Defrosting device and refrigerator having the same

A refrigerator, comprising:

• a refrigerator body including a compartment;
• an evaporator including a cooling tube, the cooling tube configured to absorb heat from the compartment;
• and
• a defrosting device configured to provide heat to the cooling tube of the evaporator, the defrosting device comprising:
• a heating unit provided at a first side of the evaporator and that is configured to heat fluid passing through the heating unit;
• and
• a plurality of heat pipes that are coupled to the heating unit, that are disposed adjacent to the cooling tube of the evaporator, and that are configured to provide heat from the fluid to the cooling tube, wherein the fluid passes through each of the plurality of heat pipes and is heated by the heating unit, the plurality of heat pipes comprising:
• a first heat pipe that is disposed adjacent to a first portion of the evaporator, and
• a second heat pipe that is disposed adjacent to a second portion of the evaporator, wherein a length of the first heat pipe is different from a length of the second heat pipe,
• wherein the heating unit comprises:
• a heater case including:
• an interior space,
• a plurality of inlets, each of the plurality of inlets being respectively coupled to each of the plurality of heat pipes, and
• a plurality of outlets, each of the plurality of outlets being respectively coupled to each of the plurality of heat pipes;
• and
• a heater including:
• an active heating portion that is located inside the heater case and that is configured to generate heat for heating the fluid, and
• a passive heating portion that is coupled to the active heating portion and that is heated by the active heating portion, and
• wherein a portion of the heater case corresponding to the passive heating portion of the heater includes the plurality of inlets.