Apparatus for refrigeration cycle and refrigerator

A refrigeration-cycle apparatus, comprising:

• a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant;
• a condensing device that includes at least one condenser that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor;
• and
• a refrigeration-cycle device that simultaneously or selectively performs a plurality of refrigeration-cycle operations using the condensed refrigerant from the condensing device, so as to enable cooling operations in various temperature bands, wherein the refrigeration-cycle device comprises:
• a distributor that distributes the refrigerant condensed in the condensing device into a plurality of passages simultaneously or into only a portion of the plurality of passages, selectively;
• a first cold air generator that performs a refrigeration-cycle operation using a portion of the refrigerant distributed by the distributor;
• and
• a second cold air generator that performs another refrigeration-cycle operation using a remaining portion of the refrigerant distributed by the distributor, wherein the first cold air generator comprises:
• a first refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
• a first expander installed on the first refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant;
• and
• a plurality of first evaporators connected in series to evaporate the refrigerant expanded in the first expander, so as to generate cold air having different temperature bands from one another, wherein the plurality of first evaporators comprises:
• a first-band evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant so as to generate cold air having a predetermined temperature band;
• a second-band evaporator that further evaporates the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator, so as to generate cold air having a lower temperature band than that of the first-band evaporator;
• and
• an intermediate expander installed between the first-band evaporator and the second-band evaporator, that expands the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator and introduces the expanded refrigerant into the second-band evaporator, and wherein the second cold air generator comprises:
• a second refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
• a second expander installed on the second refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant;
• at least one second evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant expanded in the second expander, so as to generate cold air;
• and
• a connector that connects the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path to each other between a point downstream of the second-band evaporator or the intermediate expander at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and a point upstream of the at least one second evaporator, to provide a selective refrigerant flow between the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path, so as to reduce a pressure difference between the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and the refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant flow-path, and to adjust a superheating degree of the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators wherein the first expander has a shorter length than a length of the second expander, so that the second expander had a greater pressure drop than a pressure drop of the first expander.

A refrigerator, comprising:

• a body;
• a refrigeration-cycle apparatus installed in the body, and including a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant, a condensing device that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a distributor that distributes the refrigerant condensed in the condensing device, a first cold air generator that generates cold air from a portion of the refrigerant distributed from the distributor, and a second cold air generator that is connected to the first cold air generator and generates cold air from a remaining portion of the refrigerant distributed from the distributor, the second cold air generator having a selective refrigerant flow with the first cold air generator;
• and
• a plurality of cooling compartments provided in the body and adapted to be cooled, respectively, by cold air, having different temperature bands from one another, generated from the first cold air generator and the second cold air generator, wherein the first cold air generator comprises:
• a first refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
• a first expander installed on the first refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant;
• and
• a plurality of first evaporators connected in series to evaporate the refrigerant expanded in the first expander, so as to generate cold air having different temperature bands from one another, wherein the plurality of first evaporators comprises:
• a first-band evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant so as to generate cold air having a predetermined temperature band;
• a second-band evaporator that further evaporates the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator, so as to generate cold air having a lower temperature band than that of the first-band evaporator;
• and
• an intermediate expander installed between the first-band evaporator and the second-band evaporator, that expands the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator and introduces the expanded refrigerant into the second-band evaporator, and wherein the second cold air generator comprises:
• a second refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
• a second expander installed on the second refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant;
• at least one second evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant expanded in the second expander, so as to generate cold air;
• and
• a connector that connects the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path to each other between a point downstream of the second-band evaporator or the intermediate expander at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and a point upstream of the at least one second evaporator, to provide a selective refrigerant flow between the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path, so as to reduce a pressure difference between the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and the refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant flow-path, and to adjust a superheating degree of the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators wherein the first expander has a shorter length than a length of the second expander, so that the second expander had a greater pressure drop than a pressure drop of the first expander.