal conductive unit  44  along the heat pipe  45 . Here, the thermal conductive plate  46  may be a plate formed of the same material as that of the thermal conductive unit  44 . 
     The thermoelectric device  41  may be attached to the heat pipe  45  through the thermal conductive plate  46 . According to the above-described structure, it may prevent heat emitted in the heat emission surface of the thermoelectric device  41  from being introduced again into the deep freezing storage compartment. Thus, a temperature of the cool air supplied into the deep freezing storage compartment is lower when compared to the cases of the first or second embodiment. Actually, the cool air supplied into the deep freezing storage compartment is cooled at a temperature of about −45° C. to about −50° C. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a fourth embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , this embodiment is different from the foregoing embodiments in that a length of a drawer  32  in front and rear directions is equal to that of a case  31  in front and rear directions, and a portion of a quick cooling module  40  protrudes into the drawer  32 . 
     In detail, portions of a heat absorption-side blow fan  43  and a heat dissipation member  42  of components constituting the quick cooling module  40  protrude into the drawer  32 . Thus, cool air forcibly flows into the drawer  32  by the heat absorption-side blow fan  43 . Also, air within the drawer  32  flows toward the heat dissipation member  42 , i.e., a rear side of the heat absorption-side blow fan  43  to form a cool air circulation structure in which the air is heat-exchanging with the heat dissipation member  42 . 
     Here, a guide sleeve  325  for guiding circulation of the cool air protrudes from a rear surface of the drawer  32 . The guide sleeve  325  may provide the same function as that of the guide sleeve  101   a . Thus, a pair of guide sleeves  325  may be provided vertically or horizontally. Alternatively, a plurality of guide sleeves  325  may be provided vertically and horizontally to form one square box shape. The guide sleeve  325  may be disposed on a rear surface of the drawer  32  and/or a rear surface of the case  31 . 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a quick cooling module according to another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a quick cooling module according to this embodiment is different from the quick cooling module according to the first embodiment in a configuration of a thermal conductive unit. 
     In detail, a quick cooling module  40  according to this embodiment includes a thermoelectric device  41 , a heat dissipation member  42 , and a heat absorption-side blow fan  43 , like the first embodiment. A refrigerant passage  471  through which a refrigerant flows is defined within the thermal conductive unit  47  according to this embodiment. A portion of a refrigerant pipe of an evaporator E is cut. An end of one side of the cut pipe is connected to an inlet side of the refrigerant passage  471 , and an end of the other side of the cut pipe is connected to an outlet side of the refrigerant passage  471 . Thus, the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant pipe cools a thermal conductive unit  47  while flowing along the refrigerant passage  471 . 
     A heat emission surface of the thermoelectric device  41  is attached to an outer surface of the thermal conductive unit  47 . Thus, heat emitted from the heat emission surface is transmitted into the refrigerant through the thermal conductive unit  47 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side sectional view of a drawer according to another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a cold plate  33  having high conductivity may be disposed on a bottom surface of the drawer  32 . 
     In detail, the cold plate  33  may be a metal plate formed of the same material as that of the thermal conductive units  44  and  47  or the thermal conductive plate  46  which are described in the foregoing embodiments. Since the cold plate  33  is disposed on the bottom surface of the drawer  32 , lower parts of foods received in the drawer  32  may be cooled also. Thus, surfaces of the foods contacting the cool air within the drawer  32  may be cooled, and also surfaces of the foods attached to the bottom surface of the drawer  32  may be cooled. As a result, the entire surfaces of the foods may be uniformly cooled to reduce a time for cooling the foods. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a drawer according to another embodiment.  FIG. 10  is a side sectional view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 9 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , this embodiment is equal to the foregoing embodiments in a structure of the drawer in which a cool air flow part  322  having a cool air inflow hole  322   a  and a cool air discharge hole  322   b  is disposed on a rear surface of the drawer  32 . As described above, the functions and positions of the cool air inflow hole  322   a  and the cool air discharge hole  322   b  are not limited to the proposed embodiments. That is, one of the holes constituting the cool air flow part  322  performs a function of a cool air inflow hole, and the other one performs a function of a cool air discharge hole. Also, the cool air flow part  322  may be disposed vertically or horizontally on a rear surface of the drawer  32 . 
     This embodiment is different from the foregoing embodiments in that a plurality of cooling projections  324  protrude from a bottom surface of a drawer  32 . 
     In detail, since the cooling projections  324 , each having an embossment shape, protrude from the bottom surface of the drawer  32 , cool air may be smoothly transferred onto foods received in the drawer  32 . In addition, a cool air passage is defined in a portion at which the foods contact the bottom surface of the drawer  32 . Thus, the flow and circulation of the cool air within the drawer  32  may be promoted to increase a speed for freezing the foods, thereby reducing a freezing time. This is done because the cooling using thermal conduction as wall as the cooling using convection are performed at the same time. 
     As necessary, a cold plate  33  may be placed on the cooling projections  324 . 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a fifth embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a quick cooling module  40  is coupled to a case  31  of a drawer assembly  30  in one body. Thus, when the case is withdrawn, the quick cooling module  40  may be separated from a deep freezing storage compartment. 
     In detail, the quick cooling module  40  according to this embodiment includes a thermoelectric device  41 , a heat dissipation member  42  mounted on a heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device  41 , a heat absorption-side blow fan  43  coupled to a front surface of the heat dissipation member  42 , a heat dissipation member  48  mounted on a heat emission surface of the thermoelectric device  41 , and a heat emission-side blow fan  49  mounted on a rear surface of the heat dissipation member  48 . 
     Also, a partition wall  313  for partitioning a space for receiving the drawer  32  from a space for receiving the quick cooling module  40  may be disposed within the case  31 . Also, a cool air hole is defined in the partition wall  313  and a rear surface of the drawer  32 . 
     Also, a support wall  314  for supporting the quick cooling module  40  may be disposed within the case  31  in which the quick cooling module  40  is received. Also, heat exchange spaces K 1  and K 2  may be defined in front and rear sides of the support wall  314 , respectively. The thermoelectric device  41  is mounted on the support wall  314 . Thus, the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device  41  is exposed to the front space of the support wall  314 , and the heat emission surface of the thermoelectric device  41  is exposed to the rear space of the support wall  314 . Thus, since heat emitted from the heat emission surface of the thermoelectric device  41  is not introduced into the drawer  32 , cooling efficiency may be improved. 
     Also, a communication hole  101   b  communicating with a heat exchange chamber  105  is defined in a wall of a freezing compartment  13 , particularly, an inner case  101  or a partition wall as described in the first embodiment. The heat emission-side blow fan  49  is disposed at a rear side of the communication hole  101   b . Thus, heat emitted from the heat emission-side heat dissipation member  48  is transmitted into the heat exchange chamber  105 . A cool air hole  313  for introducing the cool air within the heat exchange chamber  105  into the heat exchange space K 2  may be defined in a rear surface of the case  31 . 
     Since the quick cooling module  40  together with the case  31  is taken in or out of a deep freezing storage compartment, it may be necessary to selectively supply current into the blow fans  43  and  49  and the thermoelectric device  41 . That is, the current supply should be interrupted when the case  31  is taken in. Also, when the case  31  is inserted into the deep freezing storage compartment, the current supply should be allowable. When a power transmission method using a wire is used, it may be difficult to treat the wire so as to supply current into a receiving device having a drawer shape. Accordingly, a unit for smoothly supplying a power is required. 
     This embodiment is proposed to solve the above-described limitation. That is, a power transmission unit  50  is mounted on a rear surface of the drawer assembly and a wall of a refrigerator main body  10 . 
     In detail, a wireless power transmission part  52  may be mounted on the wall of the refrigerator main body  10 , and a wireless power receiving part  51  may be mounted on a rear wall of the case  31 . Here, the wireless power transmission part  52  and the wireless power receiving part  51  may be spaced a distance of about 15 mm or less from each other. If the spaced distance exceeds about 15 mm, power losses may be increased to cause energy losses. Also, the wireless power transmission part  52  is connected to a main control part disposed on a top surface of the main body  10  to receive power. Also, the wireless power receiving part  51  is electrically connected to the blow fans  43  and  49  and the thermoelectric device  41 . 
     In more detail, the wireless power transmission unit may use an electromagnetic induction method. An electromagnetic induction method represents a method in which magnetic fields occur around current, and thus electricity is transmitted using the magnetic fields. At present, the wireless power transmission unit  50  using the electromagnetic induction method is applied to electric toothbrushes. Recently, the wireless power transmission unit  50  has also been applied to home appliances such as mobile phones. In addition, a wireless power transmission unit using resonance may be applied to the embodiments. 
     As described above, when the wireless power transmission unit is applied, the electricity may be effectively supplied to a component separated from the main body  10 . Thus, when the drawer assembly  30  is separated from the main body  10 , the power supply may be interrupted to reduce the power losses. Also, since the wire for connecting the drawer assembly  30  to the main body  10  is removed, the wire usage limitation may be solved. 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration for controlling a refrigerator including a quick cooling module according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , it is necessary to selectively perform a quick cooling mode using a quick cooling module according to an embodiment according to user&#39;s selection. 
     That is, a product in which quick cooling is required is received in a deep freezing storage compartment. When a user consumes or uses foods or other products to be quickly cooled, the quick cooling mode should be performed by the user&#39;s selection to minimize power consumption. 
     For this, an input unit for selecting the quick cooling mode may be disposed on a front surface of a door  20  of a refrigerator or a drawer assembly  30 . For example, a display unit (not shown) may be disposed on a front surface of the door  20  of the refrigerator, or an input button may be disposed on a side of a control panel (not shown). Thus, the user may push the input button to operate the quick cooling module  40 . 
     In detail, the refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a control unit  600 , an input unit  610  including at least quick cooling mode selection button or quick cooling mode operation time input button, a driving unit  620  operated when a driving command is inputted through the input unit  610 , and a memory  630  for storing information required for the at least quick cooling mode operation. 
     In more detail, the driving unit  620  includes a thermoelectric device  41 , heat absorption-side and heat emission-side blow fans  43  and  49 , and a compressor C constituting a refrigerating cycle for cooling a refrigerating compartment or a freezing compartment. 
     Hereinafter, a method of controlling an operation of the quick cooling mode will be described with reference to a flowchart. 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a process for controlling a quick cooling mood operation using the quick cooling module according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , when a user requires an operation of a quick cooling mode, the quick cooling mode is selected through an input unit in operation S 110 . In operation S 120 , after the quick cooling mode is selected, a quick cooling operation time is inputted. Alternatively, the quick cooling mode selection and the quick cooling operation time may be automatically set so that they are performed at the same time. 
     In operation S 130 , the operation condition input for the quick cooling is completed, and an operation command is inputted through an operation button. Thus, in operation S 140 , the thermoelectric device  43  is operated. Here, the thermoelectric device  43  being operated represents that power is applied to the thermoelectric device  43 , and thus, one surface thereof is cooled and the other surface emits heat. 
     When the thermoelectric device  43  is operated, the compressor C should be operated together. Thus, when the quick cooling mode is operated, a control unit  600  determines whether a refrigerating cycle for cooling a refrigerating compartment or a freezing compartment is now operated in operation S 150 . When it is determined that the refrigerating cycle is now operated, whether a set time for the quick cooling operation has elapsed is determined in operation S 160 . On the other hand, if the refrigerating cycle is not operated, a control command for operating the compressor C is outputted in operation S 151 , and then whether the set time has elapsed is determined. 
     When it is determined that the set time has elapsed, the operation of the thermoelectric device  43  is stopped to stop the power supply into the thermoelectric device  43  in operation S 170 . In operation S 180 , the control unit  600  determines whether the refrigerating cycle should be continuously operated. That is, whether it is necessary to continuously operate the compressor C because the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment does not reach a set temperature. If it is determined that it is unnecessary to operate the refrigerating cycle any more, the operation of the compressor C is stopped and an operation of the quick cooling mode is stopped in operation S 190 . On the other hand, when it is determined that it is necessary to continuously operate the refrigerating cycle, the compressor C is continuously operated and the operation of the quick cooling mode is stopped in operation S 190 . 
     As described above, the quick cooling mode may be performed by the user&#39;s selection. When the thermoelectric device  43  is operated to perform the quick cooling mode, the compressor C may be operated at the same time to improve quick cooling efficiency and minimize power consumption. 
       FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a sixth embodiment.  FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating the installed state of the quick cooling module and the drawer assembly according to the sixth embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , this embodiment is different from the foregoing embodiments in that a heat exchange space in which a heat dissipation member  42  is heat-exchanged with cool air within a drawer  32  is provided in a separate kit. 
     Hereinafter, a structure in which a heat exchange chamber  105  for receiving an evaporator E is disposed between an inner case  101  and a partition wall will be described. That is, an insulation material  106  is filled between the inner case  101  and an outer case  102  to prevent external air and internal air from being heat-exchanged with each other. Also, a separate space is not defined between the inner case  101  and the outer case  102 . However, as described above, the partition wall is disposed at a front side of the inner case  101 , and the heat exchange chamber  105  is disposed therebetween. 
     Also, a separate cool air circulation kit  33  is provided between a rear surface of the drawer  32  and a rear surface of a case  31 . A portion of a quick cooling module  40  is disposed within the cool air circulation kit  33 . 
     In detail, the cool air circulation kit  33  includes a kit body  331  defining an inner space, a cool air flow duct provided on a side of a front surface of the kit body  331 , and a module receiving groove  333  disposed in a rear surface of the kit body  331 . 
     In more detail, cool air guide louvers are disposed at upper and lower sides of the cool air flow duct  332 , respectively. The cool air guide louvers disposed at the upper and lower side of the cool air flow duct  332  on the basis of a cross-sectional surface which equally divides the cool air flow duct  332  may be inclined symmetrical to each other. Also, cool air may be supplied into the drawer  32  through the upper louver, and the cool air within the drawer  32  may be supplied into a heat absorption-side blow fan  43  of the quick cooling module  40  through the lower louver. Also, the louvers may perform a function of a rotatable damper. That is, when the quick cooling mode is not operated, the cool air flow duct  332  may be completely covered. On the other hand, when the quick cooling mode is operated, the cool air flow duct  332  may be opened. 
     Also, the quick cooling module  40  is fitted into the module receiving groove  333 . In detail, to circulate the cool air within the drawer  32 , at least the heat absorption-side blow fan  43  and the heat dissipation member  42  may be received in a heat exchange chamber kit  44 . 
       FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a seventh embodiment.  FIG. 17  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to a seventh embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , this embodiment is equal to the sixth embodiment except for a structure of a cool air circuit kit  33 . 
     In detail, according to this embodiment, a cool air inflow part and a cool air discharge part are separated from the cool air circulation kit  33 . In particular, a cool air flow duct  332  of the cool air circulation kit  33  includes a cool air discharge duct  334  and a cool air inflow duct  335 . Here, the cool air discharge duct  334  is disposed under the cool air inflow duct  335 . Also, a quick cooling module  40  is disposed at a rear side of the cool air inflow duct  335 . Thus, cool air discharged from a heat absorption-side blow fan  43  may be supplied into a drawer  32  though the cool air inflow duct  335 . Also, air within the drawer  32  may be guided into the cool air circulation kit  33  through the cool air discharge duct  334 . Thus, the cool air may be smoothly circulated within a drawer assembly  30 . 
       FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an installed state of a quick cooling module and a drawer assembly according to an eighth embodiment.  FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1  and illustrating the installed state of the quick cooling module and the drawer assembly according to the eighth embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , this embodiment is substantially equal to the foregoing embodiments in aspect of a drawer assembly  30  constituted by a case  31  and a drawer  32  and a quick cooling module  40  mounted on a rear surface of the drawer assembly  30 . However, this embodiment is different from the foregoing embodiments in that a cool air inflow hole  73  for introducing cool air from a heat exchange chamber  105  and a cool air discharge hole  72  for discharging cool air from the drawer  32  into the heat exchange chamber  105  are provided. In this embodiment, a module mounting hole  71  for mounting the quick cooling module  40  is defined in a partition wall  70 . 
     In addition, this embodiment is different from the foregoing embodiments in that a guide part  5  for guiding a flow of cool air and a guide duct  6  for guiding the inflow and discharge of the cool air are disposed on a front surface of the partition wall  70 . In detail, the guide part  5  includes a guide rib  51  protruding from the front surface of the partition wall  70  to define a cool air guide passage  52  and a cover  53  seated on a front surface of the guide rib  51  to cover the cool air guide passage  52 . The guide rib  51  may extend up to a lower end of the module mounting hole  71  along edges of the cool air inflow hole  73  and the module mounting hole  71  of the partition wall  70 . Thus, the cool air guide passage  52  defined by the guide rib  51  may have a T-shape. 
     The quick cooling module  40  passes through the partition wall  70  through the module mounting hole  71 . A heat dissipation member  42  constituting the quick cooling module  40  is exposed to the cool air guide passage  52 . 
     The guide duct  60  includes a cool air inflow duct  61  and a cool air discharge duct  62 . In detail, the cool air inflow duct  61  guides cool air, which is introduced from the heat exchange chamber  105  through the cool air inflow hole  73  of the partition wall  70  and then drops down, into the drawer  32 . The cool air inflow duct  61  is mounted on a lower end of the cover  53 . A heat absorption-side blow fan  43  may be mounted on the inside or at a rear side of the cool air inflow duct  61 . A rotatably louver may be disposed on a front end of the cool air inflow duct  61  to perform a function of a damper. 
     Thus, when the heat absorption-side blow fan  43  is operated, the cool air within the heat exchange chamber  105  drops down along the cool air guide passage  52  and is heat-exchanged with the heat dissipation member  42 . At the same time, the heat dissipation member  42  is heat-exchanged with a thermoelectric device  41 . That is, the heat dissipation member may be duplicately heat-exchanged to reduce a time which takes to quickly cool the drawer  32 . 
     Also, the cool air discharge duct  62  is disposed under the cool air inflow duct  61  to communicate with the cool air discharge hole  72  of the partition wall  70 . The cool air within the drawer  32  is recovered into the heat exchange chamber  105  through the cool air discharge duct  62 . Like the cool air inflow duct  61 , a rotatable louver may be disposed on the cool air discharge duct  62 . 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  are perspective views illustrating various examples of a guide part according to an embodiment. 
     A guide part of  FIG. 20( a )  is equal to that of  FIG. 18 . However, the guide part of  FIG. 20( b )  is different from those of the foregoing embodiments in that a cool air inflow hole  73  defined in a partition wall  70  has a relatively narrow vertical width when compared to those of the foregoing embodiments. Since the cool air inflow hole  73  has a relatively narrow vertical width, a guide rib  51  surrounding the cool air inflow hole  73  may also have a relatively narrow vertical width. A quick cooling module  40  is disposed on a cool air guide passage  52  defined by a guide rib  51 . Also, the quick cooling module  40  is disposed spaced downward from the cool air inflow hole  73 . 
     In  FIG. 20( c ) , this embodiment is different from those of the foregoing embodiments in that the cool air inflow holes  73  are respectively defined in left and right sides of the partition wall  70 . However, a guide rib  51  has the same shape as that of the guide rib  51  of  FIG. 20( a ) . 
     The guide parts of  FIGS. 21( a ) to 21( c )  have the substantially same structure as those of  FIGS. 20( a ) to 20( c )  except that the quick cooling mode  40  is disposed directly under the cool air inflow hole  73 . 
     According to embodiments, the following effects may be attained. 
     First, since the drawer assembly disposed within the freezing compartment and cooled at a temperature less than that of the freezing compartment is provided, foods which are required to be stored at various temperatures may be effectively stored. 
     Second, since a separate unit for the quick freezing is provided and the inside of the drawer assembly communicates with the heat exchange chamber to receive cool air, the inner space of the drawer assembly may be quickly cooled. 
     Third, since the quick cooling unit including the thermoelectric device for the quick freezing is directly mounted on the evaporator, the defrosting operation function for the evaporator may be performed together. Thus, it may be unnecessary to stop the operation of the refrigerating cycle or perform a reverse cycle operation so as to perform the defrosting operation for the evaporator. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure and the drawings. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all these come within the scope of the appended claims.