Thermal control system

1. A cold storage facility comprising:

a cold storage enclosure defining an enclosed space;

a refrigeration system configured to cool the enclosed space; and

a control system comprising:

a data processing apparatus; and

a memory device storing instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the control system to perform operations comprising:

obtaining an energy demand model, the energy demand model including a schedule of an energy demand over a predetermined period of time in the future;

obtaining a logistics schedule for the enclosed space that identifies inventory expected to arrive at or be distributed from the cold storage facility over the predetermined period of time in the future;

determining an amount of heat 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 the refrigeration system based on the energy demand model and the determined amount of heat energy for the logistics schedule, and a maximum allowed 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 maximum allowed temperature while the refrigeration system is deactivated, and (ii) a time 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 adjusted, and a third time at which the refrigeration system is scheduled to be resumed to reach the target temperature setpoint;

powering on, at the first time, the at least a portion of the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule;

cooling, by the powered at least a portion of the refrigeration system, the enclosed space to the target temperature setpoint below the maximum allowed temperature;

reducing, at the second time, power usage of the powered at least a portion of the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule; and

permitting the enclosed space to be warmed toward the maximum allowed temperature; and

reactivating, at the third time, the at least a portion of the refrigeration system to maintain the enclosed space below the maximum allowed temperature.

2. The cold storage facility of claim 1 , wherein cooling the enclosed space comprises:

cooling, from the first time to the second time, the enclosed space to the target temperature setpoint below the maximum allowed temperature by powering on the at least a portion of the refrigeration system.

3. The cold storage facility of claim 2 , wherein permitting the enclosed space to be warmed toward the maximum allowed temperature comprises:

permitting, from the second time to the third time, the enclosed space to be warmed toward the maximum allowed temperature by reducing power usage of the powered at least a portion of the refrigeration system.

4. The cold storage facility of claim 1 , wherein permitting the enclosed space to be warmed toward the maximum allowed temperature comprises:

permitting the enclosed space to be warmed by ambient temperatures toward the maximum allowed temperature.

5. The cold storage facility of claim 1 , wherein permitting the enclosed space to be warmed toward the maximum allowed temperature comprises:

permitting the enclosed space to be warmed by ambient temperatures toward the maximum allowed temperature while the logistics schedule is performed.

6. The cold storage facility of claim 1 , wherein reactivating the at least a portion of the refrigeration system comprises:

reactivating, at the third time, the at least a portion of the refrigeration system to maintain the enclosed space below the maximum allowed temperature after the logistics schedule has been performed while the at least a portion of refrigeration system was deactivated.

7. The cold storage facility of claim 1 , wherein the target temperature setpoint is configured as a temperature setpoint to which the enclosed space is to be cooled to maintain a temperature below the maximum allowed temperature while the logistics schedule is performed and while the at least a portion of the refrigeration system is deactivated.

8. The cold storage facility of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

determining a measured temperature of the enclosed space; and

powering on at least a portion of the refrigeration system based on the determined measured temperature and a predetermined threshold temperature value that is less than the maximum allowed temperature.

9. The cold storage facility of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

determining a thermal model of the enclosed space,

wherein determining the operational schedule includes:

determining the operational schedule for at least the portion of the refrigeration system based on the thermal model, the determined amount of heat energy for the logistics schedule, and the maximum allowed temperature for the enclosed space.

10. The cold storage facility of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

obtaining an energy cost model,

wherein determining the operational schedule includes:

determining the operational schedule for at least the portion of the refrigeration system based on the energy cost model, the determined amount of heat energy for the logistics schedule, and the maximum allowed temperature for the enclosed space.

11. The cold storage facility of claim 9 , wherein the thermal model is representative of at least one of a thermal capacity of content within the enclosed space, and a thermal resistance of the cold storage enclosure.

12. The cold storage facility of claim 10 , wherein determining an operational schedule based on the energy cost model, the determined amount of heat energy for the logistics schedule, and the maximum allowed temperature for the enclosed space comprises:

identifying, based on the energy cost model, a first period of time during which energy costs a first amount per unit;

identifying, based on the energy cost model, a second period of time preceding the first period of time, during which energy costs a second amount per unit that is less than the first amount per unit;

adding information descriptive of the second period of time to the operational schedule, the information being representative of time during which the refrigeration system is to be powered on to cool the enclosed space below the maximum allowed temperature; and

adding information descriptive of the first period of time to the operational schedule, the information being representative of time during which the enclosed space is allowed to warm toward the maximum allowed temperature.

13. The cold storage facility of claim 9 , wherein determining a thermal model of the enclosed space comprises:

powering on the portion the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule;

cooling, by the powered portion of the refrigeration system, the enclosed space to a temperature below the maximum allowed temperature;

reducing power usage of the powered portion of the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule;

determining a first plurality of temperature levels sensed by a plurality of temperature sensors;

permitting the enclosed space to be warmed by ambient temperatures toward the maximum allowed temperature;

determining a second plurality of temperature levels sensed by the plurality of temperature sensors; and

determining a thermal capacity of content of the enclosed space.

14. 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:

receiving, from a control system, a request for an operational schedule for at least a portion of the refrigeration system;

obtaining a logistics schedule for an enclosed space of the cold storage facility, the logistics schedule identifying inventory expected to arrive at or be distributed from the cold storage facility over the predetermined period of time in the future;

determining an amount of heat 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 the refrigeration system based on the determined amount of heat energy for the logistics schedule, and a maximum allowed 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 maximum allowed temperature while the refrigeration system is deactivated, and (ii) a time 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 adjusted, and a third time at which the refrigeration system is scheduled to be resumed to reach the target temperature setpoint; and

providing, in response to the request, the operational schedule.

15. The cold storage management computer system of claim 14 , wherein the operational schedule is configured such that the at least a portion of the refrigeration system is powered on from the first time to the second time to cool the enclosed space to the target temperature setpoint below the maximum allowed temperature.

16. The cold storage management computer system of claim 15 , wherein the operational schedule is configured such that power usage of the at least a portion of the refrigeration system is reduced from the second time to the third time to permit the enclosed space to be warmed toward the maximum allowed temperature.

17. The cold storage management computer system of claim 14 , wherein the operational schedule is configured such that the enclosed space is permitted to be warmed by ambient temperatures toward the maximum allowed temperature.

18. The cold storage management computer system of claim 14 , wherein the operational schedule is configured such that the enclosed space is permitted to be warmed by ambient temperatures toward the maximum allowed temperature while the logistics schedule is performed.

19. The cold storage management computer system of claim 14 , wherein the operational schedule is configured such that the at least a portion of the refrigeration system is reactivated at the third time to maintain the enclosed space below the maximum allowed temperature after the logistics schedule has been performed while the at least a portion of refrigeration system was deactivated.

20. The cold storage management computer system of claim 14 , wherein the target temperature setpoint is configured as a temperature setpoint to which the enclosed space is to be cooled to maintain a temperature below the maximum allowed temperature while the logistics schedule is performed and while the at least a portion of the refrigeration system is deactivated.