Entrance refrigerator

A refrigerator, comprising:

• a cabinet configured to be located partially within a barrier of a building, the cabinet including a storage compartment therein, the cabinet having a first opening into the storage compartment and a second opening into the storage compartment, the second opening being spaced from the first opening;
• a housing located at a lower side of the cabinet;
• a first door coupled to the cabinet to open or close the first opening;
• a second door coupled to the cabinet to open or close the second opening;
• and
• a cold air supplier configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment, at least a portion of the cold air supplier being located within the housing,
• wherein the cold air supplier comprises:
• a thermoelectric element having a heat absorbing surface and a heat generating surface;
• a cold sink in contact with the heat absorbing surface;
• a heat absorption fan disposed above the cold sink;
• a heat sink in contact with the heat generating surface;
• a heat dissipation fan disposed below the heat sink;
• and
• first and second absorption pads provided at first and second edge portions, respectively, of the cold sink to absorb condensed water generated on a surface of the cold sink.

A method of controlling a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a storage compartment, a cold air supplier configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment, the cold air supplier including a thermoelectric element having a heat absorbing surface and a heat generating surface, and a heat absorption fan, and a controller configured to control operating of the cold air supplier, the method comprising controlling the cold air supplier to provide a defrosting mode by:

• stopping a supply of power to the cold air supplier;
• supplying a reverse voltage to the thermoelectric element after a first set time elapses from a time point when the controller stops the supply of power to the cold air supplier;
• and
• supplying power to the heat absorption fan when the reverse voltage is being supplied to the thermoelectric element.