JP6715519B2 - Management device and power supply allocation method - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a management device and a power supply allocation method.

Items such as fresh foods that need to be transported and delivered while maintaining a low temperature are usually loaded in a cold storage box having a heat insulating effect for physical distribution. In a physical distribution system using a cool box, the goods are held in a predetermined temperature range by cooling the inside of the cool storage body of the cool box during delivery of the article. That is, it is necessary to precool the cool box as a preliminary preparation.

As such a physical distribution system, for example, in Patent Document 1, a system for calculating a cold storage processing start time based on a use start time of a delivery device obtained from a delivery plan of goods in a physical distribution cycle and temperature history information about the delivery device. Is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 4062120

Pre-cooling of the cool box is performed by connecting the cool box to the power supply equipment, for example. At the management base of the physical distribution system as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when precooling of a plurality of cold storage boxes is started at the same time, a plurality of power supply facilities are operated at the same time, so that a temporary power peak occurs. When the power supply capacity of the management site is exceeded, it is difficult to supply power to the cool box, so it is desired to reduce the occurrence of power peaks as much as possible.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a management device and a power supply allocation method that reduce the occurrence of power peaks.

The management apparatus of the present disclosure sets a scheduled power supply time, which is a time at which power supply for precooling at least one cold storage box is performed, to any one of a plurality of power supply facilities arranged in the management base in advance. A time zone in which a management device to be allocated can obtain information on a required power supply time, which is a power supply time required to complete precooling in the power supply equipment, for each of the cold storages and to allocate a scheduled power supply time of the cold storages. A communication unit that obtains information about free time for each power feeding facility, and a scheduled power feeding time of the cold storage that is not assigned to a power feeding facility that has a free time longer than the required power feeding time of the cold storage. And a control unit for allocating the scheduled power supply time at the management site so that the number of the power supply facilities is minimized.

According to the power supply allocation method of the present disclosure, a scheduled power supply time, which is a time at which power supply for precooling at least one cold storage box is scheduled, is performed in advance for any of a plurality of power supply facilities arranged in a management base. A method for allocating power supply to a power supply facility, wherein information on a required power supply time, which is a power supply time required to complete pre-cooling in the power supply equipment, is acquired for each of the cold storages, and a scheduled power supply time of the cold storage can be allocated. Information about free time, which is a time zone, is acquired for each of the power supply equipment, and the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage that has not been assigned is compared with the power supply equipment having a free time longer than the required power supply time of the cold storage. Then, allocation is performed such that the number of the power supply facilities to which the scheduled power supply time is simultaneously assigned is the smallest in the management base and the idle time of the power supply facility to which the scheduled power supply time is assigned is the shortest.

According to the present disclosure, a management device and a power supply allocation method that mitigate the occurrence of power peaks are provided.

Conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a cool box management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure Block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management device The flowchart for demonstrating the electric power feeding allocation process of a 1st form. The figure which illustrated the mode that the some cold storage which belongs to group Gr (1) was sorted. A time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the first cold storage belonging to the group Gr(1) is assigned A time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the second cooler belonging to the group Gr(1) is assigned A time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the third cold storage belonging to the group Gr(1) is assigned A time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the fourth cold storage belonging to the group Gr(1) is assigned The figure which illustrated a mode that a plurality of cool boxes belonging to the next group Gr(2) were sorted. A time chart showing the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(1) before the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(2) is assigned. A time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the first cold storage belonging to the group Gr(2) is assigned A time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the second cold storage belonging to the group Gr(2) is assigned A time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the third cooler belonging to the group Gr(2) is assigned The flowchart for demonstrating the electric power feeding allocation process of a 2nd form. Diagram for explaining the allocation prohibited time zone Diagram showing the result of allocating the scheduled power supply time after the allocation prohibition time zone is set Diagram for explaining allocation of scheduled power supply time when switching time is inserted for each scheduled power supply time Diagram for explaining allocation of scheduled power supply time when switching time is inserted for each scheduled power supply time

Hereinafter, a cool box management system 100 according to each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, a more detailed description than necessary, for example, a detailed description of well-known matters or a duplicate description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted.

It should be noted that the following description and referenced drawings are provided for those skilled in the art to understand the present disclosure, and are not for limiting the scope of the claims of the present disclosure.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a cool box management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the cool box management system 100 includes a plurality of cool boxes 1, a plurality of power supply facilities 2, and a management device 3. The cold storage management system 100 in FIG. 1 illustrates a system built in one of the bases (hereinafter referred to as management bases) that manage a plurality of cold storages 1.

The cool box 1 is formed so that a part of it serves as a door and can be opened and closed. It can be sealed by storing articles inside (the inside of the box) and closing the door, and has a cool storage body inside to store cool heat. It is a container that can keep the temperature inside the refrigerator at a low temperature by the cold energy stored in the body. The cool box 1 is used, for example, to store and transport an item to be delivered at a low temperature (such as a refrigeration-requiring item or a refrigerating-requiring item) in the refrigerator. The cold storage 1 stores the articles in the storage at the management base, and then is mounted on a transportation device such as a truck and transported to a delivery destination. Note that, in the present embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the management base stores the articles in the cool box 1. However, in the present disclosure, the management base that manages the cool box 1 and the cool box 1 stores the articles. It may be different from the place where you do it.

The power supply facility 2 is a facility for supplying power for precooling the cool box 1. Pre-cooling means cooling the inside of the cool box 1 and storing cold heat in the cool storage body before using the cool box 1. The cool box 1 is provided with, for example, a cooling device (not shown) for cooling the cold storage body, and when the cold storage box 1 is fed by the power supply equipment 2, the cool storage body is cooled by the cooling device. Cold heat is stored. Hereinafter, power supply for pre-cooling means storing cold heat in the regenerator by a cooling device and/or cooling the inside of the cool box 1 and/or circulating air inside the cool box 1 It refers to the operation to store the electric power necessary for the operation of auxiliary equipment such as the blower and various sensors to operate it.

The management device 3 is a device that manages the cool box 1 at the management base. The management device 3 is a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer). FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management device 3. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the management device 3 includes a communication unit 31, a memory 32, a control unit 33, a cooling device 34, a regenerator temperature sensor 35, and a display unit 36.

The communication unit 31 acquires various kinds of information used for power supply allocation processing, which will be described later, from the outside and stores it in the memory 32. The communication unit 31 specifically includes, for example, a communication device that communicates with the cool box 1 existing in the management base.

The memory 32 is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a control program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that operates as a working memory, a flash memory that stores various information used for power supply allocation processing described later, or the like. Includes various storage media.

The control unit 33 is, for example, a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and realizes the function of the management device 3 by reading and executing the control program stored in the memory 32. The control unit 33 performs, for example, a power supply allocation process that allocates the power supply time of the cool box 1 to any of the plurality of power supply facilities at the management base.

The cooling device 34 cools the regenerator contained in the cool box 1 to perform pre-cooling and/or cool the inside of the cool box 1 when a power supply facility 2 described later is connected to the cool box 1. The cooling device 34 includes, for example, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve (not shown), and stores cold heat in the regenerator by heat exchange and/or cools the inside.

The regenerator temperature sensor 35 is a temperature sensor attached to the regenerator and transmits information about the temperature of the regenerator to the control unit 33.

The display unit 36 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays under the control of the control unit 33. Specifically, the display unit 36 displays the result of the power supply allocation process performed by the control unit 33 described below.

In the following description of the power supply allocation process, for simplicity, the process executed by the control unit 33 of the management device 3 is simply described as the process executed by the management device.

<Explanation of power supply allocation processing>
Hereinafter, the power supply allocation process of the management device 3 at a certain management site will be described in detail. First, the premise for the management device 3 to perform the power supply allocation process will be described.

[Assumption 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, at least one cool box 1 and a plurality of power supply facilities 2 exist at the management base. In addition, in the present disclosure, the numbers of the cool box 1 and the power feeding facility 2 are not particularly limited.

[Assumption 2]
Each of the cool boxes 1 has a cool capacity. In the present specification, the cold storage capacity is the capacity calculated based on the amount of cold heat (the amount of cold storage) stored in the cold storage body included in the cold storage 1, and it is possible to keep the inside of the cold storage 1 at a predetermined temperature zone. It means the time available. The cold storage capacities of the respective cold storages 1 are not always the same. Specifically, for example, a certain cool box 1 has a cool capacity of 5 hours at the maximum, and another cool box 1 has a cool capacity of 3 hours at the maximum.

As a method of estimating the cold storage capacity of each cold storage 1, for example, the following method is available. That is, as the regenerator contained in the cool box 1, a regenerator solvent having an additive concentration adjusted so as to have a predetermined temperature gradient characteristic between the freezing start temperature and the freezing end temperature is used. The temperature of the cold storage solvent is detected by, for example, a sensor. Since the data such as the freezing start temperature, the freezing end temperature, and the temperature gradient characteristic of the cold storage solvent are already known, how many hours the cool box 1 currently has based on the detected temperature obtained from the sensor and the data relating to the temperature gradient characteristic. It can be calculated whether or not it has a cooling capacity for minutes. Such a technique is known and is disclosed in, for example, Reference Document 1.
[Reference 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-318215

Alternatively, the ratio of the capacity of the regenerator having a temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value to the entire capacity of the regenerator stored in the cool box 1 is the surface temperature of the box body accommodating the regenerator, the regenerator. Estimate the spatial temperature distribution of the regenerator, based on the information such as the surface temperature of the regenerator or the temperature inside the regenerator, and set a predetermined threshold value for the estimated spatial temperature distribution of the regenerator. The remaining amount of cold storage is calculated based on the ratio of the portion that exceeds. Then, the amount of cold heat released from the inside of the cool box 1 to the outside per unit time is calculated based on the difference between the temperature outside the cool box 1 and the temperature of the internal space of the cool box 1, for example. The cool heat amount per unit time released from the inside to the outside may be calculated, and the coolable time may be calculated based on the calculated cold heat amount and the calculated cool storage residual amount. Such a technique is disclosed in Reference Document 2, for example.
[Reference 2] Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-198441

[Assumption 3]
A delivery plan is determined in advance for the cool box 1 that is the target of the power supply allocation process that exists at the management site. The delivery plan is a plan to deliver the cool box 1 containing the articles to other bases, depending on the departure time which is the time to depart from the management base and the arrival time which is the time to arrive at the delivery destination. Specified.

[Assumption 4]
The required cooling capacity is determined for each cool box 1 based on the delivery plan. Specifically, for example, the cool box 1 that has a delivery plan that takes 4 hours from the departure time to the arrival time, in other words, takes 4 hours to deliver, needs to have a cold storage capacity for at least 4 hours.

[Assumption 5]
It is possible to calculate the power supply time required to complete the precooling of the cold storage 1 in the power supply equipment 2 based on the required cold storage capacity. In this specification, this is referred to as a required power supply time. In addition, the power supply capability (for example, wattage) of the plurality of power supply facilities 2 is the same. That is, no matter which power feeding facility 2 is used for power feeding, the time required from the start of power feeding to the completion of power feeding of the cool box 1 having the same required power feeding time is the same.

Specifically, for example, when the cold storage 1 to which the delivery plan that requires the cold storage capacity for 5 hours is assigned has the cold storage capacity for 2 hours at the present time, the cold storage for 3 hours is supplied by power supply. You need to have the ability. As a method for obtaining the required power supply time from the required cooling capacity, for example, the following method is available.

That is, the inside temperature history information of the cold storage 1 is accumulated, the reference inside temperature T0 is determined in advance, and the inside temperature curve from the inside temperature T0 to the start of power feeding is shown. The time integral value S2 of is calculated and the power feeding time (t1) is calculated on the basis of the integral value S2 from the relational expression of the integral value S2 and the power feeding time (t1) or a correspondence map. A certain required power supply time can be estimated. Such a technique is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 described above.

Alternatively, as disclosed in Reference 2, for example, the remaining amount of cold storage is C[J], and the amount of cold heat stored in the cold storage when the entire cold storage is solidified is D[J], When the cold storage box 1 has a capacity of precooling the inside of the box when it is connected to the power feeding facility 2 is E [W], it can be calculated as (D−C)/E [seconds]. Regarding the amount of cold heat D[J] stored in the regenerator when the entire regenerator is solidified, and the capacity E[W] of the cold storage 1 for precooling the inside of the cold storage when connected to the power supply equipment 2, It may be measured in advance and stored in a memory or the like.

<First Embodiment Power Supply Allocation Processing>
Based on the above premise, the first mode of the power supply allocation process executed by the management device 3 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the power supply allocation process of the first embodiment. 4 to 13 are conceptual diagrams for explaining a specific example of the power supply allocation process of the first mode.

The management device 3 repeats the processes of steps S1 to S5 described below for all groups existing in the management base. The group means a group of cool boxes 1 classified according to a predetermined standard when there are a plurality of cool boxes 1 at the management base. The grouping is performed before the start of the power supply allocation process (for example, at the time when the delivery plan of the plurality of cool boxes 1 is determined).

The number of cool boxes 1 belonging to one group is not particularly limited in the present disclosure. The grouping may be performed by the management device 3, or may be performed by, for example, an administrator who manages the cold storage management system 100 at the management base. Further, although there is no particular limitation in the present disclosure regarding the criteria for grouping, for example, a plurality of cool boxes 1 having the same departure time in the delivery plan (planning the departure time within a predetermined time range) are the same. It should just belong to a group.

In step S1, the management device 3 sorts (sorts) the cool storage boxes 1 that have been grouped in advance based on the required cool storage time in each group. FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying a state in which a plurality of cool boxes 1 belonging to the group Gr(1) are sorted.

In FIG. 4, four cool boxes 1 belong to the group Gr(1) that is the current group to be processed.

In FIG. 4, the cold storage box 1 whose power supply completion time described later is 24:00 belongs to the group Gr(1) to be processed. In FIG. 4, the management device 3 rearranges the four coolers 1 in the order of longer required power supply time. In FIG. 4, the cool box 1_1_1 having a required power supply time of 5 hours, the cool box 1_1_2 and 1_1_3 having a required power supply time of 3 hours, and the cool box 1_1_4 having a required power supply time of 2 hours are arranged in this order from left to right. The situation is shown.

Next, in step S2, the management device 3 reads information about the scheduled power supply times of all the power supply facilities 2 from, for example, a memory (not shown). The scheduled power supply time is a scheduled time during which power is supplied in the power supply facility 2 for precooling the cool box 1 from the current time to a predetermined time. The scheduled power feeding time of each power feeding facility 2 is specified by, for example, the power feeding start time and the power feeding completion time.

The power supply start time is a time after the current time and is a time at which power supply should be started. The power supply completion time is the time at which all of the cool boxes 1 to be processed should complete power supply. Specifically, the power supply completion time is a time before the departure time of the cool box 1 belonging to the processing target group, and is the time at which the power supply should be completed so that the passenger can depart at the departure time. That is, the power supply completion time is the time calculated from the departure time by the time required for storing the goods in the cold storage box 1 to which power supply has been completed and mounting the cold storage box 1 on the transportation device. ..

Next, the management device 3 repeats the processes of steps S3 to S5 described below for all cool boxes 1 belonging to the current process target group in the order sorted in step S1.

In step S3, the management device 3 determines whether or not the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1 to be processed can be assigned to the power supply equipment 2 having the shortest free time among the plurality of power supply equipments 2. .. The idle time is a value that represents the length of time during which the scheduled power supply time is not assigned to the certain power supply facility 2 from the power supply start time to the power supply completion time. In addition, when there are a plurality of power supply equipments 2 having the same free time, it is determined whether or not the scheduled power supply time can be assigned to the power supply equipment 2 having a small number assigned in advance, for example.

In step S3, the management device 3 determines that the scheduled power supply time can be assigned when the "free time of the power supply facility 2" is equal to or greater than the "required power supply time of the cold storage 1 to be processed". When the management device 3 determines that allocation is possible (step S3: YES), the management device 3 allocates the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1 to be processed to the power supply equipment 2 in step S4. On the other hand, when the management device 3 determines that allocation is not possible (step S3: NO), step S3 is repeated for the power supply equipment 2 having the next shortest available time (step S5).

5 to 8 are conceptual diagrams for explaining allocation of scheduled power supply times in the group Gr(1). FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a state where the scheduled power supply time of the first cool box 1_1_1 belonging to the group Gr(1) is assigned. In FIG. 5, the current time is 17:00 and the power supply start time is also the same (17:00). Then, it is assumed that the power supply completion times at which the power supply to the cool box 1 belonging to the group Gr(1) should be completed are all 24:00 (assuming that the grouping has been performed in advance in this way).

In the state where the scheduled power feeding time is not assigned at all, the free time of the power feeding equipments 2_1 to 2_4 is the same (7 hours from 17:00 to 24:00). Therefore, of the four coolers 1 belonging to the group Gr(1) shown in FIG. 4, the scheduled power feeding time of the cooler 1_1_1 having the longest required power feeding time is first assigned to the power feeding facility 2_1 having a smaller number.

As shown in FIG. 5, since the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_1_1 having a required power supply time of 5 hours is allocated to the power supply equipment 2_1, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_1 is from 17:00 to 22:00. Is filled, and the free time becomes 2 hours.

Next, FIG. 6 is a time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the second cool box 1_1_2 belonging to the group Gr(1) is assigned. As shown in FIG. 5, at the stage when the allocation of the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_1_1 is completed, the power supply facility 2_1 having the shortest available time has two free hours. Here, as in step S3 of FIG. 3, the management device 3 determines whether or not the scheduled power supply time of the cool storage box 1_1_2 to be processed next can be assigned to the power supply equipment 2_1. Since the required power supply time for the cabinet 1_1_2 is 3 hours, the allocation is impossible.

Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the management device 3 sets the cold storage 1_1_2 to the power supply equipment 2_2 having the lowest number among the power supply equipment 2_2 to 2_4 (free time is 7 hours) having the next shortest available time. Allocate the scheduled power supply time. As a result, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is filled from 17:00 to 20:00, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 becomes 4 hours.

Further, FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the third cooler 1_1_3 belonging to the group Gr(1) is assigned. Similar to FIG. 6, the management device 3 first determines whether or not the scheduled power feeding time of the cool box 1_1_3 can be assigned to the power feeding equipment 2_1 having the shortest idle time, but the idle time of the power feeding equipment 2_1 is 2 hours. Since the required power supply time for the cool box 1_1_3 is 3 hours, allocation is impossible.

Therefore, the management device 3 determines whether or not the scheduled power feeding time of the cool box 1_1_3 can be assigned to the power feeding facility 2_2 having the next shortest available time. As shown in FIG. 6, the idle time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is 4 hours, and thus it can be assigned. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the management apparatus 3 allocates the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage 1_1_3 to the power supply equipment 2_2. As a result, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is filled from 20:00 to 23:00, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 becomes 1 hour.

Further, FIG. 8 is a time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the fourth cool box 1_1_4 belonging to the group Gr(1) is assigned. The management device 3 determines whether or not the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_1_4 can be assigned to the power supply equipment 2_1 having the shortest idle time. As shown in FIG. 7, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_1 is 2 hours, and the required power supply time of the cool box 1_1_4 is 2 hours, so that it can be allocated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the management device 3 allocates the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_1_4 to the power supply equipment 2_1. As a result, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_1 is filled up from 22:00 to 24:00, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_1 becomes zero.

Here, since the scheduled power feeding times have been assigned to all the coolers 1 belonging to the group Gr(1), the power feeding assigning process for the next group Gr(2) can be performed. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, since the processes of steps S1 to S5 have been completed for all the coolers 1 belonging to the group Gr(1), it is possible to proceed to the process of step S1 for the next group Gr(2). it can.

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying a state in which a plurality of cool boxes 1 belonging to the next group Gr(2) are sorted. The group Gr(2) is assigned, for example, at 19:00. In other words, the current time is 19:00 in FIG. In FIG. 9, three coolers 1_2_1, 1_2_2, 1_2_3 whose power supply completion time is 26:00 belong to the group Gr(2) to be processed. The management device 3 rearranges the three coolers 1 belonging to the group 2 in the order of longer required power supply time. In FIG. 9, sorting is performed in the order of the cool box 1_2_1 having the required power supply time of 5 hours, the cool box 1_2_2 having the required power supply time of 3 hours, and the cool box 1_2_3.

10 to 13 are conceptual diagrams for explaining allocation of scheduled power supply times in the group Gr(2). FIG. 10 is a time chart showing the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(1) before the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(2) is assigned. As shown in FIG. 10, the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(1) is already allocated until 24:00 of the power supply equipment 2_1 and until 23:00 of the power supply equipment 2_2. Here, since the power supply completion time of the group Gr(2) is 26:00, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_1 is 2 hours and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is 3 hours. The idle time of the power supply equipments 2_3 and 2_4 is 7 hours from 19:00 to 26:00.

FIG. 11: is a time chart which shows a mode that the scheduled power feeding time of the 1st cold storage 1_2_1 which belongs to group Gr (2) was allocated. Here, as in step S3 of FIG. 3, the management device 3 determines whether or not the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage 1_2_1 to be processed can be assigned to the power supply equipment 2_1. The required power supply time is 5 hours, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_1 is 2 hours, so allocation is impossible.

Then, the management device 3 determines whether or not the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_2_1 can be allocated to the power supply equipment 2_2 having the next shortest available time, but the available time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is 3 hours. As a result, it cannot be assigned.

Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the management device 3 allocates the scheduled power feeding time of the cold storage 1_2_1 to the power feeding equipment 2_3 having the smallest number among the power feeding equipments 2_3 and 2_4 having the next shortest available time. As a result, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_3 is filled up from 19:00 to 24:00, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_3 becomes 2 hours.

Next, FIG. 12 is a time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the second cooler 1_2_2 belonging to the group Gr(2) is assigned. Here, as in step S3 of FIG. 3, the management device 3 determines whether or not the scheduled power supply time of the cool storage 1_2_2 to be processed can be allocated to the power supply equipment 2_1. The cool storage 1_2_2 The required power supply time is 3 hours, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_1 is 2 hours, so allocation is impossible.

Therefore, the management device 3 determines whether or not the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_2_2 can be assigned to the power supply equipment 2_2 having the next shortest available time. As shown in FIG. 11, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is 3 hours, and thus it can be assigned. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the management device 3 allocates the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage 1_2_2 to the power supply equipment 2_2. As a result, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is filled from 23:00 to 26:00, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 becomes zero.

Further, FIG. 13 is a time chart showing a state in which the scheduled power supply time of the third cool box 1_2_3 belonging to the group Gr(2) is assigned. At this time, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is 0, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_1 and the power supply equipment 2_3 is 2 hours. Therefore, the management device 3 determines whether or not the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage 1_2_3 can be assigned in the order of the power supply equipment 2_2, the power supply equipment 2_1, and the power supply equipment 2_3, but the required power supply time of the cold storage 1_2_3 is 3 hours. Therefore, it cannot be assigned to any power supply facility.

Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the management device 3 allocates the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_2_3 to the remaining power supply equipment 2_4. As a result, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_4 is filled up from 19:00 to 22:00, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_4 becomes 4 hours.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, when the power supply allocation processing is completed for all of the coolers 1 belonging to the group Gr(2), the management device 3 causes the power supply allocation processing for the next group Gr(3) and thereafter. Move to. Since the scheduled power supply time processing for the groups Gr(3) and thereafter is similar to the power supply allocation processing for the groups Gr(1) and Gr(2) described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the power supply allocation process of the first embodiment, the number of power supply equipments to which power supply is simultaneously allocated is reduced as much as possible, and the idle time of the power supply equipment 2 to which the scheduled power supply time is allocated is reduced as much as possible. The scheduled power supply time is assigned so as to be shorter. Therefore, it is possible to mitigate the situation in which there is a time zone (power peak, demand peak) in which the scheduled power supply times are assigned to all the power supply facilities 2 at the same time.

<Second Embodiment Power Supply Allocation Processing>
Next, a second mode of the power supply allocation process executed by the management device 3 will be described. The power supply allocation process of the second mode is also based on the above-described assumptions 1 to 5.

In the power supply allocation process of the second embodiment, it is assumed that the time zone in which the power used by other equipment or the like exceeds a predetermined threshold (a power peak occurs) can be estimated in advance at the management base. There is.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the power supply allocation process of the second form. Further, FIGS. 15 and 16 are conceptual diagrams for explaining a specific example of the power supply allocation process of the second embodiment.

The flowchart of the power supply allocation process of the second mode shown in FIG. 14 is a flowchart in which step S11 is added immediately after step S2 of the flowchart of the power supply allocation process of the first mode shown in FIG.

In step S11, the management device 3 sets the allocation prohibited time zone. The allocation prohibited time zone is, for example, a time zone in which it is expected that a power peak will occur due to a temporary increase in power consumption of other equipment at the management base, and the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1 It is a time period when allocation is prohibited.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the allocation prohibited time zone. It is assumed that a power peak is expected to occur at the management base to which the power feeding facility 2 belongs, for example, from 24:00 to 26:00. In this case, the management device 3 sets the time zone from 24:00 to 26:00 of the power supply equipment 2_1 and 2_2 as the allocation prohibited time zone, as shown in FIG. The free time of the power supply facility 2 is the time excluding the already-scheduled scheduled power supply time and the allocation prohibited time zone.

Here, the reason why the allocation prohibition time zone is set only for the power supply equipments 2_1 and 2_2 of the four power supply equipments 2 is, for example, the amount of electric power that is expected to increase in a time zone when a power peak is expected to occur. Is equivalent to the amount of electric power for two power supply facilities. As described above, the management device 3 acquires the amount of electric power that is expected to increase in the time zone in which the occurrence of the electric power peak is expected from, for example, past accumulated data, and the number of units corresponding to the amount of electric power that is approximately the same It is sufficient to set the allocation prohibition time zone for the power supply equipment 2 of FIG.

Here, when the allocation prohibition time zone is set for a plurality of power supply equipments 2, the management device 3 sets the power supply equipments 2 in sequence from the shortest available time and the shortest available time, for example. To do.

When the setting of the allocation prohibited time zone is completed, the management device 3 allocates the scheduled power supply time by the same processing as the power supply allocation processing of the first embodiment described above.

FIG. 16 is a diagram exemplifying a result of allocating the scheduled power supply time after the allocation prohibition time zone is set. The lower part of FIG. 16 exemplifies a state in which four cool boxes 1 belonging to the group Gr(3), which is a processing target group, are sorted.

In the upper part of FIG. 16, the results of allocating the scheduled power supply times of the sorted cool boxes 1_3_1, 1_3_2, 1_3_3, 1_3_4 are illustrated. At the start of the allocation of the group Gr(3), the free time of the power supply equipment 2_1 is 4 hours, the free time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is 1 hour before the allocation prohibition time zone, and 4 hours after the free time of the power supply equipment 2_3. 4 hours, and the free time of the power supply equipment 2_4 is 6 hours.

Here, the management device 3 first allocates the cool box 1_3_1 having a required power supply time of 5 hours, but since the shortest available time is 1 hour before the allocation prohibition time of the power supply equipment 2_2, the allocation is not allocated. It is possible. The next shortest free time is 4 hours after the allocation prohibition time zone of the power supply equipment 2_1 and the power supply equipment 2_2 and the power supply equipment 2_3, and therefore cannot be allocated to these.

Therefore, the management device 3 allocates the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_3_1 to the power supply equipment 2_4. As a result, the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_3_1 is allocated from 24:00 to 29:00 of the idle time of the power supply equipment 2_4.

Next, the management device 3 allocates the cool boxes 1_3_2 and 1_3_3 for which the required power supply time is 3 hours. The scheduled power supply time of the cold storages 1_3_2 and 1_3_3 cannot be allocated to an empty time of 1 hour (before the allocation prohibited time zone of the power supply equipment 2_2). Therefore, the management device 3 determines that the power feeding equipment 2_1 having the next shortest free time (4 hours), the power feeding equipment 2_2 after the allocation prohibited time zone, and the power feeding equipment 2_1 having the smallest number among the power feeding equipment 2_3. The cool box 1_3_2 is allocated after the allocation prohibition time zone, and then the cold storage box 1_3_3 is allocated to the vacant time after the allocation prohibition time zone of the power supply facility 2_2 having a smaller number.

Lastly, the management device 3 allocates the cool box 1_3_4 for which the required power supply time is 2 hours to the power supply equipment 2_3.

As shown in FIG. 16, during the period from 24:00 to 26:00 when the allocation prohibited time zone is set for the two power supply equipments 2, the maximum number of power supply equipments 2 to which the scheduled power supply time can be allocated is 2 at the same time. Has become. As described above, according to the power supply allocation process of the second embodiment, the allocation prohibition time zone forcibly creates a time zone in which the scheduled power supply times in the plurality of power supply facilities 2 are less allocated, so that a power peak is expected to occur. It is possible to suppress the power consumption amount due to the power supply allocation process in the time zone. As a result, it is possible to alleviate the power peak at the management base and avoid the occurrence of inconveniences such as power shortage and power outages.

In the power supply allocation process of the second embodiment described above, the power peak has been described as occurring at the management base. However, for example, when the power distribution system in the management base is divided into a plurality of distribution systems, The allocation prohibited time zone may be set to the time zone estimated to generate the power peak of the distribution system including the power distribution system.

Further, in the above-described power supply allocation process of the second embodiment, the case where the management device 3 sets the allocation prohibited time zone has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, for example, an administrator who manages the cool box management system 100 at the management base may set the allocation prohibited time zone based on the past data. In this case, the management device 3 sets the freezing time of the power supply facility 2 as a free time of the power supply equipment 2 excluding the allocation prohibition time zone set by the administrator and the scheduled power supply time of the group that has already been performed. Allocation of the scheduled power supply time of 1 may be performed in the same manner as the power supply allocation processing of the first embodiment.

<Third Embodiment Power Supply Allocation Processing>
Next, a third mode of the power supply allocation process executed by the management device 3 will be described. The power supply allocation process of the third embodiment is also based on the above-described assumptions 1 to 5.

In the power supply allocation process of the third mode, it is assumed that a switching time of a predetermined length is provided between the scheduled power supply time and the scheduled power supply time in the power supply allocation process of the first mode.

This switching time allows for the time required for connecting, exchanging, removing, moving, etc. of the cool box 1 to which power is supplied in the power supply equipment 2.

17 and 18 are diagrams for explaining allocation of scheduled power supply times when a switching time is inserted for each scheduled power supply time. 17, the upper part of FIG. 17 shows a state where the allocation of the groups Gr(1) and Gr(2) is completed, and the lower part of FIG. 17 shows the cold storage 1_4_1 belonging to the group Gr(4). , 1_4_2, 1_4_3, 1_4_4 are sorted in ascending order of the required power supply time.

In the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 17 in which the groups Gr(1) and Gr(2) have been allocated, the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(1) allocated from 23:00 to 24:00 of the power supply equipment 2_1 and 24 A switching time of 30 minutes is inserted between the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(2) allocated from 30:30 to 26:30. Similarly, the switching time of 30 minutes is inserted after the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(2) assigned from 23:00 to 26:00 of the power supply equipment 2_2. Similarly, the switching time of 30 minutes is also inserted after the scheduled power feeding time of the group Gr(2) assigned from 23:00 to 24:00 of the power feeding equipment 2_3.

The idle time of the power supply equipment 2_1 is 3 hours, the idle time of the power supply equipment 2_2 is 3.5 hours, the idle time of the power supply equipment 2_3 is 5.5 hours, and the idle time of the power supply equipment 2_4 is 7 hours.

FIG. 18 is a time chart exemplifying the result of allocating the scheduled power supply time of the coolers 1_4_1, 1_4_2, 1_4_3, 1_4_4 of the group Gr(4) shown in the lower part of FIG. 17.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the management device 3 sets a switching time of a predetermined time (30 minutes in FIG. 18) immediately after each assigned scheduled power supply time. That is, the management apparatus 3 sets the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage 1_4_3 assigned to the power supply facility 2_2 (26:30 to 29 after the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage 1_4_2 assigned to the power supply facility 2_1 (from 27:00 to 30:00). After 30 minutes), after the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_4_1 allocated to the power supply facility 2_3 (from 24:30 to 29:30), and the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1_4_4 allocated to the power supply facility 2_4. After (23:00 to 25:00), the management device 3 inserts a switching time of 30 minutes each.

In the power supply allocating process of the third embodiment, a switching time of a predetermined time is inserted for each scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1 thus allocated to each power supply facility, so that the cool box 1 is moved from the power supply facility 2 for example. It is possible to secure a time required for switching, such as performing the operation or carrying the cool box 1 to connect it.

Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope described in the claims, and naturally, these also belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure. Understood. Further, the respective constituent elements in the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

In the above-described embodiment, for convenience of description, a plurality of cool boxes 1 are classified by a predetermined standard is referred to as a group. However, in the power supply allocation process, it is not always necessary to group the cool boxes 1 into groups. Absent. That is, without introducing the concept of “group”, the power supply allocation process may be sequentially performed for all the coolers 1 in a predetermined order (for example, the order of departure time).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(1) is allocated at 17:00, the scheduled power supply time of the group Gr(2) is allocated at 19:00, and the groups Gr(3) and Gr(4) are allocated. The case has been described where the scheduled power supply time is allocated at 23:00. However, at the time when the power supply allocation process is performed, the scheduled power supply time of the cool box 1 may be allocated at once based on the known delivery plan. That is, if the current time is 17:00 and all the delivery plans for the groups Gr(1) to Gr(4) are determined, the groups Gr(3) and Gr(3) and Gr(3) are started from the current time at 17:00. The management apparatus 3 may allocate the scheduled power supply time of all the cold storages 1 in the group order with all the free time of the power supply equipment 2 until 30:00 which is the power supply completion time of (4).

The present disclosure is useful for a management device of a cool box management system capable of appropriately performing scheduled power supply times for a plurality of cool boxes.

100 Cold storage management system 1,1_1_1,1_1_2,1_1_3,1_1_4,1_2_1,1_2_2,1_2_3,1_3_1,1_3_2,1_3_3,1_3_4,1_4_1,1_4_2,1_4_3,1_4_4 Cold storage equipment 2,3_2,2_2,2_2 Management device 31 Communication unit 32 Memory 33 Control unit 34 Cooling device 35 Cooling body temperature sensor 36 Display unit

Claims (8)

A management device that pre-allocates a scheduled power supply time, which is a time at which power supply for pre-cooling of at least one cold storage box is performed, to any of a plurality of power supply facilities arranged in a management base ,
Information about the required power supply time, which is the power supply time required to complete pre-cooling in the power supply equipment, is acquired for each of the cold storages, and information about idle time that is a time zone to which the scheduled power supply time of the cold storages can be assigned is displayed. A communication unit that acquires each of the power supply equipment,
The number of the power supply facilities to which the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage that has not been allocated is allocated to the power supply facility having a free time longer than the required power supply time of the cold storage at the management base at the same time. And a control unit that allocates so that
A management device. The control unit allocates the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage that has not been allocated to the power supply equipment having the shortest free time among the power supply equipment having a free time longer than the required power supply time of the cold storage,
The management device according to claim 1. The control unit performs the scheduled power supply time of the cold storage that has not been allocated from the time closer to the current time among the idle time,
The management device according to claim 1 or 2. The control unit assigns the scheduled power supply time of the cold storages that have not been assigned in order from the cold storages with long required power supply time,
The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The control unit sets, for at least one of the power supply equipment, an allocation prohibition time slot that prohibits allocation of a scheduled power supply time in a time slot in which a power peak of the distribution system to which the power supply equipment belongs is estimated to occur. To do
The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The control unit determines the number of the power supply facilities that set the allocation prohibition time zone, in accordance with the amount of power estimated to be used in the power peak.
The management device according to claim 5. Each time the control unit allocates the planned power supply time, the control unit inserts a switching time for a predetermined time from the end time of the allocated planned power supply time.
The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A power supply allocation method for pre-allocating a scheduled power supply time, which is a time at which power supply for pre-cooling of at least one cold storage box is performed, to any one of a plurality of power supply facilities arranged in a management base. ,
Obtaining information about the required power supply time, which is the power supply time required to complete pre-cooling in the power supply facility, for each of the cold storages,
Acquiring information about the free time, which is a time zone in which the scheduled power supply time of the cool box can be assigned, for each power supply facility,
The scheduled power supply time of the cold storage that has not been allocated, the power supply equipment having a free time longer than the required power supply time of the cold storage, the power supply equipment of the power supply facility is allocated at the management base at the same time. Allocate such that the number of units is the smallest and the idle time of the power supply facility to which the scheduled power supply time is allocated is the shortest.
Power allocation method.

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