Thermal control system

A cold storage management computer system for shifting times when a cold storage facility is cooled, the cold storage management computer system comprising:

• a data processing apparatus;
• and
• a memory device storing instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the cold storage management computer system to perform operations comprising:
• obtaining a logistics schedule for an enclosed space that identifies inventory expected to arrive at or be distributed from the cold storage facility over a predetermined period of time in the future;
• determining an amount of energy to be added to the enclosed space by the logistics schedule over the predetermined period of time in the future;
• determining an operational schedule for at least a portion of a refrigeration system based on the determined amount of energy for the logistics schedule, energy cost information, and a threshold temperature for the enclosed space, wherein the operational schedule identifies, at least, (i) a target temperature setpoint to which the enclosed space is to be cooled to maintain a temperature below the threshold temperature while the logistics schedule is performed and while the refrigeration system is deactivated, and (ii) a schedule identifying, at least, a first time at which the refrigeration system is activated to reach the target temperature setpoint, a second time at which the refrigeration system is deactivated, and a third time at which the refrigeration system is scheduled to be reactivated;
• activating, at the first time, the portion of the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule to cool the enclosed space to the target temperature setpoint;
• deactivating, at the second time, a powered portion of the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule to permit the enclosed space to be warmed toward the threshold temperature;
• and
• reactivating, at the third time, the portion of the refrigeration system to maintain the enclosed space below the threshold temperature.

A method for shifting times when a cold storage facility is cooled, method comprising:

• obtaining, by a computer system, a logistics schedule for an enclosed space that identifies inventory expected to arrive at or be distributed from the cold storage facility over a predetermined period of time in the future;
• determining, by the computer system, an amount of energy to be added to the enclosed space by the logistics schedule over the predetermined period of time in the future;
• determining, by the computer system, an operational schedule for at least a portion of a refrigeration system based on the determined amount of energy for the logistics schedule, energy cost information, and a threshold temperature for the enclosed space, wherein the operational schedule identifies, at least, (i) a target temperature setpoint to which the enclosed space is to be cooled to maintain a temperature below the threshold temperature while the logistics schedule is performed and while the refrigeration system is deactivated, and (ii) a schedule identifying, at least, a first time at which the refrigeration system is activated to reach the target temperature setpoint, a second time at which the refrigeration system is deactivated, and a third time at which the refrigeration system is scheduled to be reactivated;
• activating, by the computer system at the first time, the portion of the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule to cool the enclosed space to the target temperature setpoint;
• deactivating, by the computer system at the second time, a powered portion of the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule to permit the enclosed space to be warmed toward the threshold temperature;
• and
• reactivating, by the computer system at the third time, the portion of the refrigeration system to maintain the enclosed space below the threshold temperature.