Defrosting apparatus and refrigerator comprising same

A defrosting apparatus comprising:

• a heater case that comprises a heat pipe seating part that is located on one surface of the heater case in a recessed shape and a heater receiving part that extends in parallel with the heat pipe seating part;
• a heater that is mounted in the heater receiving part and that is configured to emit heat based on application of electrical current to the heater;
• a heat pipe that defines a flow path for a working fluid, wherein at least a portion of the heat pipe is seated on the heat pipe seating part,
• wherein the heat pipe is disposed adjacent to a cooling pipe of an evaporator to radiate heat to the cooling pipe by transferring the working fluid, and
• wherein the working fluid is heated by the heater in the portion of the heat pipe that is seated on the heat pipe seating part, and then transferred to the cooling pipe;
• and
• a holder that is detachably coupled to the heater case and that is configured to cover the portion of the heat pipe that is seated on the heat pipe seating part,
• wherein the heater case further comprises:
• a pressing member that is configured to press the heater toward an inner surface of the heater receiving part,
• a recess portion that is defined by pressing the heater towards the inner surface of the heater receiving part, and
• a plurality of locking portions connected to the recess portion and protruding from both corners of the heater case, respectively,
• wherein the holder includes first and second hooks provided at both ends and coupled to the plurality of locking portions, respectively, so as to cover the one surface and both sides of the heater case.