Refrigerator

A refrigerator comprising:

• a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;
• a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed in the compressor;
• a first connection pipe that connects an outlet of the compressor to the condenser;
• a plurality of evaporators disposed at an outlet side of the condenser and configured to evaporate the refrigerant, the plurality of evaporators comprising (i) a first evaporator comprising a refrigerant pipe and a hot gas pipe and (ii) a second evaporator comprising a refrigerant pipe and a hot gas pipe;
• a first valve configured to be operated to introduce the refrigerant into at least one of the plurality of evaporators, the first valve including a first outlet and a second outlet;
• a first refrigerant path that connects the first outlet of the first valve to the refrigerant pipe of the first evaporator, the first refrigerant path being configured to carry the refrigerant such that the refrigerant is evaporated in the first evaporator;
• a second refrigerant path that connects the second outlet of the first valve to a first pipe of the second evaporator, the second refrigerant path being configured to carry the refrigerant such that the refrigerant is evaporated in the second evaporator;
• one or more hot gas valves that are disposed at the first connection pipe, that are disposed at an inlet of the first valve, and that are configured to provide the refrigerant from the compressor to the plurality of evaporators, the one or more hot gas valves comprising:
• a first hot gas valve that is disposed at an outlet side of the compressor and that has a first inlet-outlet part and a second inlet-outlet part that are connected to the hot gas pipe of the first evaporator,
• a second hot gas valve that is disposed at an outlet side of the first hot gas valve and that has a first inlet-outlet part and a second inlet-outlet part that are connected to the hot gas pipe of the second evaporator;
• a first hot gas path that defines a first closed loop passing through the first inlet-outlet part of the first hot gas valve, the hot gas pipe of the first evaporator, and the second inlet-outlet part of the first hot gas valve;
• and
• a second hot gas path that defines a second closed loop passing through the first inlet-outlet part of the second hot gas valve, the hot gas pipe of the second evaporator, and the second inlet-outlet part of the second hot gas valve.

A refrigerator comprising:

• a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;
• a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed in the compressor;
• a first connection pipe that connects an outlet of the compressor to the condenser;
• a plurality of evaporators disposed at an outlet side of the condenser and configured to evaporate the refrigerant, the plurality of evaporators comprising (i) a first evaporator comprising a refrigerant pipe and a hot gas pipe and (ii) a second evaporator comprising a refrigerant pipe and a hot gas pipe;
• a first valve disposed at the outlet side of the condenser and configured to be operated to introduce the refrigerant into at least one of the plurality of evaporators, the first valve including a first outlet and a second outlet;
• a first refrigerant path that connects the first outlet of the first valve to the refrigerant pipe of the first evaporator, the first refrigerant path being configured to carry the refrigerant such that the refrigerant is evaporated in the first evaporator;
• a second refrigerant path that connects the second outlet of the first valve to a first pipe of the second evaporator, the second refrigerant path being configured to carry the refrigerant such that the refrigerant is evaporated in the second evaporator;
• a first hot gas valve disposed at the first connection pipe and configured to provide the refrigerant from the compressor to the first evaporator, the first hot gas valve including a four-way valve that has four inlet-outlet parts including two inlet-outlet parts that are connected to the hot gas pipe of the first evaporator;
• a second hot gas valve disposed at the first connection pipe and configured to provide the refrigerant from the compressor to the second evaporator, the second hot gas valve being disposed between the first hot gas valve and an inlet side of the condenser and including a four-way valve that has four inlet-outlet parts including two inlet-outlet parts that are connected to the hot gas pipe of the second evaporator;
• a first hot gas path that connects the first hot gas valve to the hot gas pipe of the first evaporator and that defines a first closed loop passing through the two inlet-outlet parts of the first hot gas valve and the hot gas pipe of the first evaporator;
• and
• a second hot gas path that connects the second hot gas valve to the hot gas pipe of the second evaporator and that defines a second closed loop passing through the two inlet-outlet parts of the second hot gas valve and the hot gas pipe of the second evaporator.