KR20070105650A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a main body forming a storage compartment; A door for opening and closing the storage compartment; A dispenser unit provided at the door; A hot water tank in which water supplied from the outside is stored; A heater for heating the water stored in the hot water tank; A heater switch provided to select one of a normal mode in which the heater selectively heats and heats off the water stored in the hot water tank, and a stop mode in which the heater is released by releasing the normal mode of the heater; When the normal mode is selected in the heater switch, a control unit for controlling the driving of the heater to maintain the water in the hot water tank at a predetermined temperature. As a result, power consumption of the refrigerator can be reduced.

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the upper hinge portion and the hot water pipe of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of a lower hinge portion and a cold water pipe of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention;

6 is a control flowchart of the refrigerator according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1: body 2: storage room

10: water purification unit 11: external connection

13: cold water tank 30: door

40: hinge portion 42: hollow hinge axis

45: hinge shaft coupling portion 50: dispenser portion

51: water lever 52: ice lever

53: input unit 54: display unit

70: hot water tank 74: hot water piping

76: water level sensor 77: temperature sensor

80: heater 81: supply valve

90: heater switch 100: control unit

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator capable of reducing power consumption.

Recently released refrigerators are equipped with a variety of additional units considering the functionality and convenience in addition to the basic device for keeping food fresh. In accordance with this trend, installation of home bars and dispensers provided in front of the doors is increasing.

Since the dispenser can take out water or ice inside without opening the door, it is possible to prevent cold air inside the refrigerator from leaking out. In addition, recently, a refrigerator having a hot water supply device capable of supplying hot water as well as cold water as a dispenser has been released.

The conventional refrigerator mainly used a method of pre-heating water with a heater to store hot water in a hot water storage tank in order to generate and extract hot water, and then withdraw it from the dispenser when necessary. In the hot water storage tank, the heater is periodically driven to maintain a predetermined amount of water at a predetermined temperature so that the user can take out hot water whenever desired, or based on the temperature measured by a temperature sensor provided inside the hot water storage tank. The driving of the was controlled.

However, such a conventional refrigerator is not provided with a means for separately controlling the power of the heater, so that the heater is driven even when the user does not want to take out hot water for a long time or when the user does not want to take out hot water for a long time. There is a wasteful problem.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which can reduce power consumption.

According to the present invention, a refrigerator comprising a main body for forming a storage compartment, a door for opening and closing the storage compartment, and a dispenser unit provided in the door, comprising: a hot water tank in which water supplied from the outside is stored; A heater for heating the water stored in the hot water tank; A heater switch arranged to select one of a normal mode in which the heater selectively heats and heats off the water stored in the hot water tank, and a stop mode in which the heater is released by releasing the normal mode of the heater; When the normal mode is selected by the heater switch, the heater is achieved by a refrigerator including a control unit for controlling the driving of the heater to maintain the water in the hot water tank at a predetermined temperature.

A supply valve for selectively supplying and blocking water supplied to the hot water tank; When the control unit selects the stop mode in the heater switch, the control unit blocks the supply valve and controls to release the heater, thereby preventing unnecessary driving of the heater, thereby reducing power consumption.

A water level sensor for measuring the water level of the hot water tank; By further including a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank, the control unit can control the driving of the valve and the heater based on the signal of the water level sensor and the temperature sensor.

A hot water pipe connecting the hot water tank and the dispenser; It may further include a hinge having a hollow hinge shaft provided in any one of the main body and the door and a hinge shaft coupling portion provided in the other one of the main body and the door is rotatably coupled to the hollow hinge shaft. Here, the hot water tank and the heater may be disposed on the upper portion of the main body to prevent the heat of the hot water tank from being transferred into the storage compartment. In addition, the hot water pipe may be disposed inside the hollow hinge shaft. Thus, even if the hot water tank is disposed above the main body, the hot water pipe does not interfere with the rotation of the door.

Prior to the description, in describing the embodiment of the present invention, a side by side type refrigerator will be described as an example, but the application of the present invention is not limited thereto.

In various embodiments, like reference numerals refer to like elements, and like reference numerals refer to like elements in the first embodiment and may be omitted in other embodiments.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 1 forming a storage compartment, a door 30 opening and closing the storage compartment 2, a dispenser unit 50 provided in the door 30, and an external device. The hot water tank 70 in which the supplied water is stored, the heater 80 for heating the water stored in the hot water tank 70, the heater switch 90 provided to operate the heater 80, and the controller 100. ).

The storage compartment 2 includes a freezing compartment 4 and a refrigerating compartment 3 which are partitioned left and right by an intermediate partition 5 inside the main body 1 and have a front opening. A door 30 for opening and closing the opening is provided in the front opening of each storage chamber 2, and a door guide (not shown) that can accommodate parallel flow or the like is disposed up and down inside the door 30.

An ice maker 6 for ice making is provided in an upper region of the freezer compartment 4, and an ice storage unit 7 is installed in the lower part of the ice maker 6, in which ice iced by the ice maker 6 is iced and stored. . The lower region of the freezer compartment 4 is provided with a shelf (not shown) and a drawer (not shown) to separately store the storage.

The refrigerating chamber 3 has a water purifying unit 10 for purifying water supplied from the outside, a cold water tank 13 for storing the purified water in the water purifying unit 10 at a low temperature, and a shelf provided to separate and store the storage. City) and a drawer (not shown).

The water purification unit 10 is provided in the refrigerating chamber 3 to purify the water supplied from the outside. The water purifying unit 10 is preferably provided as a water filter to remove impurities of water introduced into the chamber through the external connection unit 11. The water purification unit 10 is preferably provided detachably so that it can be replaced periodically.

In the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, after water is introduced into the refrigerator through the external connection part 11, impurities are removed from the water purification unit 10, the ice maker 6, the cold water tank 13, and the hot water tank 70 Branch valves 20 for branching so that each is supplied to a. The branch valve 20 includes a first branch valve 21 and a second branch valve 26.

The external connection portion 11 is connected to the water supply 12 or a water purifier, which can supply water such as an external water supply 12 or a water purifier (not shown), so that water is introduced into the air from the outside, and the other end is introduced. It is connected to the water purification unit 10 for removing impurities in the water.

The first branch valve 21 is provided as a three-prong valve. The first branch valve 21 has an inlet 22 through which water is introduced from the purified water part, a first outlet 23 connected to a pipe connected to an ice maker 6 and a hot water tank 70, and a cold water tank 13. And a second outlet 24 connected to the pipe connected to the pipe. Here, the water passing through the first outlet 23 is introduced into the second branch valve 26.

The second branch valve 26 is provided as a three-pronged valve, and is connected to the inlet port 27 through which the water passing through the first outlet port 23 of the first branch valve 21 flows in and the ice maker 6. And a first outlet 28 connected to the outlet, and a second outlet 29 connected to a pipe connected to the hot water tank 70.

Here, the first branch valve 21 selectively opens or shuts off the first outlet 23 and the second outlet 24 by the controller 100, and the second branch valve 26 is connected to the controller 100. The first outlet 28 and the second outlet 29 is selectively opened or blocked.

The door 30 is provided to open and close the front openings of the freezing compartment 4 and the refrigerating compartment 3. The door 30 includes a freezer compartment door 31 for opening and closing the front opening of the freezer compartment 4 and a refrigerating compartment door 33 for opening and closing the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 3. The front surface of the freezer compartment 31 is provided with a dispenser 50 capable of supplying ice and water iced by the ice maker 6. The front of the refrigerating compartment door 33 may be provided with a home bar (not shown) or a home pad (not shown) having a TV or Internet function.

The refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention further includes a hinge portion 40 provided to allow the door 30 to be rotatably coupled to the main body 1. The hinge portion 40 includes a door 30 and an upper hinge portion 41 disposed above the main body 1 and a lower hinge portion 41a disposed below.

The upper hinge portion 41 includes a hollow hinge shaft 42 provided on the main body 1 and a hinge shaft coupling portion 45 provided on the door 30.

The hollow hinge shaft 42 includes a hollow portion 43 penetrated to accommodate the hot water pipe 74 to be described later, and a hinge shaft support portion 44 coupled to the main body. Here, the hot water pipe 74 to be described later is disposed inside the hollow hinge shaft 42 of the upper hinge portion 41. In addition, an electric wire 8 for supplying power to the dispenser 50 is disposed inside the hollow hinge shaft 42 of the upper hinge portion 41.

Hinge shaft coupling portion 45 is a hinge axis receiving portion 47 is formed so that the hollow hinge shaft 42 is rotatably coupled, the screw is coupled to the upper surface of the door (30). The hinge shaft coupling part 45 is embedded in the foam space inside the door 30.

Meanwhile, the hinge shaft coupling part 45 is provided in the door 30 and the hollow hinge shaft 42 is provided in the main body 1, but the hinge shaft coupling part 45 is provided in the main body 1. And the hollow hinge shaft 42 may be provided in the door (30).

The lower hinge portion 41a includes a hollow hinge shaft 42a provided in the main body 1 and a hinge shaft coupling portion 45a provided in the door 30.

The hollow hinge shaft 43a includes a hollow portion 43a penetrated to accommodate the cold water pipe 15 to be described later, and a hinge shaft support portion 44a coupled to the main body 1. Here, the cold water pipe 15 to be described later is disposed inside the hollow hinge shaft 42a of the lower hinge portion 41a.

The dispenser unit 50 includes a water lever 51 for supplying water, an ice lever 52 for supplying ice, and an input unit 53 provided to allow a user to select a type of cold / hot water, an amount of water discharged, and the like. Include. The dispenser unit 50 further includes a display unit 54 that displays information input from the input unit 53, an operation state of the refrigerator, and the like. In addition, the dispenser unit 50 further includes a heater switch 90 to be described later.

The water lever 51 communicates with the cold water tank 13 and the hot water tank 70. The water lever 51 may be provided in various ways. For example, as shown in Figure 1, provided in the form of a lever is provided with cold water or hot water when pressurizing the water lever 51, the supply of cold water or hot water is stopped when the pressure of the water lever 51 is released. do. The water lever 51 may also be provided as a button or a touch screen provided in the input unit 53.

The water lever 51 may be provided in two as the cold water lever and the hot water lever, but as shown in FIG. 1, the water lever 51 may be provided as one lever connected to the hot water tank 70 and the cold water tank 13.

The ice lever 52 communicates with the ice storage unit 7 in which the ice generated by the ice maker 6 is stored. The ice lever 52 may be provided in various ways. For example, as shown in Figure 1, provided in the form of a lever is pressed to the ice lever 52, the ice is supplied, the release of the ice lever 52 is provided to stop the supply of ice. The ice lever 52 may also be provided as a button or a touch screen provided in the input unit 53.

The input unit 53 is provided to select ice and water, cold water and hot water, and the amount of water according to a user's selection. The input unit 53 may be provided in various ways. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it may be provided as a mechanical button or may be provided as a reed switch or a touch screen.

The display unit 54 is provided as a display to display information input from the input unit 53, temperatures of cold water and hot water, and an operating state of the refrigerator. When the input unit 53 is provided as a touch screen, the display unit 54 is provided to have a function of the input unit 53.

The hot water tank 70 is provided between the purified water unit 10 and the dispenser 50. Hot water tank 70 is preferably provided on the upper portion of the body (1). The hot water tank 70 includes an inlet through which water purified by the water purification unit 10 is introduced, a storage unit in which water introduced into the inlet is stored, and an outlet through which water stored in the storage unit is discharged to the outside of the hot water tank 70. do.

The refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention further includes a hot water pipe 74 connecting the outlet of the hot water tank 70 and the dispenser unit 50. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water pipe 74 is preferably disposed inside the hollow hinge shaft 42 of the upper hinge portion 41 described above. Here, the hot water pipe 74 passing through the inside of the hollow hinge shaft 42 is embedded in the heat insulating space of the door 30.

A protective member 75 may be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the hot water pipe 74 accommodated in the hollow hinge shaft 42 to be spaced apart from the wire 8. The protection member 75 may be provided with a spring or elastic material to wrap the bent portion to protect the bent portion of the hot water pipe (74).

The hot water tank 70 includes a heater 80 for heating the water stored in the storage unit, a water level sensor 76 for measuring the amount of water stored in the storage unit, and a temperature sensor 77 for measuring the temperature of the water stored in the storage unit. Is provided.

The heater 80 is provided in the hot water tank 70 to heat the water stored in the hot water tank 70. The heater 80 may be provided in various ways. For example, the heater 80 may be disposed inside the hot water tank, may be provided buried in the hot water tank 70, or may be mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the hot water tank 70.

On the other hand, the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention further includes a supply valve 81 for selectively supplying and blocking the water supplied to the hot water tank (70). The supply valve 81 is disposed between the purified water unit 10 and the hot water tank 70. That is, the supply valve 81 is intermittently provided so as to supply or block the purified water from the purified water unit 10 to the hot water tank 70. Here, the supply valve 81 of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided in the pipe connected to the inlet of the hot water tank 70, as shown in FIG. Here, the second branch valve 26 to be described later may serve as the supply valve 81. In other words, by opening and closing the second outlet port 29 of the second branch valve 26, water is selectively supplied and blocked to the hot water tank 70.

The heater switch 90 stops heating the heater 80 by releasing the normal mode of the heater 80 and releasing the normal mode of the heater 80 by selectively heating and releasing the water stored in the hot water tank 70. It is arranged to select any one of the modes. As shown in FIG. 1, the heater switch 90 may be provided integrally with the above-described input unit 53 or may be provided as a separate switch in the dispenser unit 50.

The normal mode is a mode for controlling the driving of the heater 80 to maintain the water stored in the hot water tank 70 at a predetermined temperature. That is, in the normal mode, when the temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank 70 is determined to be lower than the set driving temperature, the heater 80 is driven to heat the water stored in the hot water tank 70, and the temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank 70 is maintained. Is determined to be higher than the set stop temperature stops the driving of the heater 80 to release the heating mode.

The stop mode does not drive the heater 80 even if the temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank 70 is determined to be less than the set drive temperature. That is, when the stop mode is selected, the controller 100 stops driving the heater 80.

The controller 100 controls the driving of the supply valve 81 and the heater 80 to maintain the water stored in the hot water tank 70 within a predetermined water level range and a predetermined temperature range when the normal mode is selected by the heater switch 90. . When the normal mode is selected by the heater switch 90, the controller 100 controls the supply valve 81 to control the heater 80 while maintaining the water level of the hot water tank 70 within a predetermined water level range, thereby controlling the hot water tank ( The temperature of water stored in 70) is maintained within a predetermined temperature range. For example, when the normal mode is selected in the heater switch 90, the controller 100 opens the supply valve 81 when the user draws hot water and the water level of the hot water tank 70 is out of a predetermined level range. The water level of the hot water tank 70 is maintained at a predetermined level, and the heater 80 is driven to heat the water in the hot water tank 70 whose temperature is lowered by the newly introduced water to a predetermined temperature.

The controller 100 blocks the supply valve 81 when the stop mode is selected by the heater switch 90, and controls the heater 80 to be heated. For example, when the stop mode is selected in the heater switch 90, the control unit 100 immediately stops driving the heater 80 to release heating of the water, and the user extracts hot water to the hot water tank 70. The supply valve 81 and the heater 80 are controlled so as not to open the supply valve 81 even when the water level is out of a predetermined level range. Thus, the user does not open the supply valve 81 even when discharging hot water stored in the hot water tank 70, so that the hot water tank 70 can be emptied during the stop mode is selected to maintain hygiene of the hot water tank 70. . In addition, since unnecessary driving of the heater 80 can be controlled, power consumption can be saved.

The process of supplying ice, cold water and hot water of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

First, the process of supplying ice to the dispenser unit 50 will be described.

Water introduced into the chamber through the external connection part 11 is free of impurities in the water purification part 10. Water purified by the water purification unit 10 is introduced into the inlet port 22 of the first branch valve 21. Water passing through the first outlet port 23 of the first branch valve 21 flows into the inlet port 27 of the second branch valve 26 and opens the first outlet port 28 of the second branch valve 26. The water passed through moves to the ice maker 6. The water supplied to the ice maker 6 is iced in the ice maker 6. Ice iced in the ice maker 6 is iced and stored in the ice storage unit 7. Here, the controller 100 controls the first branch valve 21 or the second branch valve 26 to supply water to the ice maker 6 in order to maintain a predetermined amount of ice in the ice storage unit 7. When the user presses the ice lever 52, the ice is supplied from the ice storage unit 7 to the dispenser unit 50.

Next, a process of supplying cold water to the dispenser unit 50 will be described.

Water introduced into the chamber through the external connection part 11 is free of impurities in the water purification part 10. Water purified by the water purification unit 10 is introduced into the inlet port 22 of the first branch valve 21. Water passing through the second outlet 24 of the first branch valve 21 moves to the cold water tank 13 disposed in the storage chamber 2. Here, when the user pressurizes the water lever 51, water stored at a low temperature in the cold water tank 13 is supplied to the dispenser unit 50 through the cold water pipe 15. Here, the cold water pipe 15 is disposed inside the hollow hinge shaft 42a of the lower hinge portion 41a. Meanwhile, a pump may be provided in one region of the cold water pipe 15.

Next, a process of supplying hot water to the dispenser unit 50 will be described.

Water introduced into the chamber through the external connection part 11 is free of impurities in the water purification part 10. Water purified by the water purification unit 10 is introduced into the inlet port 22 of the first branch valve 21. Water passing through the first outlet port 23 of the first branch valve 21 flows into the inlet port 27 of the second branch valve 26 and opens the second outlet port 29 of the second branch valve 26. Passed water is introduced into the hot water tank 70 is stored. The water stored in the hot water tank 70 is heated by the heater 80. When the user pressurizes the water lever 51, the water stored in the hot water tank 70 is supplied to the dispenser 50.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

The refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention is modified by the structure of branching to the ice maker 6, the cold water tank 13 and the hot water tank 70 in the water purification unit 10 of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment described above, respectively. will be.

In the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention, after the impurities introduced from the water purification unit 10 are removed from the water through the external connection part 11, the ice maker 6, the cold water tank 13, and the hot water tank 70 Branch valves 20a are branched to be supplied to the furnaces respectively.

The branch valve 20a is provided with a four ball valve. Branch valve 20a is an inlet 22a through which water is introduced from the water purification unit, a first outlet 23a connected to a pipe connected to ice maker 6, and a pipe connected to hot water tank 70. The second outlet 24a and the third outlet 25a connected to the pipe connected to the cold water tank 13 are included.

Here, the first branch valve 21 selectively opens or shuts off the first outlet 23a, the second outlet 24a, and the third outlet 25a by the controller 100.

Here, the supply valve 81 of the second embodiment of the present invention is provided in the pipe connected to the inlet of the hot water tank 70, as shown in FIG. However, the branch valve 20a may serve as the supply valve 81. In other words, by opening and closing the second outlet 24a of the branch valve 20a, the hot water tank 70 is selectively supplied and shut off.

The process of supplying hot water to the dispenser unit 50 of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

Water introduced into the chamber through the external connection part 11 is free of impurities in the water purification part 10. Water purified by the water purification unit 10 is introduced into the inlet port 22a of the branch valve 20a. Water passing through the second outlet 24a of the branch valve 20a flows into the hot water tank 70 and is stored. The water stored in the hot water tank 70 is heated by the heater 80. When the user pressurizes the water lever 51, the water stored in the hot water tank 70 is supplied to the dispenser 50.

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention may be modified in various ways to diverge from the water purification unit 10 to the ice maker 6, the cold water tank 13 and the hot water tank 70, respectively.

Hereinafter, a control method of the heater 80 according to the operation of the heater switch 90 of the refrigerator according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

First, it is determined whether the heater switch 90 is in the normal mode (S1). Here, if it is determined that the normal mode, the water level sensor 76 detects the water level of the hot water tank 70, it is determined whether the water level of the hot water tank 70 is less than the predetermined level (S3).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the heater switch 90 is in the stop mode, the supply valve 81 is shut off (S2), and the flow moves to step S17.

In step S3, when the water level sensor 76 detects the water level of the hot water tank, it is determined that the water level of the hot water tank 70 is lower than the predetermined water level.

On the other hand, when the water level sensor 76 detects the water level of the hot water tank 70, if it is determined that the water level of the hot water tank 70 is more than the predetermined level, the flow moves to step S9.

After the supply valve 81 is opened in step S5, the water level sensor 76 detects the water level of the hot water tank 70, and determines whether the water level of the hot water tank 70 is greater than or equal to the predetermined water level (S7). Here, when the water level sensor 76 detects the water level of the hot water tank 70, it is determined that the water level of the hot water tank 70 is above a predetermined level, the supply valve 81 is blocked (S9).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the water level of the hot water tank 70 is less than the predetermined level as a result of detecting the water level of the hot water tank 70 in the water level sensor 76, the flow moves to step S5.

After blocking the supply valve 81 in step S9, the temperature sensor 77 detects the temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank (70). It is determined whether the temperature of the water in the hot water tank 70 detected by the temperature sensor 77 is less than a predetermined temperature (S11). Here, when it is determined that the temperature of the water inside the hot water tank 70 detected by the temperature sensor 77 is less than the predetermined temperature (S13).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the temperature of the water inside the hot water tank 70 detected by the temperature sensor 77 is more than a predetermined temperature, the flow moves to step S17.

After driving the heater 80 in step S13, the temperature sensor 77 senses the temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank (70). It is determined whether the temperature of the water in the hot water tank 70 detected by the temperature sensor 77 is more than a predetermined temperature (S15). Here, when it is determined that the temperature of the water inside the hot water tank 70 detected by the temperature sensor 77 is more than a predetermined temperature, the driving of the heater 80 is stopped (S17).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the temperature of the water inside the hot water tank 70 detected by the temperature sensor 77 is less than the predetermined temperature, the flow moves to step S13.

As such, by disposing the hot water tank 70 on the upper portion of the main body 1, the hot water tank 70 and the storage compartment 2 are spaced apart from each other with a blowing agent therebetween so that the heat of the hot water tank 70 is transferred into the storage compartment. Can be prevented. Accordingly, power consumption can be reduced and reliability of the storage compartment can be improved.

And, by disposing the hot water pipe 74 in the hollow hinge shaft 42, even if the hot water tank 70 is disposed on the upper portion of the main body 1 can be prevented from interfering with the rotation of the door (30).

In addition, since the heater 80 can be separately controlled by providing a heater switch 90 for selecting a normal mode and a stop mode, the heater 80 is operated and power consumption is wasted even when the user does not want hot water. Can be prevented.

In addition, when the stop mode is selected by the heater switch 90, the supply valve 81 is blocked and the heater 80 is controlled to be released so that the user disposes all of the water in the hot water tank 70 while the hot water is not used. Withdrawal can be prevented from being left standing in a state in which water is accumulated in the hot water tank 70, and this can be improved hygienically.

As described above, according to the present invention, a refrigerator which can reduce power consumption can be provided.

Claims (4)

A refrigerator comprising a main body for forming a storage compartment, a door for opening and closing the storage compartment, and a dispenser portion provided in the door, A hot water tank in which water supplied from the outside is stored; A heater for heating the water stored in the hot water tank; A heater switch arranged to select one of a normal mode in which the heater selectively heats and heats off the water stored in the hot water tank, and a stop mode in which the heater is released by releasing the normal mode of the heater; And a controller configured to control the driving of the heater to maintain the water of the hot water tank at a predetermined temperature when the normal mode is selected by the heater switch. The method of claim 1, A supply valve for selectively supplying and blocking water supplied to the hot water tank; The control unit is characterized in that when the stop mode is selected by the heater switch, the supply valve shuts off, the refrigerator characterized in that the heating is released. The method of claim 2, A water level sensor for measuring the water level of the hot water tank; The refrigerator further comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A hot water pipe connecting the hot water tank and the dispenser; A hinge portion having a hollow hinge shaft provided in one of the main body and the door and a hinge shaft engaging portion provided in the other of the main body and the door so that the hollow hinge shaft is rotatably coupled; The hot water tank is disposed on the upper portion of the body, the hot water pipe is characterized in that the refrigerator is disposed inside the hollow hinge shaft.

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