Refrigerator

A refrigerator comprising:

• a main body;
• a storage chamber provided in the main body;
• a door which opens or closes the storage chamber;
• a carbonated water tank in which carbon dioxide and water are mixed to produce carbonated water;
• a carbon dioxide cylinder in which carbon dioxide is charged;
• a pressure regulator which adjusts a pressure of carbon dioxide discharged from the carbon dioxide cylinder and discharges the carbon dioxide;
• a solenoid switch valve which regulates supplying of the carbon dioxide discharged from the pressure regulator to the carbonated water tank;
• a connection channel which connects the pressure regulator and the solenoid switch valve;
• a notifier which notifies of a replacement time of the carbon dioxide cylinder;
• a low pressure sensor integrated relief valve which sends a low pressure signal when a pressure of carbon dioxide in the connection channel is less than a predetermined replacement pressure, and discharges the carbon dioxide in the connection channel to the atmosphere when the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the connection channel is greater than a predetermined pressure limit;
• and
• a controller which receives the low pressure signal sent from the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve and controls the notifier to notify of a replacement time of the carbon dioxide cylinder.

A method of controlling a refrigerator including a carbonated water tank in which carbon dioxide and water are mixed to produce carbonated water, a carbon dioxide cylinder in which carbon dioxide is charged, a pressure regulator which adjusts a pressure of carbon dioxide discharged from the carbon dioxide cylinder and discharges the carbon dioxide, a solenoid switch valve which regulates supplying of the carbon dioxide discharged from the pressure regulator to the carbonated water tank, a connection channel which connects the pressure regulator and the solenoid switch valve, a notifier which notifies of a replacement time of the carbon dioxide cylinder, and a low pressure sensor integrated relief valve provided in the connection channel, the method comprising:

• sensing a pressure of carbon dioxide in the connection channel by the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve;
• displaying a replacement time by the notifier when the sensed pressure is less than a predetermined replacement pressure;
• and
• discharging the carbon dioxide in the connection channel to the atmosphere by the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve when the sensed pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure limit.