Patent Publication Number: US-11041669-B2

Title: Deodorizing apparatus and refrigerator including the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-0221243 filed on Nov. 16, 2017, Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-091524 filed on May 10, 2018 in the Japanese Patent Office, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0114136 filed on Sep. 21, 2018 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a deodorizing apparatus and a refrigerator including the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Typically, a deodorizing apparatus including an absorbing material such as activated carbon for absorbing a malodorous substance has been proposed. However, if the absorbing material reaches saturation, the absorption property of the absorbing material deteriorates. Accordingly, a material such as a catalyst capable of decomposing a malodorous substance is used. 
     For example, a deodorizing apparatus includes: an absorbing structure having an absorbent for absorbing a harmful material and desorbing it by being heated to be regenerated; and a catalyst structure formed by supporting (attachment to carriers) an oxidation catalyst for decomposing the harmful material desorbed from the absorbing structure, and having an electric heater for activating the oxidation catalyst upon regeneration, wherein passage forming means for forming an air passage for guiding the harmful material desorbed from the absorbing structure upon regeneration of the absorbing structure to the catalyst structure is installed to guide the harmful material desorbed from the absorbing structure upon regeneration to the catalyst structure through the passage forming means, and the catalyst structure decomposes the harmful material to a harmless material by the oxidation catalyst activated by the electric heater. 
     SUMMARY 
     To regenerate an absorber for absorbing a harmful material such as a malodorous substance, it may be necessary to activate a catalyst through a heater such as an electrical heater. When the absorber is regenerated, air passed through the catalyst may get warm. However, it may be not good to use warm air exiting a deodorizing apparatus in an environment, such as the inside of the refrigerating room of a refrigerator, which needs to be maintained at a low temperature. 
     Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a deodorizing apparatus capable of being used in an environment that needs to be maintained at a low temperature, and a refrigerator including the deodorizing apparatus. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and may be learned by practice of the disclosure. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a refrigerator including: a refrigerating room configured to refrigerate goods; and a deodorizing apparatus disposed in the refrigerating room, wherein the deodorizing apparatus includes: a blower configured to generate a flow of air; an absorptive decomposer disposed downstream from the blower, and configured to absorb a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and to decompose the malodorous substance by being heated; and a heater disposed downstream from the blower to heat the absorptive decomposer, or disposed downstream from the blower and upstream from the absorptive decomposer to heat air entered the absorptive decomposer. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include a suppressor configured to prevent air passed through the absorptive decomposer from being discharged to the outside of the deodorizing apparatus. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include a case configured to accommodate the blower, the heater, and the absorptive decomposer, wherein an inlet through which air enters and an outlet through which air exits are formed in the case. The suppressor may be configured to circulate air passed through the absorptive decomposer in the inside of the case in the state in which the inlet and the outlet are closed. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include: an opening/closing member configured to open or close the inlet and the outlet of the case in linkage with each other; and an opening/closing control member configured to control the opening/closing member to close the inlet and the outlet of the case when the heater heats the absorptive decomposer or air entered the absorptive decomposer. 
     The opening/closing control member may include a metal plate manufactured by coupling two kinds of metals having different thermal expansion rates with each other. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include a member configured to transfer heat from the heater to the opening/closing control member. 
     The heater may heat the absorptive decomposer without making contact with the absorptive decomposer. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include at least one processor configured to control driving of the blower. The at least one processor may be configured to control driving of the blower to reduce an air volume when the heater heats air compared to when the heater does not heat air. 
     The heater may be configured to heat the absorptive decomposer in contact with the absorptive decomposer. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include at least one processor configured to control driving of the blower. The at least one processor may control driving of the blower such that the blower stops when the heater heats air. 
     The absorptive decomposer may include: an absorber disposed downstream from the blower, and configured to absorb a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and to desorb the malodorous substance by being heated; and a decomposer configured to decompose the malodorous substance desorbed from the absorber. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include a cooler configured to cool air passed through the decomposer. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include at least one processor configured to control driving of the blower. The at least one processor may be configured to control driving of the blower to reduce an air volume when the heater heats air compared to when the heater does not heat air. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include: a decomposing heater configured to heat the decomposer; and a cooling heat sink disposed downstream from the decomposer, and configured to cool air passed through the decomposer. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include a heating heat sink disposed downstream from the blower and upstream from the absorber, and configured to heat air sent by the blower. 
     The cooler may include a heat exchange device disposed between the cooling heat sink and the heating heat sink, and configured to absorb heat at the cooling heat sink and to radiate heat at the heating heat sink. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include a case configured to accommodate the absorber, the decomposer, and the cooler, wherein an inlet through which air enters and an outlet through which air exits are formed in the case, and a path of air from the inlet to the outlet is a “U” shape. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a deodorizing apparatus including: a blower configured to generate a flow of air; an absorptive decomposer disposed downstream from the blower, and configured to absorb a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and to decompose the malodorous substance by being heated; and a heater disposed downstream from the blower to heat the absorptive decomposer, or disposed downstream from the blower and upstream from the absorptive decomposer to heat air entered the absorptive decomposer. 
     The absorptive decomposer may include: an absorber disposed downstream from the blower, and configured to absorb a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and to desorb the malodorous substance by being heated; and a decomposer configured to decompose the malodorous substance desorbed from the absorber. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include a suppressor configured to prevent air passed through the absorptive decomposer from being discharged to the outside of the deodorizing apparatus. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus may include: a blower configured to generate a flow of air; an absorber disposed downstream from the blower and configured to absorb a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and to desorb the malodorous substance by being heated; a upstream heater disposed downstream from the blower and upstream from the absorber, and configured to heat entered the absorber; a decomposer configured to decompose the malodorous substance desorbed from the absorber; and a cooler configured to cool air passed through the decomposer. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may include: a blower configured to generate a flow of air; an absorptive decomposer disposed downstream from the blower, and configured to absorb a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and to decompose the malodorous substance by being heated; a heater disposed downstream from the blower to heat the absorptive decomposer, or disposed downstream from the blower and upstream from the absorptive decomposer to heat air entered the absorptive decomposer; and a suppressor configured to prevent air passed through the absorptive decomposer from being discharged to the outside of the deodorizing apparatus. 
     The absorptive decomposer may include: an absorber disposed downstream from the blower, and configured to absorb a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and to desorb the malodorous substance by being heated; and a decomposer configured to decompose the malodorous substance desorbed from the absorber. 
     The opening/closing member may be configured with one component. 
     The deodorizing apparatus may further include a component installed around the heater and configured to improve a heat transfer effect and safety. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. 
     Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in a computer readable medium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code” includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of memory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device. 
     Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view illustrating an outer appearance of a deodorizing apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic configuration view illustrates the inside of the deodorizing apparatus from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus taken along line Ib-Ib of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a controller; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flow of air when the deodorizing apparatus is in an absorption mode; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flow of air and a movement of heat when the deodorizing apparatus is in a regeneration mode; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a schematic front view of a refrigerator to which the deodorizing apparatus according to an embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates the inside of a refrigerating room of the refrigerator from above; 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a top view of a deodorizing apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6B  a schematic configuration view illustrating the inside of the deodorizing apparatus from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus taken along line VIb-VIb of  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a block diagram of a controller; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a flow of air when the deodorizing apparatus is in an absorption mode; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a movement of heat when the deodorizing apparatus is in a regeneration mode; 
         FIG. 10A  illustrates a top view of a deodorizing apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 10B  is a schematic configuration view illustrating the inside of the deodorizing apparatus from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus taken along line Xb-Xb of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIG. 10C  is a schematic configuration view illustrating the inside of the deodorizing apparatus from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus taken along line Xc-Xc of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a block diagram of a controller; 
         FIGS. 12A-12C  illustrate a flow of air when the deodorizing apparatus is in an absorption mode; 
         FIGS. 13A-13C  illustrate a flow of heat when the deodorizing apparatus is in a regeneration mode; 
         FIG. 14A  illustrates a top view of a deodorizing apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 14B  is a schematic configuration view illustrating the inside of the deodorizing apparatus from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus taken along line XIVb-XIVb of  FIG. 14A ; 
         FIG. 15A  illustrates a state of a bimetal plate when heat from a heater is not transferred to the bimetal plate; 
         FIG. 15B  illustrates a state of the bimetal plate when heat from the heater is transferred to the bimetal plate; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a block diagram of a controller; 
         FIGS. 17A and 17B  illustrate a flow of air when the deodorizing apparatus is in an absorption mode; and 
         FIGS. 18A and 18B  illustrate a flow of heat when the deodorizing apparatus is in a regeneration mode. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1A through 18B , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1A  is a front view illustrating an outer appearance of a deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment, and  FIG. 1B  is a schematic configuration view illustrating the inside of the deodorizing apparatus  1  from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus  1  taken along line Ib-Ib of  FIG. 1A . 
     The deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment may include a fan  10  which is an example of a blower for generating a flow of air, and an absorbing material  20  disposed downstream from the fan  10  and being an example of an absorber that absorbs a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and desorbs the malodorous substance by being heated. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may include an upstream heater  30  disposed downstream from the fan  10  and upstream from the absorbing material  20  and being an example of an upstream heating device for heating air entered the absorbing material  20 , and a heating heat sink  40  for heating air sent by the fan  10 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may include a catalyst  50  which is an example of a decomposer for decomposing the malodorous substance desorbed from the absorbing material  20 , a downstream heater  60  which is an example of a decomposing heater for heating the catalyst  50 , and a cooler  70  which is an example of a cooling device for cooling air passed through the catalyst  50 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may include a heat-retentive heat sink  80  disposed downstream from the catalyst  50  to hold heat for activating the catalyst  50 , and a cooling heat sink  85  disposed downstream from the heat-retentive heat sink  80  to cool air passed through the heat-retentive heat sink  80 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may include a case  90  formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped for accommodating the absorbing material  20 , the upstream heater  30 , the heating heat sink  40 , the catalyst  50 , the downstream heater  60 , the cooler  70 , the heat-retentive heat sink  80 , and the cooling heat sink  85 , wherein an inlet  91  through which air enters and an outlet  92  through which air exits may be formed in the case  90 . The case  90  may include a partition wall  95  which spaces the inlet  91  apart from the outlet  92  so that a flow path of air entered through the inlet  91  and exiting through the outlet  92  turns around, while causing air passed through the absorbing material  20  to move toward the catalyst  50 . By forming the partition wall  95 , the case  90  may have a U-shaped path of air from the inlet  91  to the outlet  92 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may include a controller  100  including at least one processor for controlling driving of the fan  10 , operations of the upstream heater  30 , operations of the downstream heater  60 , operations of the cooler  70 , etc. 
     The deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment may be an apparatus capable of switching between an absorption mode for absorbing a malodorous substance existing in air through the absorbing material  20  and a regeneration mode for desorbing the malodorous substance from the absorbing material  20  to regenerate the absorbing material  20  and decomposing the desorbed malodorous substance through the catalyst  50 . Also, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may perform the absorption mode and the regeneration mode alternately, and maintain high deodorizing capability of the absorbing material  20  for a long time. 
     Hereinafter, components included in the deodorizing apparatus  1  will be described in detail. 
     The fan  10  may be disposed in the inlet  91  of the case  90 . The fan  10  may include a rotation shaft  11 , a plurality of blades  12  arranged around the rotation shaft  11 , and a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotation shaft  11 . In the fan  10  according to an embodiment, the rotation shaft  11  may be disposed in a front-rear direction as seen in  FIG. 1A , and in an up-down direction as seen in  FIG. 1B . Also, the fan  10  may introduce outside air to the inside of the case  90  through the inlet  91 , and discharge the inside air to the outside of the case  90  through the outlet  92 . The revolutions per minute (rpm) of the motor may be controlled by the controller  100 . 
     The absorbing material  20  may include activated carbon for absorbing a malodorous substance existing in air passing therethrough to perform deodorization, and desorbing the malodorous substance by being heated. 
     The upstream heater  30  may be disposed upstream from the absorbing material  20  and downstream from the heating heat sink  40 . When electricity is supplied to the upstream heater  30  for a predetermined time, the upstream heater  30  may heat the absorbing material  20  or air entered the absorbing material  20  to a predetermined temperature at which the malodorous substance absorbed in the absorbing material  20  may be desorbed. The supply of electricity to the upstream heater  30  may be controlled by the controller  100 . 
     The heating heat sink  40  may include an upstream heating heat sink  41  disposed upstream and a downstream heating heat sink  42  disposed downstream. 
     The upstream heating heat sink  41  and the downstream heating heat sink  42  may be molded with a metal, such as aluminum, iron, and copper, having good heat transfer characteristics. 
     The catalyst  50  may be a catalyst-supported filter in which an oxidation catalyst is supported on both sides of a substrate having high heat conductivity. The oxidation catalyst may be one or more kinds of metals selected from among Ag, Pd, Pt, Mn, Rh, Fe, and Co, or metal oxide thereof. 
     The downstream heater  60  may be disposed downstream from the absorbing material  20  and upstream from the catalyst  50 . When electricity is supplied to the downstream heater  60  for a predetermined time, the downstream heater  60  may heat the catalyst  50  or air entered the catalyst  50  to a predetermined temperature at which a malodorous substance desorbed from the absorbing material  20  may be decomposed. The supply of electricity to the downstream heater  60  may be controlled by the controller  100 . 
     The cooler  70  may include an electronic device having a heat exchange function, such as a peltier element, which is disposed between the cooling heat sink  85  and the heating heat sink  40 , absorbs heat at the cooling heat sink  85 , and radiates heat at the heating heat sink  40  in a turned-on state. The cooler  70  may be turned on/off by the controller  100 . 
     The heat-retentive heat sink  80  may be opposite to the downstream heating heat sink  42  through the partition wall  95 . 
     The cooling heat sink  85  may be opposite to the upstream heating heat sink  41  through the partition wall  95 . The cooler  70  may be disposed between the cooling heat sink  85  and the partition wall  95 . 
     The heat-retentive heat sink  80  and the cooling heat sink  85  may be molded with a metal, such as aluminum, iron, and copper, having good heat transfer characteristics. 
     The case  90  may include a first accommodating room  96  formed close to the inlet  91  with respect to the partition wall  95 , and a second accommodating room  97  formed close to the outlet  92  with respect to the partition wall  95 . 
     In the first accommodating room  96 , the upstream heating heat sink  41 , the downstream heating heat sink  42 , the upstream heater  30 , and the absorbing material  20  may be disposed in this order from the inlet  91 . 
     In the second accommodating room  97 , the cooling heat sink  85 , the heat-retentive heat sink  80 , the catalyst  50 , and the downstream heater  60  may be disposed in this order from the outlet  92 . 
     The upstream heating heat sink  41  may be opposite to the cooling heat sink  85  through the partition wall  95 , and the downstream heating heat sink  42  may be opposite to the heat-retentive heat sink  80  through the partition wall  95 . The upstream heater  30  may be disposed between the downstream heating heat sink  42  and the absorbing material  20 , and the downstream heater  60  may be disposed between the absorbing material  20  and the catalyst  50 . 
     Through the above-described arrangement, air entered the inside of the case  90  through the inlet  91  by the fan  10  may pass through the upstream heating heat sink  41 , the downstream heating heat sink  42 , the upstream heater  30 , the absorbing material  20 , the downstream heater  60 , the catalyst  50 , the heat-retentive heat sink  80 , and the cooling heat sink  85  in this order, and then be discharged to the outside of the case  90  through the outlet  92 . 
     An outer wall  98  of the case  90  may be a double-layer structure having an air layer  99  in the inside. Therefore, the inside of the case  90  may be insulated from the outside. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of the controller  100 . 
     The controller  100  may include a fan controller  101  for controlling the rpm of a motor (not shown) for rotating the fan  10 , a upstream heater temperature controller  102  for controlling a temperature of the upstream heater  30 , a downstream heater temperature controller  103  for controlling a temperature of the downstream heater  60 , and a cooling controller  104  for controlling on/off of the cooler  70 . 
     The controller  100  may include at least one processor. The controller  100  may include a Central Processing Unit (CPU) (not shown) for arithmetic processing, Read Only Memory (ROM) (not shown) for storing programs or various data that is executed by the CPU, and Random Access Memory (RAM) (not shown) used as memory for tasks of the CPU. Also, the CPU may execute a program to implement the fan controller  101 , the upstream heater temperature controller  102 , the downstream heater temperature controller  103 , and the cooling controller  104 . 
     The fan controller  101  may convert the rpm of the fan  10  to two levels of high speed and low speed. However, the fan controller  101  may convert the rpm of the fan  10  to three or more levels or continuously. The fan controller  101  may convert the rpm of the fan  10  to high speed in the absorption mode, and in the regeneration mode, the fan controller  101  may convert the rpm of the fan  10  to low speed. 
     When the fan controller  101  converts the rpm of the fan  10  to low speed (in the regeneration mode), the upstream heater temperature controller  102  may supply electricity to the upstream heater  30  for a predetermined time to raise the temperature of the upstream heater  30  to a predetermined temperature. Meanwhile, when the fan controller  101  converts the rpm of the fan  10  to low speed (in the absorption mode), the upstream heater temperature controller  102  may supply no electricity to the upstream heater  30 . 
     When the fan controller  101  converts the rpm of the fan  10  to low speed (in the regeneration mode), the downstream heater temperature controller  103  may supply electricity to the downstream heater  60  for a predetermined time to raise the temperature of the downstream heater  60  to a predetermined temperature. Meanwhile, when the fan controller  101  converts the rpm of the fan  10  to high speed (in the absorption mode), the downstream heater temperature controller  103  may supply no electricity to the downstream heater  60 . 
     When the fan controller  101  converts the rpm of the fan  10  to low speed (in the regeneration mode), the cooling controller  104  may turn on the cooler  70 , and when the fan controller  101  converts the rpm of the fan  10  to high speed (in the absorption mode), the cooling controller  104  may turn off the cooler  70 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow of air when the deodorizing apparatus  1  is in the absorption mode. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flow of air and a movement of heat when the deodorizing apparatus  1  is in the regeneration mode. 
     When the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment is in the absorption mode, the fan controller  101  may convert the rpm of the fan  10  to high speed, and the cooling controller  104  may turn off the cooler  70 . Also, the upstream heater temperature controller  102  and the downstream heater temperature controller  103  may supply no electricity to the upstream heater  30  and the downstream heater  60  so as not to raise the temperature of the upstream heater  30  and the downstream heater  60 . At this time, air inhaled into the inside of the case  90  by the fan  10  may pass through the first accommodating room  96  and the second accommodating room  97  and then be discharged through the outlet  92 . At this time, a malodorous substance included in the air may be absorbed into the absorbing material  20 . Also, when the catalyst  50  is a catalyst-supported filter, the malodorous substance included in the air may also be absorbed into the catalyst  50 . 
     Meanwhile, in the deodorizing apparatus  1 , the fan controller  101  may convert the rpm of the fan  10  to low speed in the regeneration mode by taking into consideration that a decomposition rate of a malodorous substance by the catalyst  50  is slower than an absorption rate of the absorbing material  20 . The cooling controller  104  may turn on the cooler  70 , and the upstream heater temperature controller  102  and the downstream heater temperature controller  103  may supply electricity to the upstream heater  30  and the downstream heater  60 , respectively, to raise the temperature of the upstream heater  30  and the downstream heater  60 . At this time, likewise, air inhaled into the inside of the case  20  by the fan  10  may pass through the first accommodating room  96  and the second accommodating room  97  to be discharged through the outlet  92 , wherein the passing speed of the air may be lower than the passing speed of air in the absorption mode. 
     The absorbing material  20  may get warm by the upstream heater  30  and the downstream heater  60 , and also air got warm by the upstream heating heat sink  41  and the downstream heating heat sink  42  may enter the absorbing material  20 . Therefore, the absorbing material  20  may be heated to desorb the malodorous substance. Accordingly, the absorbing material  20  may be regenerated. 
     The catalyst  50  may get warm by the downstream heater  60 , and air got warm by the upstream heating heat sink  41  and the downstream heating heat sink  42  and then passed through the absorbing material  20  may enter the catalyst  50 . Therefore, the catalyst  50  may be heated and activated to decompose the malodorous substance desorbed from the absorbing material  20 . Also, when the catalyst  50  is a catalyst-supported filter, the catalyst  50  may decompose the malodorous sub stance absorbed therein. 
     The air passed through the catalyst  50  may enter the heat-retentive heat sink  80 . The heat-retentive heat sink  80  may maintain a high temperature. Heat around the heat-retentive heat sink  80  may be transferred to the opposite downstream heating heat sink  42  through the partition wall  95 . Accordingly, the heat may raise the temperature of the downstream heating heat sink  42  to raise the temperature of air that enters the absorbing material  20 . 
     Air passed through the heat-retentive heat sink  80  may enter the cooling heat sink  85 . Since the cooler  70  is in a turned-on state when the deodorizing apparatus  1  is in the regeneration mode, the cooler  70  may absorb heat at the cooling heat sink  85 , and radiate heat at the upstream heating heat sink  41 . That is, the cooler  70  may lower the temperature of the cooling heat sink  85  and raise the temperature of the upstream heating heat sink  41 . As a result, air that is to be discharged through the outlet  92  may be cooled by the cooling heat sink  85 . Meanwhile, when the temperature of the upstream heating heat sink  41  increases, the temperature of air entered the downstream heating heat sink  42  and the absorbing material  20  may increase. 
     As described above, in the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment, deodorization (removing a malodorous substance) may be performed by the absorbing material  20  to thereby achieve high absorption speed while saving energy. Also, since the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment regenerates the absorbing material  20 , the deodorizing apparatus  1  may maintain the absorption capability (deodorizing capability) of the absorbing material  20  for a long time, compared with a case in which an absorbing material is not regenerated. Also, since the catalyst  50  is used for regeneration and a malodorous substance concentrated in the absorbing material  20  is exposed to the catalyst  50 , it may be possible to increase a decomposition rate. Although the inside temperature of the case  90  increases to regenerate the absorbing material  20 , air that is to be discharged through the outlet  92  may be cooled by operation of the cooler  70  and the cooling heat sink  85 . Also, since the outer wall  98  of the case  90  is a double-layer structure having the air layer  99  in the inside, the inside of the case  90  may be insulated from the outside. Therefore, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may not discharge heat used for heating. As a result, the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment may be used in an environment, such as the inside of the refrigerating room of a refrigerator, which needs to be maintained at a low temperature. 
     Meanwhile, in the deodorizing apparatus  1  described above, a timing of conversion between the absorption mode and the regeneration mode so that the absorption mode and the regeneration mode are performed alternately may be not limited to a specific timing. For example, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may convert the absorption mode to the regeneration mode after the absorption mode is performed for a predetermined absorption mode period, and then convert the regeneration mode to the absorption mode after the regeneration mode is performed for a predetermined regeneration mode period. The predetermined absorption mode period may be equal to or different from the predetermined regeneration mode period. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may include an odor sensor (not shown) for detecting an odor. For example, the odor sensor may be disposed downstream from the absorbing material  20 , and when an amount of odor detected by the odor sensor is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may convert the absorption mode to the regeneration mode. In this case, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may perform the regeneration mode for the predetermined regeneration mode period, and then convert the regeneration mode to the absorption mode. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a schematic front view of a refrigerator  200  to which the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment is applied, and  FIG. 5B  illustrates the inside of a refrigerating room of the refrigerator  200  from above. 
     The refrigerator  200  may include, as shown in  FIG. 5A , a refrigerating room  210  for refrigerating goods, a door  220  for opening and closing the refrigerating room  210 , a plurality of shelves  230  on which goods are put, and the deodorizing apparatus  1 . 
     The deodorizing apparatus  1  may be disposed between the uppermost shelf  230  among the plurality of shelves  230  and an upper wall  211  partitioning the refrigerating room  210 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . Also, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may be, as shown in  FIG. 5B , disposed in the inner side of the refrigerating room  210 , that is, closer to a rear wall  212  forming the refrigerating room  210  than the door  220 . Also, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may be disposed such that the inlet  91  of the case  90  on which the fan  10  is disposed is located in the front portion and the outlet  92  of the case  90  is located in the rear portion. 
     Also, when the deodorizing apparatus  1  is in the absorption mode, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may inhale air in the refrigerating room  210  in the front portion, absorb a malodorous substance in the air, and discharge the air from the rear portion. Thereby, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may remove the malodorous substance from the air in the refrigerating room  210 . 
     Meanwhile, when the deodorizing apparatus  1  is in the regeneration mode, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may regenerate the absorbing material  20 . When the absorbing material  20  is regenerated, air in the case  90  may be heated, however, air that is to be discharged through the outlet  92  of the case  90  may be cooled since the cooler  70  and the cooling heat sink  85  are provided. Therefore, the temperature of the refrigerating room  210  may be maintained at a low temperature. 
     Meanwhile, in the deodorizing apparatus  1  disposed in the refrigerating room  210 , a timing of conversion between the absorption mode and the regeneration mode so that the absorption mode and the regeneration mode are performed alternately may be not limited to a specific timing. For example, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may perform the absorption mode during a time for which the door  220  of the refrigerator  200  is often opened and closed, and during a time for which the door  220  of the refrigerator  200  is rarely opened and closed, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may perform the regeneration mode. The time for which the door  220  of the refrigerator  200  is often opened and closed may be a predetermined time (for example, a time between 7 A.M. and 9 P.M.), and the time for which the door  220  of the refrigerator  200  is rarely opened and closed may be a time set by a user. Also, the time for which the door  220  of the refrigerator  200  is rarely opened and closed may be a predetermined time (for example, a time between 9 P.M. and 7 A.M.), or a time set by a user. 
     A deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment may not include the cooler  70 , unlike the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment. 
     In the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment having a configuration in which no cooler  70  is included between the cooling heat sink  85  and the upstream heating heat sink  41 , heat exchange may be performed by the cooling heat sink  85 . Therefore, although the inside temperature of the case  90  rises in the regeneration mode, air that is to be discharged through the outlet  92  may be cooled by operation of the cooling heat sink  85 . As a result, the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment may not radiate heat used for heating. Accordingly, the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment may be used in an environment, such as the inside of the refrigerating room of a refrigerator, which needs to be maintained at a low temperature. 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a top view of a deodorizing apparatus  3  according to an embodiment. The top view of  FIG. 6A  illustrates a part of an internal structure of the deodorizing apparatus  3 .  FIG. 6B  is a schematic configuration view illustrating the inside of the deodorizing apparatus  3  from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus  3  taken along line VIb-VIb of  FIG. 6A . 
     The deodorizing apparatus  3  according to an embodiment may include a fan  310  which is an example of a blower for generating a flow of air. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  3  may include a catalyst  350  disposed downstream from the fan  310  and being an example of an absorptive decomposer for absorbing a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and decomposing the malodorous substance by being heated, a heater  360  which is an example of a heating device for heating air entered the catalyst  350 , and a metal component  365  which is an example of a component for improving the heat transfer effect and safety. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  3  may include a shutter  371  and a damper  372  which are an opening/closing mechanism as an example of a suppressor for preventing air passed through the catalyst  350  from being discharged to the outside, and a solenoid  373  for performing opening and closing operations of the shutter  371  and the damper  372 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  3  may include a case  390  formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped for accommodating the fan  310 , the catalyst  350 , the heater  360 , the metal component  365 , the shutter  371 , the damper  372 , and the solenoid  373 , wherein an inlet  391  through which air enters and an outlet  392  through which air exits may be formed in the case  390 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  3  may include a controller  300  including at least one processor for controlling driving of the fan  310 , operations of the heater  360 , driving of the solenoid  373 , etc. 
     The deodorizing apparatus  3  according to an embodiment may be an apparatus capable of switching between an absorption mode for absorbing a malodorous substance existing in air through the catalyst  350  and a regeneration mode for decomposing the absorbed malodorous substance through the catalyst  350  to regenerate the catalyst  350 . The deodorizing apparatus  3  may perform the absorption mode and the regeneration mode alternately, and maintain high deodorizing capability of the catalyst  350  for a long time. 
     Hereinafter, the components included in the deodorizing apparatus  3  will be described in detail. 
     The fan  310  may include a rotation shaft  311 , a plurality of blades  312  arranged around the rotation shaft  311 , and a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotation shaft  311 . In the fan  310  according to an embodiment, the rotation shaft  311  may be disposed in a front-rear direction in such a way to be a little tilted downward in a right direction, as seen in  FIG. 6A , and as seen in  FIG. 6B , the rotation shaft  311  may be disposed in an up-down direction in such a way to be a little tilted downward in the right direction. Also, the fan  310  may introduce outside air to the inside of the case  390  through the inlet  391 , and also cause the air to flow to the catalyst  350 . The rpm of the motor may be controlled by the controller  300 . 
     The catalyst  350  may be a porous structure having a gas absorption function, and may be a catalyst-supported filter in which an oxidation catalyst is supported on both sides of a substrate having high heat conductivity. The oxidation catalyst may be one or more materials selected from among Ag, Pd, Pt, Mn, Rh, Fe, Co, I, P, Ti, and K, or oxides of the materials. The oxidation catalyst may remove or reduce a malodorous component of by-products that may be generated in a process of decomposing a malodorous component absorbed in the catalyst-supported filter. For example, methyl disulfide (CH 3 ) 2 S 2  that may be generated in a process of decomposing methyl mercaptan CH 3 SH has a low odor compared with the methyl mercaptan CH 3 SH. The catalyst  350  may be a photocatalyst. 
     The heater  360  may be disposed downstream from the fan  310  and upstream from the catalyst  350 . When electricity is supplied to the heater  360  for a predetermined time, the heater  360  may raise the temperature of air entered the catalyst  350  to a predetermined temperature at which a malodorous substance absorbed in the catalyst  350  may be decomposed. The supply of electricity to the heater  360  may be controlled by the controller  300 . Meanwhile, the heater  360  may be a dedicated heater that operates by power supplied from the main body of the refrigerator, not a defrosting heater included in the main body of the refrigerator, to prevent the deodorizing apparatus  3  from interfering with a refrigerating cycle. Also, the temperature of the heater  360  for activating the catalyst  350  may be 100° C. or lower. That is, the heater  360  may use a temperature that may be applied to home appliances (particularly, refrigerators). Although the catalyst  350  has decomposition capability even under a low temperature condition, the decomposition capability of the catalyst  350  may be improved when the catalyst  350  is activated under the condition of high-temperature (equal to or lower than 100° C.) heating. 
     The metal component  365  may be installed around the heater  360  and the catalyst  350  to improve the heat transfer effect and safety. The metal component  365  may use, for example, SUS. 
     The shutter  371  may be disposed along a bottom of the case  390 . The shutter  371  may have a hole having the same size as the inlet  391  formed in the bottom of the case  390  and disposed to correspond to the inlet  391 . The shutter  371  may slide along the bottom of the case  390 . 
     The damper  372  may be disposed around the outlet  392  in the inside of the case  390 . The damper  372  may rotate when the shutter  371  slides along the bottom of the case  390 . 
     That is, the shutter  371  and the damper  372  may be an example of an opening/closing member for opening and closing the inlet  391  and the outlet  392 . 
     The solenoid  373  may be disposed at a location at which it does not interfere with a flow of air in the inside of the case  390 . When the solenoid  373  is in an on state, the solenoid  373  may cause the shutter  371  to slide along the bottom of the case  390  to close the inlet  391  to prevent air from entering the case  390 , and also, the solenoid  373  may rotate the damper  372  to close the outlet  392  to prevent air from being discharged to the outside. That is, the solenoid  373  may be an example of an opening/closing control member for controlling the shutter  371  and the damper  372  to close the inlet  391  and the outlet  392  when the heater  360  heats air. The solenoid  373  may be turned on/off by the controller  300 . Meanwhile, the drawings show a state in which when the solenoid  373  is in the on state, the inlet  391  and the outlet  392  are closed. 
     The case  390  may have an accommodating room  396  in the central portion in which the inlet  391  and the outlet  392  are formed. 
     In the accommodating room  396 , the shutter  371 , the fan  310 , the heater  360 , the catalyst  350 , and the damper  372  may be arranged in this order from the inlet  391 . 
     According to the above-described arrangement, air entered the inside of the case  390  through the inlet  391  by the fan  310  may pass through the heater  360  and the catalyst  350  in this order to be discharged to the outside of the case  390  through the outlet  392  or to circulate in the inside of the case  390 . 
     The case  390  may be a double-layer structure having an air layer  399  in both sides of the accommodating room  396 . Therefore, the inside of the case  390  may be insulated from the outside. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a block diagram of the controller  300 . 
     The controller  300  may include a fan controller  301  for controlling the rpm of a motor (not shown) for rotating the fan  310 , a heater temperature controller  303  for controlling the temperature of the heater  360 , and a solenoid controller  304  for controlling on/off of the solenoid  373 . 
     The controller  300  may include at least one processor. The controller  300  may include a CPU (not shown) for arithmetic processing, ROM (not shown) for storing programs or various data that is executed by the CPU, and RAM (not shown) used as memory for tasks of the CPU. Also, the CPU may execute a program to implement the fan controller  301 , the heater temperature controller  303 , and the solenoid controller  304 . 
     The fan controller  301  may convert the rpm of the fan  310  to two levels of high speed and low speed. However, the fan controller  301  may convert the rpm of the fan  310  to three or more levels or continuously. The fan controller  301  may convert the rpm of the fan  310  to high speed in the absorption mode, and in the regeneration mode, the fan controller  101  may convert the rpm of the fan  310  to low speed. That is, the fan controller  301  may be an example of a blow controller for controlling driving of the fan  310  in such a way to reduce an air volume when the heater  360  heats air rather than when the heater  360  does not heat air. 
     When the fan controller  301  converts the rpm of the fan  310  to low speed (in the regeneration mode), the heater temperature controller  303  may supply electricity to the heater  360  for a predetermined time period, thereby raising the temperature of the heater  360  to a predetermined temperature. Meanwhile, when the fan controller  301  converts the rpm of the fan  310  to high speed (in the absorption mode), the heater temperature controller  303  may supply no electricity to the heater  360 . 
     When the fan controller  301  converts the rpm of the fan  310  to low speed (in the regeneration mode), the solenoid controller  304  may turn on the solenoid  373 , and when the fan controller  301  converts the rpm of the fan  310  to high speed (in the absorption mode), the fan controller  301  may turn off the solenoid  373 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a flow of air when the deodorizing apparatus  3  is in the absorption mode. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a movement of heat when the deodorizing apparatus  3  is in the regeneration mode. 
     When the deodorizing apparatus  3  according to an embodiment is in the absorption mode, the fan controller  301  may convert the rpm of the fan  310  to high speed, and the solenoid controller  304  may turn off the solenoid  373 . Also, the heater temperature controller  303  may supply no electricity to the heater  360  so as not to raise the temperature of the heater  360 . At this time, air inhaled into the inside of the case  390  by the fan  310  may pass through the accommodating room  396  to be discharged through the outlet  392 . At this time, a malodorous substance included in the air may be absorbed in the catalyst  350 . 
     Meanwhile, in the deodorizing apparatus  3 , the fan controller  101  may convert the rpm of the fan  310  to low speed in the regeneration mode by taking into consideration that a decomposition rate of a malodorous substance by the catalyst  350  is slower than an absorption rate of the catalyst  350 . The solenoid controller  304  may turn on the solenoid  373 , and the heater temperature controller  303  may supply electricity to the heater  360  to raise the temperature of the heater  360 . At this time, air inhaled in the inside of the case  390  by the fan  310  may flow toward the outlet  392  of the accommodating room  396 . However, since the damper  372  closes the outlet  392 , the air may pass through a lower portion of the accommodating room  396  to reach around the inlet  391 . Also, since the shutter  371  closes the inlet  391 , the air may be again inhaled into the inside of the case  390  by the fan  310  without being discharged through the inlet  391 . Meanwhile, at this time, the passing speed of the air may be lower than the passing speed of air in the absorption mode. 
     Air got warm by the heater  360  may enter the catalyst  350 . Therefore, the catalyst  350  may be heated and activated to decompose the malodorous substance absorbed therein. 
     Meanwhile, in an embodiment, the solenoid  373  may drive the shutter  371  and the damper  372  that are an opening/closing mechanism, although not limited thereto. As another example, the shutter  371  and the damper  372  may be driven by a motor, etc. Also, the shutter  371  may be opened and closed according to driving of the fan  310 . Furthermore, the shutter  371  and the damper  372  may be opened and closed by using a material capable of being expanded or contracted by heat. 
     Also, in an embodiment, the heater  360  may be a non-contact type. That is, a configuration in which the heater  360  is disposed downstream from the fan  310  and upstream from the catalyst  350  on a blowing path may be adopted. The configuration may heat air on the blowing path, and raise the temperature of the front surface of the catalyst  350  uniformly to an activation temperature. 
     However, the heater  360  may be a contact type. That is, a configuration in which the heater  360  is in contact with the outer circumference of the catalyst  350  may be adopted. A first example of the configuration may be a configuration in which the catalyst  350  is surrounded with the heater  360  which is a code heater. A second example of the configuration may be a configuration in which the catalyst  350  is a heater-embedded catalyst in which the heater  360  is embedded. A third example of the configuration may be a configuration in which the heater  360  which is a rexam heater formed by connecting a plurality of surfaces to each other is in contact with the first surface or the second to fourth surfaces of the outer circumference of the catalyst  350 . A fourth example of the configuration may be a configuration in which the heater  360  which is a rexam heater of a film type surrounds the outer circumference of the catalyst  350 . A fifth example of the configuration may be a configuration in which the heater  360  which is a Positive Temperature Coefficient heater is in contact with the outer circumference of the catalyst  350 . 
     Also, since the heater  360  is a non-contact type in an embodiment, the fan controller  301  may convert the rpm of the fan  310  to low speed when the deodorizing apparatus  3  is in the regeneration mode, although not limited thereto. When the heater  360  is a contact type, the fan controller  301  may stop rotating the fan  310  when the deodorizing apparatus  3  is in the regeneration mode. In this case, the fan controller  301  may be an example of a blow controller for controlling driving of the fan  310  such that the fan  310  stops when the heater  360  heats air. 
     Furthermore, in an embodiment, the metal component  365  may be installed around the heater  360  and the catalyst  350 , although not limited thereto. As another example, an over-heating preventing device, such as a temperature fuse or a temperature sensor, may be disposed around the heater  360 . 
     As described above, since the deodorizing apparatus  3  according to an embodiment regenerates the catalyst  350 , the deodorizing apparatus  3  may maintain the absorption capability (deodorizing capability) of the catalyst  350  for a long time, compared with a case in which a catalyst is not regenerated. Also, by using the catalyst  350  for regeneration and exposing a malodorous substance absorbed in the catalyst  350  to the catalyst  350 , it may be possible to increase a decomposition rate. Also, by closing the opening/closing mechanism when raising the inside temperature of the case  390  to regenerate the catalyst  350 , heat used for heating may be circulated. Also, since the case  390  is a double-layer structure having the air layer  399  in the inside, the inside of the case  390  may be insulated from the outside. Therefore, the deodorizing apparatus  3  may not discharge heat used for heating. As a result, the deodorizing apparatus  3  according to an embodiment may be used in an environment, such as the inside of the refrigerating room of a refrigerator, which needs to be maintained at a low temperature. Furthermore, although an odor is generated when a malodorous substance absorbed in the catalyst  350  is decomposed, the odor may be not discharged to the inside of the refrigerator since the opening/closing mechanism is closed. 
     Also, in an embodiment, the heater  360  may be any one of a non-contact type and a contact type. When a non-contact type, that is, the configuration in which the heater  360  is disposed downstream from the fan  310  and upstream from the catalyst  350  on the blowing path is adopted, heat may be applied to the front surface of the catalyst  350 , and low-cost may be achieved. Meanwhile, when a contact type, that is, the configuration in which the heater  360  is in contact with the catalyst  350  is adopted, a simplified configuration may be implemented. 
     Furthermore, in an embodiment, the metal component  365  may be installed around the heater  360  to improve the heat transfer effect and safety. Accordingly, combustion may be prevented when an abnormal situation occurs. 
     Meanwhile, in the deodorizing apparatus  3  described above, a timing of conversion between the absorption mode and the regeneration mode so that the absorption mode and the regeneration mode are performed alternately may be not limited to a specific timing. For example, the deodorizing apparatus  3  may convert the absorption mode to the regeneration mode after the absorption mode is performed for a predetermined absorption mode period, and then convert the regeneration mode to the absorption mode after the regeneration mode is performed for a predetermined regeneration mode period. The predetermined absorption mode period may be equal to or different from the predetermined regeneration mode period. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  3  may include an odor sensor (not shown) for detecting an odor. For example, the odor sensor may be disposed downstream from the catalyst  350 , and when an amount of odor detected by the odor sensor is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the deodorizing apparatus  1  may convert the absorption mode to the regeneration mode. In this case, the deodorizing apparatus  3  may perform the regeneration mode for the predetermined regeneration mode period, and then convert the regeneration mode to the absorption mode. 
     Since a refrigerator to which the deodorizing apparatus  3  according to an embodiment is applied is the same as the refrigerator to which the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is applied, further descriptions thereof will be omitted. However, in the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment, the inlet  91  of the case  90  may be disposed in the front portion of the case  90  and the outlet  92  of the case  90  may be disposed in the rear portion of the case  90 , whereas in the deodorizing apparatus  3  according to an embodiment, the inlet  391  of the case  390  may be disposed in the lower portion of the case  390  and the outlet  392  of the case  390  may be disposed in the front portion of the case  390 . 
       FIG. 10A  illustrates a top view of a deodorizing apparatus  4  according to an embodiment. The top view of  FIG. 10A  illustrates a part of an internal structure of the deodorizing apparatus  4 .  FIG. 10B  is a schematic configuration view illustrating the inside of the deodorizing apparatus  4  from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus  4  taken along line Xb-Xb of  FIG. 10A , and  FIG. 10C  is a schematic configuration view illustrating the inside of the deodorizing apparatus  4  from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus  4  taken along line Xc-Xc of  FIG. 10A . 
     The deodorizing apparatus  4  according to an embodiment may include a fan  410  which is an example of a blower for generating a flow of air. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may include an absorbing material  420  disposed downstream from the fan  410  and being an example of an absorber that absorbs a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and desorbs the malodorous substance by being heated, and a upstream heater  430  disposed downstream from the fan  410  and upstream from the absorbing material  420  and being an example of a upstream heating device that heats air entered the absorbing material  420 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may include a catalyst  450  which is an example of a decomposer for decomposing the malodorous substance desorbed by the absorbing material  420 , and a downstream heater  460  disposed downstream from the absorbing material  420  and upstream from the catalyst  450  and being an example of a decomposing heater that heats air entering the catalyst  450 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may include a shutter  471  and a damper  472  which are an opening/closing mechanism as an example of a suppressor for preventing air passed through the catalyst  450  from being discharged to the outside, a solenoid  473  for performing opening and closing operations of the shutter  471  and the damper  472 , and an insulator  494  for preventing heat from the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  from being transferred to the outside. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may include a case  490  formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped for accommodating the fan  410 , the absorbing material  420 , the upstream heater  430 , the catalyst  450 , the downstream heater  460 , the shutter  471 , the damper  472 , the solenoid  473 , and the insulator  494 , wherein an inlet  491  through which air enters and an outlet  492  through which air exits may be formed in the case  490 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may include a controller  400  including at least one processor for controlling driving of the fan  410 , operations of the upstream heater  430 , operations of the downstream heater  460 , and driving of the solenoid  473 , etc. 
     The deodorizing apparatus  4  according to an embodiment may be an apparatus capable of switching between an absorption mode for absorbing a malodorous substance existing in air through the absorbing material  420  and a regeneration mode for desorbing the malodorous substance from the absorbing material  420  to regenerate the absorbing material  20  and decomposing the desorbed malodorous substance through the catalyst  450 . Also, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may perform the absorption mode and the regeneration mode alternately, and maintain high deodorization capability of the absorbing material  20  for a long time. 
     Hereinafter, the components included in the deodorizing apparatus  4  will be described in detail. 
     The fan  410  may include a rotation shaft  411 , a plurality of blades  412  arranged around the rotation shaft  411 , and a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotation shaft  411 . In the fan  410  according to an embodiment, the rotation shaft  411  may be disposed in the front-rear direction in such a way to be a little tilted downward in a left direction, as seen in  FIG. 10A , and as seen in  FIG. 10B , the rotation shaft  411  may be disposed in an up-down direction in such a way to be a little tilted downward in the left direction. Also, the fan  410  may introduce outside air to the inside of the case  490  through the inlet  491 , and cause the inside air to enter the absorbing material  420 . The rpm of the motor may be controlled by the controller  400 . 
     The absorbing material  420  may have activated carbon for absorbing a malodorous substance existing in air passing therethrough to perform deodorization, and desorbing the malodorous substance by being heated. 
     The upstream heater  430  may be disposed downstream from the fan  410  and upstream from the absorbing material  420 . When electricity is supplied to the upstream heater  430  for a predetermined time, the upstream heater  430  may raise the temperature of the absorbing material  420  or air entered the absorbing material  420  to a predetermined temperature at which a malodorous substance absorbed in the absorbing material  420  may be removed. The supply of electricity to the upstream heater  430  may be controlled by the controller  400 . Meanwhile, the upstream heater  430  may be a dedicated heater that operates by power supplied from the main body of the refrigerator, not a defrosting heater included in the main body of the refrigerator, to prevent the deodorizing apparatus  4  from interfering with a refrigerating cycle. 
     The catalyst  450  may be a catalyst-supported filter in which an oxidation catalyst is supported on both sides of a substrate having high heat conductivity. The oxidation catalyst may be one or more kinds of metals selected from among Ag, Pd, Pt, Mn, Rh, Fe, Co, I, P, Ti, and K, or metal oxide thereof. The oxidation catalyst may remove or reduce a malodorous component of by-products that may be generated in a process of decomposing a malodorous component absorbed in the catalyst-supported filter. For example, methyl disulfide (CH 3 ) 2 S 2  that may be generated in a process of decomposing methyl mercaptan CH 3 SH has a low odor compared with the methyl mercaptan CH 3 SH. The catalyst  350  may be a photocatalyst. 
     The downstream heater  460  may be disposed downstream from the absorbing material  420  and upstream from the catalyst  450 . When electricity is supplied to the downstream heater  460  for a predetermined time, the downstream heater  460  may raise the temperature of the catalyst  450  or air entered the catalyst  450  to a predetermined temperature at which a malodorous substance desorbed from the absorbing material  420  may be decomposed. The supply of electricity to the downstream heater  460  may be controlled by the controller  400 . Meanwhile, the downstream heater  460  may be a dedicated heater that operates by power supplied from the main body of the refrigerator, not a defrosting heater included in the main body of the refrigerator, to prevent the deodorizing apparatus  4  from interfering with a refrigerating cycle. Also, the temperature of the downstream heater  460  for activating the catalyst  450  may be 100° C. or lower. That is, the downstream heater  460  may use a temperature that can be applied to home appliances (particularly, refrigerators). Although the catalyst  450  has decomposition capability even under a low temperature condition, the decomposition capability of the catalyst  450  may be improved when the catalyst  450  is activated under the condition of high-temperature (equal to or lower than 100° C.) heating. 
     The shutter  471  may be disposed along the bottom of the case  490 . The shutter  471  may have a hole having the same size as the inlet  491  formed in the bottom of the case  490  and disposed to correspond to the inlet  491 . The shutter  471  may slide along the bottom of the case  490 . 
     The damper  472  may be disposed around the outlet  492  in the inside of the case  490 . The damper  472  may rotate when the shutter  471  slides along the bottom of the case  490 . 
     That is, the shutter  471  and the damper  472  may be an example of an opening/closing member for opening and closing the inlet  491  and the outlet  492 . 
     The solenoid  473  may be disposed at a location at which it does not interfere with a flow of air in the inside of the case  490 . When the solenoid  473  is in an on state, the solenoid  473  may cause the shutter  471  to slide along the bottom of the case  490  to close the inlet  491  to prevent air from entering the case  490 , and also rotate the damper  472  to close the outlet  492  to prevent air from being discharged to the outside. That is, the solenoid  473  may be an example of an opening/closing control member for controlling the shutter  471  and the damper  472  to close the inlet  491  and the outlet  492  when the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  heat air. The solenoid  473  may be turned on/off by the controller  400 . Meanwhile, the drawings show a state in which when the solenoid  473  is in the on state, the inlet  491  and the outlet  492  are closed. 
     The insulator  494  may prevent heat from the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  from being transferred to the outside of the deodorizing apparatus  4  to insulate the inside of the case  490  from the outside of the case  490 . 
     The case  490  may include a first accommodating room  496  of the center portion where the inlet  491  and the outlet  492  are formed, and a second accommodating room  497  formed in one side of the first accommodating room  496 . 
     In the first accommodating room  496  and the second accommodating room  497 , the shutter  471 , the fan  410 , the upstream heater  430 , the absorbing material  420 , the downstream heater  460 , the catalyst  450 , and the damper  472  may be disposed in this order from the inlet  491 . 
     According to the above-described arrangement, air entered the inside of the case  490  through the inlet  391  by the fan  310  may pass through the upstream heater  430 , the absorbing material  420 , the downstream heater  460 , and the catalyst  450  in this order to be discharged to the outside of the case  490  through the outlet  492  or to circulate in the inside of the case  490 . 
     The case  490  may be a double-layer structure having an air layer  499  formed in one side of the first accommodating room  496 , which is opposite to the second accommodating room  497 , and in one side of the second accommodating room  497 , which is opposite to the first accommodating room  496 . Therefore, the inside of the case  490  may be insulated from the outside. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a block diagram of the controller  400 . 
     The controller  400  may include a fan controller  401  for controlling the rpm of a motor (not shown) for rotating the fan  410 , a upstream heater temperature controller  402  for controlling a temperature of the upstream heater  430 , a downstream heater temperature controller  403  for controlling a temperature of the downstream heater  460 , and a solenoid controller  404  for controlling on/off of the solenoid  473 . 
     The controller  400  may include at least one processor. The controller  400  may include a CPU (not shown) for arithmetic processing, ROM (not shown) for storing programs or various data that is executed by the CPU, and RAM (not shown) used as memory for tasks of the CPU. Also, the CPU may execute a program to implement the fan controller  401 , the upstream heater temperature controller  402 , the downstream heater temperature controller  403 , and the solenoid controller  404 . 
     The fan controller  401  may convert the rpm of the fan  410  to two levels of high speed and low speed. However, the fan controller  401  may convert the rpm of the fan  410  to three or more levels or continuously. The fan controller  401  may convert the rpm of the fan  410  to high speed in the absorption mode, and in the regeneration mode, the fan controller  401  may convert the rpm of the fan  410  to low speed. That is, the fan controller  401  may be an example of a blow controller for controlling driving of the fan  410  in such a way to reduce an air volume when the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  heat air rather than when the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  do not heat air. 
     When the fan controller  401  converts the rpm of the fan  410  to low speed (in the regeneration mode), the upstream heater temperature controller  402  may supply electricity to the upstream heater  430  for a predetermined time to raise the temperature of the upstream heater  430  to a predetermined temperature. Meanwhile, when the fan controller  401  converts the rpm of the fan  410  to high speed (in the absorption mode), the upstream heater temperature controller  402  may supply no electricity to the upstream heater  430 . 
     When the fan controller  401  converts the rpm of the fan  410  to low speed (in the regeneration mode), the downstream heater temperature controller  403  may supply electricity to the downstream heater  460  for a predetermined time period, thereby raising the temperature of the downstream heater  460  to a predetermined temperature. Meanwhile, when the fan controller  401  converts the rpm of the fan  410  to high speed (in the absorption mode), the downstream heater temperature controller  403  may supply no electricity to the downstream heater  460 . 
     When the fan controller  401  converts the rpm of the fan  410  to low speed (in the regeneration mode), the solenoid controller  404  may turn on the solenoid  473 , and when the fan controller  401  converts the rpm of the fan  410  to high speed (in the absorption mode), the solenoid controller  404  may turn off the solenoid  473 . 
       FIGS. 12A to 12C  illustrate a flow of air when the deodorizing apparatus  4  is in the absorption mode. 
       FIGS. 13A to 13C  illustrate a flow of heat when the deodorizing apparatus  4  is in the regeneration mode. 
     When the deodorizing apparatus  4  according to an embodiment is in the absorption mode, the fan controller  401  may convert the rpm of the fan  410  to high speed, and the solenoid controller  404  may turn off the solenoid  473 . Also, the upstream heater temperature controller  402  and the downstream heater temperature controller  403  may supply no electricity to the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  so as not to raise the temperature of the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460 . At this time, air inhaled into the inside of the case  490  by the fan  410  may pass through the first accommodating room  496  and the second accommodating room  497 , and then return to the first accommodating room  496  to be discharged through the outlet  492 . At this time, a malodorous substance included in the air may be absorbed in the absorbing material  420 . Also, when the catalyst  450  is a catalyst-supported filter, the malodorous substance included in the air may also be absorbed in the catalyst  450 . 
     Meanwhile, in the deodorizing apparatus  4 , the fan controller  401  may convert the rpm of the fan  410  to low speed in the regeneration mode by taking into consideration that a decomposition rate of a malodorous substance by the catalyst  450  is slower than an absorption rate of the absorbing material  420 . The solenoid controller  404  may turn on the solenoid  473 , and the upstream heater temperature controller  402  and the downstream heater temperature controller  403  may supply electricity to the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460 , respectively, to raise the temperature of the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460 . At this time, likewise, air inhaled into the inside of the case  490  by the fan  410  may pass through the first accommodating room  496  and the second accommodating room  497 , and then return to the first accommodating room  496 . However, since the damper  472  closes the outlet  492 , the air may pass through the lower area of the first accommodating room  496  to reach around the inlet  491 . Meanwhile, the passing speed of the air may be lower than the passing speed of air in the absorption mode. 
     The absorbing material  420  may get warm by the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460 , and also air heated by the upstream heater  430  may enter the absorbing material  420 . Therefore, the absorbing material  420  may be heated to desorb the malodorous substance absorbed therein. Accordingly, the absorbing material  420  may be regenerated. 
     The catalyst  450  may get warm by the downstream heater  460 , and air heated by the upstream heater  430 , passed through the absorbing material  420 , and then got warm by the downstream heater  460  may enter the catalyst  450 . Therefore, the catalyst  450  may be heated and activated to decompose the malodorous substance desorbed from the absorbing material  420 . Also, when the catalyst  450  is a catalyst-supported filter, the catalyst  450  may decompose the malodorous sub stance absorbed therein. 
     Meanwhile, in an embodiment, the solenoid  473  may drive the shutter  471  and the damper  472  that are an opening/closing mechanism, although not limited thereto. As another example, the shutter  471  and the damper  472  may be driven by a motor, etc. Also, the shutter  471  may be opened and closed according to driving of the fan  410 . Furthermore, the shutter  471  and the damper  472  may be opened and closed by using a material capable of being expanded or contracted by heat. 
     Also, in an embodiment, the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  may be a non-contact type. That is, a configuration in which the upstream heater  430  is disposed downstream from the fan  410  and upstream from the absorbing material  420  on a blowing path, and the downstream heater  460  is disposed downstream from the absorbing material  420  and upstream from the catalyst  450  on the blowing path may be adopted. The configuration may heat air on the blowing path, and raise the temperature of the front surfaces of the absorbing material  420  and the catalyst  450  uniformly to an activation temperature. 
     However, the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  may be a contact type. That is, a configuration in which the upstream heater  430  is in contact with the outer circumference of the absorbing material  420 , or a configuration in which the downstream heater  460  is in contact with the outer circumference of the catalyst  450  may be adopted. Examples of the configurations have been described in detail in an embodiment, and accordingly, further descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     Also, in an embodiment, since the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  are a non-contact type, the fan controller  401  may convert the rpm of the fan  410  to low speed when the deodorizing apparatus  4  is in the regeneration mode, although not limited thereto. In the case in which the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  are a contact type, the fan controller  401  may stop rotating the fan  410  when the deodorizing apparatus  4  is in the regeneration mode. In this case, the fan controller  401  may be an example of a blow controller for controlling driving of the fan  410  such that the fan  410  stops when the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  heat air. 
     Furthermore, in an embodiment, likewise, a metal component may be installed around the upstream heater  430  and the absorbing material  420  and around the downstream heater  460  and the catalyst  450 , although not limited thereto. As another example, an over-heating preventing device, such as a temperature fuse or a temperature sensor, may be disposed around the upstream heater  430  and the absorbing material  420  and around the downstream heater  460  and the catalyst  450 . 
     As described above, since the deodorizing apparatus  4  according to an embodiment performs deodorization by the absorbing material  420 , the deodorizing apparatus  4  may achieve high absorption speed, while saving energy. Also, since the deodorizing apparatus  4  according to an embodiment regenerates the absorbing material  420 , the deodorizing apparatus  4  may maintain the absorption capability (deodorizing capability) of the absorbing material  420  for a long time, compared with a case in which an absorbing material is not regenerated. Also, by using the catalyst  450  for regeneration and exposing a malodorous substance absorbed in the absorbing material  420  to the catalyst  450 , it may be possible to increase decomposition speed. Also, by closing the opening/closing mechanism when raising the inside temperature of the case  490  to regenerate the absorbing material  420 , heat used for heating may be circulated. Also, since the case  490  is a double-layer structure having the air layer  499  in the inside, the inside of the case  490  may be insulated from the outside. Therefore, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may not discharge heat used for heating. As a result, the deodorizing apparatus  4  according to an embodiment may be used in an environment, such as the inside of the refrigerating room of a refrigerator, which needs to be maintained at a low temperature. Furthermore, although an odor is generated when a malodorous substance absorbed in the absorbing material  420  is decomposed, the odor may be not discharged to the inside of the refrigerator since the opening/closing mechanism is closed. 
     Also, in an embodiment, the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  may be any one of a non-contact type and a contact type. When a non-contact type, that is, the configuration in which the upstream heater  430  is disposed downstream from the fan  410  and upstream from the absorbing material  420  on the blowing path and the downstream heater  460  is disposed downstream from the absorbing material  420  and upstream from the absorbing material  420  on the blowing path is disposed is adopted, heat may be applied to the front surfaces of the absorbing material  420  and the catalyst  450 , and low-cost may be achieved. Meanwhile, when a contact type, that is, the configuration in which the upstream heater  430  is in contact with the absorbing material  420  and the downstream heater  460  is in contact with the catalyst  450  is adopted, a simplified configuration may be implemented. 
     Furthermore, in an embodiment, a metal component may be installed around the upstream heater  430  and the downstream heater  460  to improve the heat transfer effect and safety. Accordingly, by installing the metal component, combustion may be prevented when an abnormal situation occurs. 
     Meanwhile, in the deodorizing apparatus  4  described above, a timing of conversion between the absorption mode and the regeneration mode so that the absorption mode and the regeneration mode are performed alternately may be not limited to a specific timing. For example, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may convert the absorption mode to the regeneration mode after the absorption mode is performed for a predetermined absorption mode period, and then convert the regeneration mode to the absorption mode after the regeneration mode is performed for a predetermined regeneration mode period. The predetermined absorption mode period may be equal to or different from the predetermined regeneration mode period. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may include an odor sensor (not shown) for detecting an odor. For example, the odor sensor may be disposed downstream from the absorbing material  420 , and when an amount of odor detected by the odor sensor is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may convert the absorption mode to the regeneration mode. In this case, the deodorizing apparatus  4  may perform the regeneration mode for the predetermined regeneration mode period, and then convert the regeneration mode to the absorption mode. 
     Since a refrigerator to which the deodorizing apparatus  4  according to an embodiment is applied is the same as the refrigerator to which the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is applied, further descriptions thereof will be omitted. However, in the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment, the inlet  91  of the case  90  may be disposed in the front portion of the case  90 , and the outlet  92  of the case  90  may be disposed in the rear portion of the case  90 , whereas in the deodorizing apparatus  4  according to an embodiment, the inlet  491  of the case  490  may be disposed in the lower portion of the case  490 , and the outlet  492  of the case  490  may be disposed in the front portion of the case  490 . 
       FIG. 14A  illustrates a top view of a deodorizing apparatus  5  according to an embodiment. The top view of  FIG. 14A  illustrates a part of an internal structure of the deodorizing apparatus  5 .  FIG. 14B  is a schematic configuration view illustrating the inside of the deodorizing apparatus  5  from a cross section of the deodorizing apparatus  5  taken along line XIVb-XIVb of  FIG. 14A . 
     The deodorizing apparatus  5  according to an embodiment may include a fan  510  which is an example of a blower for generating a flow of air. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may include a catalyst  550  disposed downstream from the fan  510  and being an example of an absorptive decomposer for absorbing a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and decomposing the malodorous substance by being heated, and a heater  560  disposed downstream from the fan  510  and being an example of a heating device for heating the catalyst  550 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may be a shutter  571  which is an opening/closing mechanism as an example of a suppressor for preventing air passed through the catalyst  550  from being discharged to the outside, a bimetal plate  573  for opening and closing the shutter  571 , and a metal component  565  which is an example of a component for transferring heat from the heater  560  to the bimetal plate  573 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may include a case  590  formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped for accommodating the fan  510 , the catalyst  550 , the heater  560 , the metal component  565 , the shutter  571 , and the bimetal plate  573 , wherein an inlet  491  through which air enters and an outlet  492  through which air exits may be formed in the case  590 . 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may include a controller  500  including at least one processor for controlling driving of the fan  510 , operations of the heater  560 , etc. 
     The deodorizing apparatus  5  according to an embodiment may be an apparatus capable of switching between an absorption mode for absorbing a malodorous substance existing in air through the catalyst  550  and a regeneration mode for desorbing the absorbed malodorous substance through the catalyst  550  to regenerate the catalyst  550 . Also, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may perform the absorption mode and the regeneration mode alternately, and maintain high deodorizing capability of the catalyst  550  for a long time. 
     Hereinafter, the components included in the deodorizing apparatus  5  will be described in detail. 
     The fan  510  may include a rotation shaft  511 , a plurality of blades  512  arranged around the rotation shaft  511 , and a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotation shaft  511 . In the fan  510  according to an embodiment, the rotation shaft  511  may be disposed in the front-rear direction in such a way to be a little tilted downward in the left direction, as seen in  FIG. 14A , and as seen in  FIG. 14B , the rotation shaft  511  may be disposed in the up-down direction in such a way to be a little tilted downward in the left direction. Also, the fan  510  may introduce outside air to the inside of the case  590  through the inlet  591 , and also cause the air to flow to the catalyst  550 . The rpm of the motor may be controlled by the controller  500 . 
     The catalyst  550  may be a porous structure having a gas absorption function, and may be a catalyst-supported filter in which an oxidation catalyst is supported on both sides of a substrate having high heat conductivity. The oxidation catalyst may be one or more materials selected from among Ag, Pd, Pt, Mn, Rh, Fe, Co, I, P, Ti, and K, or oxides of the materials. The oxidation catalyst may remove or reduce a malodorous component of by-products that may be generated in a process of decomposing a malodorous component absorbed in the catalyst-supported filter. For example, methyl disulfide (CH 3 ) 2 S 2  that may be generated in a process of decomposing methyl mercaptan CH 3 SH has a low odor compared with the methyl mercaptan CH 3 SH. The catalyst  550  may be a photocatalyst. 
     The heater  560  may be disposed downstream from the fan  510 . When electricity is supplied to the heater  560  for a predetermined time, the heater  560  may raise the temperature of air entered the catalyst  550  to a predetermined temperature at which a malodorous substance absorbed in the catalyst  550  may be decomposed. The supply of electricity to the heater  560  may be controlled by the controller  500 . Meanwhile, the heater  560  may be a dedicated heater that operates by power supplied from the main body of the refrigerator, not a defrosting heater included in the main body of the refrigerator, to prevent the deodorizing apparatus  5  from interfering with a refrigerating cycle. Also, the temperature of the heater  560  for activating the catalyst  550  may be 100° C. or lower. That is, the heater  560  may use a temperature that can be applied to home appliances (particularly, refrigerators). Although the catalyst  550  has decomposition capability even under a low temperature condition, the decomposition capability of the catalyst  550  may be improved when the catalyst  550  is activated under the condition of high-temperature (equal to or lower than 100° C.) heating. 
     The metal component  565  may be installed between the heater  560  and the bimetal plate  573  to improve the heat transfer effect. The metal component  565  may use, for example, SUS. Meanwhile, since the bimetal plate  573  is fixed at one end, which will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 15A and 15B , the metal component  565  may connect the heater  560  to the fixed end of the bimetal plate  573 . 
     The shutter  571  may be disposed along the bottom of the case  590 . The shutter  571  may have a hole having the same size as the inlet  591  and the outlet  592  formed in the bottom of the case  590  and disposed to correspond to the inlet  591  and the outlet  592 . The shutter  571  may slide along the bottom of the case  590 . That is, the shutter  571  may be an example of an opening/closing member for opening and closing the inlet  591  and the outlet  592 . Meanwhile, in an embodiment, the opening/closing member may be configured with one component (that is, the shutter  571 ). 
     The bimetal plate  573  may be disposed at a position to which heat from the heater  560  in the case  590  is transferred. The bimetal plate  573  may be a metal plate manufactured by coupling two kinds of metals having different thermal expansion rates with each other. The two kinds of metals having different thermal expansion rates may use a Fe—Ni—Cr alloy as a metal having a relatively high thermal expansion rate, and a Fe—Ni alloy having a Ni content of about 36% as a metal having a relatively low thermal expansion rate. When heat from the heater  560  is transferred to the bimetal plate  573 , the bimetal plate  573  may cause the shutter  571  to slide along the bottom of the case  590  through a first protrusion  5711  and a second protrusion  5712  to close the inlet  591  and the outlet  592 , thereby preventing air from entering and being discharged. That is, the bimetal plate  593  may be an example of an opening/closing control member for controlling the shutter  571  to close the inlet  591  and the outlet  592  when the heater  560  heats the catalyst  550 . Meanwhile, the drawings show a state in which the inlet  591  and the outlet  592  are closed when heat from the heater  560  is transferred to the bimetal plate  573 . 
     The case  590  may have a first accommodating room  596  and a second accommodating room  597  formed in one side of the first accommodating room  596 , wherein the inlet  591  and the outlet  592  may be formed in the center portion of the first accommodating room  596 . 
     In the first accommodating room  596 , the shutter  571 , the fan  510 , and the catalyst  550  which the heater  560  is in contact with may be disposed in this order from the inlet  591 . The shutter  571  may also be disposed in the outlet  592 . When the outlet  592  is closed, the second accommodating room  597  may be formed as a passage through which air returns to the fan  510 . 
     According to the above-described arrangement, air entered the inside of the case  590  through the inlet  591  by the fan  510  may pass through the catalyst  550  which the heater  560  is in contact with to be discharged to the outside of the case  590  through the outlet  592  or to circulate in the inside of the case  590 . 
     The case  590  may be a double-layer structure having an air layer  599  formed in one side of the first accommodating room  596 , which is opposite to the second accommodating room  597 , and in one side of the second accommodating room  597 , which is opposite to the first accommodating room  596 . Therefore, the inside of the case  590  may be insulated from the outside. 
     Hereinafter, operation of controlling sliding of the shutter  571  by the bimetal plate  573  will be described in more detail. 
       FIG. 15A  illustrates a state of the bimetal plate  573  when heat from the heater  560  is not transferred to the bimetal plate  573 , and  FIG. 15B  illustrates a state of the bimetal plate  573  when heat from the heater  560  is transferred to the bimetal plate  573 . The arrangement of the bimetal plate  573  may be the same as an arrangement when the catalyst  550 , the heater  560 , and the metal component  565  are removed in  FIG. 14A . A first end  5713  of the bimetal plate  573  may be fixed, whereas a second end  5732  of the bimetal plate  573  may be not fixed and contact the first protrusion  5711  and the second protrusion  5712  of the shutter  571 . 
     When no heat from the heater  560  is transferred to the bimetal plate  573 , the bimetal plate  573  may be aligned in a straight line. Accordingly, the bimetal plate  573  may not press the first protrusion  5711  and the second protrusion  5712 , and the shutter  571  may move to a position of opening the inlet  591  and the outlet  592 . 
     Meanwhile, when heat from the heater  560  is transferred, the bimetal plate  573  may press the first protrusion  5711  and the second protrusion  5712  since the second end  5732  is curved to the right, and the shutter  571  may move to a position of closing the inlet  591  and the outlet  592 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a block diagram of the controller  500 . 
     The controller  500  may include a fan controller  501  for controlling the rpm of a motor (not shown) for rotating the fan  510 , and a heater temperature controller  503  for controlling a temperature of the heater  560 . 
     The controller  500  may include at least one processor. The controller  500  may include a CPU (not shown) for arithmetic processing, ROM (not shown) for storing programs or various data that is executed by the CPU, and RAM (not shown) used as memory for tasks of the CPU. Also, the CPU may execute a program to implement the fan controller  501  and the heater temperature controller  503 . 
     The fan controller  501  may convert the rpm of the fan  510  to two levels of high speed and low speed. However, the fan controller  501  may convert the rpm of the fan  510  to three or more levels or continuously. The fan controller  101  may convert the rpm of the fan  510  to high speed in the absorption mode, and in the regeneration mode, the fan controller  501  may convert the rpm of the fan  510  to low speed. That is, the fan controller  501  may be an example of a blow controller for controlling driving of the fan  510  in such a way to reduce an air volume when the heater  560  heats the catalyst  550  rather than when the heater  560  does not heat the catalyst  550 . 
     When the fan controller  501  converts the rpm of the fan  510  to low speed (in the regeneration mode), the heater temperature controller  503  may supply electricity to the heater  560  for a predetermined time period, thereby raising the temperature of the heater  560  to a predetermined temperature. Meanwhile, when the fan controller  501  converts the rpm of the fan  510  to high speed (in the absorption mode), the heater temperature controller  503  may supply no electricity to the heater  560 . 
       FIGS. 17A and 17B  illustrate a flow of air when the deodorizing apparatus  5  is in the absorption mode. 
       FIGS. 18A and 18B  illustrate a flow of heat when the deodorizing apparatus  5  is in the regeneration mode. 
     When the deodorizing apparatus  5  according to an embodiment is in the absorption mode, the fan controller  501  may convert the rpm of the fan  510  to high speed, and the heater temperature controller  503  may supply no electricity to the heater  560  so as not to raise the temperature of the heater  560 . At this time, air inhaled in the inside of the case  590  by the fan  510  may pass through the first accommodating room  596 , and be discharged through the outlet  592 . At this time, a malodorous substance included in the air may be absorbed in the catalyst  550 . 
     Meanwhile, in the deodorizing apparatus  5 , the fan controller  501  may convert the rpm of the fan  510  to low speed in the regeneration mode, and the heater temperature controller  503  may supply electricity to the heater  560  to raise the temperature of the heater  560 , by taking into consideration that a decomposition rate of a malodorous substance of the catalyst  550  is slower than an absorption rate of the catalyst  550 . At this time, air inhaled into the inside of the case  590  by the fan  510  may pass through the first accommodating room  596  to reach around the outlet  592 . However, since the outlet  592  is closed by the shutter  571 , the air may pass through the second accommodating room  597  to reach below the fan  510 . 
     The catalyst  550  may get warm by the heater  560 . Therefore, the catalyst  550  may be heated and activated to decompose a malodorous substance absorbed therein. 
     Meanwhile, in an embodiment, the heater  560  may be a contact type. That is, a configuration in which the heater  560  is in contact with the outer circumference of the catalyst  550  may be adopted. 
     However, the heater  560  may be a non-contact type. That is, a configuration in which the heater  560  is disposed downstream from the fan  510  and upstream from the catalyst  550  on a blowing path may be adopted. The configuration may heat air on the blowing path, and raise the temperature of the front surface of the catalyst  550  uniformly to an activation temperature. 
     Also, in an embodiment, when the deodorizing apparatus  5  is in the regeneration mode, the fan controller  501  may convert the rpm of the fan  510  to low speed, although not limited thereto. The fan controller  501  may rotate the fan  510  intermittently. In this case, the fan controller  501  may be an example of a blow controller for controlling driving of the fan  510  such that the fan  510  rotates intermittently when the heater  560  heats the catalyst  550 . Also, in the case that the heater  560  is a contact type, the fan controller  501  may stop rotating the fan  510  when the deodorizing apparatus  5  is in the regeneration mode. In this case, the fan controller  501  may be an example of a blow controller for controlling driving of the fan  510  such that the fan  510  stops when the heater  560  heats the catalyst  550 . 
     As described above, since the deodorizing apparatus  5  according to an embodiment regenerates the catalyst  550 , the deodorizing apparatus  5  may maintain the absorption capability (deodorizing capability) of the catalyst  550  for a long time, compared with a case in which a catalyst is not regenerated. Also, by using the catalyst  550  for regeneration and exposing a malodorous substance absorbed in the catalyst  550  to the catalyst  550 , it may be possible to increase decomposition speed. Also, by closing the opening/closing mechanism when raising the inside temperature of the case  590  to regenerate the catalyst  550 , heat used for heating may be circulated. Also, since the case  590  is a double-layer structure having the air layer  599  in the inside, the inside of the case  590  may be insulated from the outside. Therefore, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may not discharge heat used for heating. As a result, the deodorizing apparatus  5  according to an embodiment may be used in an environment, such as the inside of the refrigerating room of a refrigerator, which needs to be maintained at a low temperature. Furthermore, although an odor is generated when a malodorous substance absorbed in the catalyst  550  is decomposed, the odor may be not discharged to the inside of the refrigerator since the opening/closing mechanism is closed. 
     Also, in an embodiment, the heater  560  may be any one of a non-contact type and a contact type. When a non-contact type, that is, the configuration in which the heater  560  is disposed downstream from the fan  510  and upstream from the catalyst  550  on the blowing path is adopted, heat may be applied to the front surface of the catalyst  550 , and low-cost may be achieved. Meanwhile, when a contact type, that is, the configuration in which the heater  560  is in contact with the catalyst  550  is adopted, a simplified configuration may be implemented. 
     Meanwhile, in the deodorizing apparatus  5  described above, a timing of conversion between the absorption mode and the regeneration mode so that the absorption mode and the regeneration mode are performed alternately may be not limited to a specific timing. For example, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may convert the absorption mode to the regeneration mode after the absorption mode is performed for a predetermined absorption mode period, and then convert the regeneration mode to the absorption mode after the regeneration mode is performed for a predetermined regeneration mode period. The predetermined absorption mode period may be equal to or different from the predetermined regeneration mode period. 
     Also, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may include an odor sensor (not shown) for detecting an odor. For example, the odor sensor may be disposed downstream from the catalyst  550 , and when an amount of odor detected by the odor sensor is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may convert the absorption mode to the regeneration mode. In this case, the deodorizing apparatus  5  may perform the regeneration mode for the predetermined regeneration mode period, and then convert the regeneration mode to the absorption mode. 
     A refrigerator to which the deodorizing apparatus  5  according to an embodiment is applied may be similar to the refrigerator to which the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is applied, and accordingly, further descriptions thereof will be omitted. However, in the deodorizing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment, the inlet  91  of the case  90  may be disposed in the front portion of the case  90 , and the outlet  92  of the case  90  may be disposed in the rear portion of the case  90 , whereas in the deodorizing apparatus  5  according to an embodiment, the lower surface of the case  590  may be toward the lower space of the refrigerator, and the inlet  591  may be disposed at the rear portion of the bottom of the case  590 , and the outlet  592  may be disposed at the front portion of the bottom of the case  590 . 
     According to the present disclosure, a deodorizing apparatus capable of being used in an environment that needs to be maintained at a low temperature and a refrigerator including the deodorizing apparatus may be provided. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with various embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.