CLAIMS

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a storage compartment that is separated and heat-insulated from another area;

an atomization device including an electrode unit, said atomization device spraying mist into said storage compartment; and

any one of protection units which are

(1) a protection unit configured to suppress current flowing
from said electrode unit to a user,

(2) a protection unit configured to suppress electrically charging an object attached with the mist sprayed by said atomization device; and

(3) a protection unit configured to prevent flammable refrigerant from being ignited.

2. The refrigerator according to Claim 1,
wherein said any one of protection units includes a case accommodating said electrode unit,

said case has an opening through which the mist sprayed by said atomization unit passes, and

said opening has a size not allowing a finger of the user to pass.

3. The refrigerator according to Claim 2, wherein said any one of protection units further Includes a protection cover covering said opening of said case.

4. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 2 and 3, wherein said electrode unit includes:
an atomization electrode; and
an opposite electrode facing said atomization electrode, and
said electrode unit is far from said any one of protection units by a predetermined distance.

5. The refrigerator according to Claim 4, wherein said opening of said case is located on extension of a center axis of said atomization electrode.

6. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein said any one of protection units further includes a current-limit circuit limiting current discharged to the user if the current flows from said electrode unit to the user via said atomization unit.

7. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein said any one of protection units further includes a water flowout path preventing water drops attached to periphery of said atomization unit from remaining near said electrode unit.

8. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein said atomization unit is configured to perform electrostatic atomization, and includes a high voltage generation unit which is connected to said electrode unit and is configured to generate a potential difference in said electrode unit.

9. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 2 to 8, further comprising

a door opening and closing said storage compartment,

wherein said any one of protection units further includes a
voltage stop unit configured to stop application of a voltage when said
door opens.

10. The refrigerator according to Claim 9, wherein said voltage stop unit includes a contact point mechanically blocking power supply to said high voltage generation unit when said door opens.

11. The refrigerator according to Claim 1, further comprising
an electrostatic atomization device that atomizes liquid into fine particles and sprays the fine particles into said storage compartment,

wherein said any one of protection units is configured to cause application of a voltage so as to cause the liquid sprayed by said electrostatic atomization device to have a reference potential.

12. The refrigerator according to Claim 11, wherein said electrode unit includes:
an atomization electrode; and
an opposite electrode which faces said atomization electrode and is located in a direction of spraying the fine particles from said atomization electrode,

wherein the voltage is positive and applied to said opposite electrode.

13. The refrigerator according to Claim 12, further comprising
a case having an opening through which the fine particles are sprayed, said case accommodating said electrostatic atomization device,

wherein said opening of said case is far from said opposite electrode by a predetermined distance.

14. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, further comprising

a reference potential unit having the reference potential, wherein said case is made of a conductive material and connected to said reference potential unit.

15. The refrigerator according to Claim 12, further comprising
a nonconductive material contacting or located near a predetermined part of said opposite electrode.

16. The refrigerator according to Claim 12, further comprising

an error determination unit configured to detect a value of current flowing in said opposite electrode, and determine that said electrostatic atomization device sprays the fine particles erroneously when the value of the current Is within a predetermined range.

17. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 1 to 16, further
comprising:

a humidity detection unit configured to detect humidity in a space where said atomization device is located; and

a high voltage stop unit configured to stop application of a voltage to said atomization device when the humidity detected by said humidity detection unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

18. The refrigerator according to Claim 1, further comprising

a high voltage generation circuit configured to generate a high voltage,

wherein said atomization unit is electrically connected to said high voltage generation circuit, and

said any one of protection units includes a discharge suppression unit configured to suppress discharge energy generated in said atomization unit.

19. The refrigerator according to Claim 18, wherein said atomization unit includes an atomization electrode having an atomization tip,

said high voltage generation circuit includes a current detection circuit detecting current flowing in said atomization electrode, and

said discharge suppression unit is said any one of protection units, said discharge suppression unit suppressing the discharge energy by controlling the high voltage generated by said high voltage generation circuit so as to set the value of the current detected by said current detection circuit to be equal to or less than a predetermined value.

20. The refrigerator according to Claim 19, wherein said discharge suppression unit is said any one of protection units, said discharge suppression unit further including a current value determination circuit causing said high voltage generation circuit to stop the generation of the high voltage when the value of the current detected by said current detection circuit is more than the predetermined value.

21. The refrigerator according to Claim 18, wherein said discharge suppression unit is said any one of protection units, said discharge suppression unit further including a current fuse interrupting conduction to said high voltage generation circuit.

22. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 18 to 21, wherein said high voltage generation circuit is said any one of
protection units, said high voltage generation circuit including:

a step-up transformer; and

a sealer covering said step-up transformer.

23. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 18 to 22, wherein said atomization device is said any one of protection units, said atomization device further including:

a connection unit in said high voltage generation circuit;

an atomization electrode connected to said connection unit;
and

a sealer covering said connection unit.

24. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 18 to 23, further comprising

a case covering said high voltage generation circuit and said atomization unit separately.

25. The refrigerator according to Claim 24, wherein said case is said any one of protection units, said case having an opening below said atomization unit.

26. The refrigerator according to any one of Claims 24 and 25, wherein said case is said any one of protection units, said case