A refrigerator, comprising:
- a cabinet having a refrigerated interior;
- a refrigeration fluid circuit for circulating a refrigerant, the refrigeration fluid circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, a first evaporator located within the cabinet, and a second evaporator located within the cabinet;
- the first evaporator including a first evaporator coil and a first evaporator fan producing air flow through the first evaporator coil, the second evaporator including a second evaporator coil and a second evaporator fan producing air flow through the second evaporator coil;
- an insulating cover separating the refrigerated interior from a first evaporator compartment containing the first evaporator and a second evaporator compartment containing the second evaporator, the first and second evaporator compartments being adjacent to one another and divided from one another by divider wall, and each of the first and second evaporator compartments being divided into an inlet side and an outlet side on opposite sides of the respective first and second evaporator compartments;
- at least one first damper that opens to permit air circulation from the refrigerated interior into the fist evaporator compartment, the at least one first damper including an inlet first damper between the refrigerated interior and the inlet side of the first evaporator compartment, and an outlet first damper between the refrigerated interior and the outlet side of the first evaporator compartment;
- a second damper associated with the divider wall that opens to permit air circulation from the outlet side of the first evaporator compartment into the inlet side of the adjacent second evaporator compartment via operation of the second damper so as to permit air flow through the divider wall;
- and
- at least one third damper that opens to permit air circulation from the second evaporator compartment into the refrigerated interior, the at least one third damper including an inlet third damper between the refrigerated interior and the inlet side of the second evaporator compartment, and an outlet third damper between the refrigerated interior and the outlet side of the second evaporator compartment,
- wherein the first evaporator operates with refrigerant at a colder temperature than the second evaporator, and operation of the first and second evaporator fans force warmed air from the refrigerated interior to flow past the first evaporator before flowing past the second evaporator and then back to the refrigerated interior by opening the inlet first damper, the second damper, and the outlet third damper while keeping the outlet first damper and the inlet third damper closed during fan operation, such that the first evaporator collects substantially all frost formed on the first and second evaporator coils during cooling of the refrigerated interior.