Management system for refrigerated containers

• US 9,766,600 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2012
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: APM Terminals B.V. (A.P. Møller Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: APM Terminals Management B.V. (A.P. Møller Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Clarke, Ross Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, THOMAS H
• Application Number:
  US14/239,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 700291, 62250
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/003 Transport containers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A system for and a method of supplying electrical power to a plurality of refrigerated containers. The method includes obtaining carriage criteria of one or more refrigerated containers, processing the carriage criteria in a central processor configured to control power supply to a plurality of refrigerated containers, on basis of output of the central processor, managing electrical power supply to the plurality of refrigerated containers.

Claims

1. A method of supplying electrical power, where the power is required for cooling, to a plurality of refrigerated containers stored in a facility, said method includes the steps of:

obtaining data representing individual carriage criteria including individual predefined temperature set points and individual actual cargo temperatures of each of said plurality of refrigerated containers stored in said facility,

on basis of said carriage criteria and in a central processor, forecasting resulting peak electrical power requirement of said plurality of refrigerated containers,

on basis of said resulting peak power requirement forecast, lessen, or time-wise move, said resulting peak power requirement of said plurality of refrigerated containers by individually interrupt and resume power supply to said reefer containers on basis of predefined allowable deviation from a temperature set point of each said refrigerated containers, and

in said central processor and on basis of the individual predefined temperature set points and individual actual cargo temperatures of each of said plurality of refrigerated containers stored in said facility that is included in said carriage criteria, forecasting a peak electrical power demand of said plurality of refrigerated containers stored in said facility, wherein said central processor is configured to, when said a peak electrical power demand exceed a pre-defined threshold, analyze whether said carriage criteria of said refrigerated containers allows for at least one or more of said refrigerated containers being left without electrical power supply for a period of time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said carriage criteria are transmitted to said central processor by said plurality of refrigerated containers.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said carriage criteria are transmitted by said plurality of refrigerated containers at periodical intervals.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further includes a step of overruling one or more refrigerated containers'"'"' temperature set points such that one or more of said refrigerated containers is maintained at an offset point temperature.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said central processor further is configured to shift peak power demand into a low power demand time frame such that the magnitude of peak power consumption is reduced whilst ensuring that carriage criteria'"'"'s for a plurality of said refrigerated containers are complied with.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a central processor is configured to control one or more electrical power generators on basis of one or more of:

carriage criteria of one or more refrigerated containers,

data representing an internal temperature of a refrigerated container.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said central processor further is configured to shut down one or more electrical power generators as a result of reduction of peak electrical power consumption.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further include a step of, in said central processor, forecasting the rate of temperature increase inside its connected refrigerated containers on basis of one or more of:

ambient temperature,

internal temperature change within a given timeframe of one or more of said refrigerated containers.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a central processor is configured to take into account temperature variations between night and day conditions when said resulting peak power requirement of said plurality of refrigerated containers is determined.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said central processor is configured to take into account temperature variations as a result of weather when said resulting peak power requirement of said plurality of refrigerated containers is determined.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said central processor is configured to monitor internal temperature trends of said plurality of refrigerated containers such that said central processor is able to establish an adaptive mode of operation.

12. A power management system including a central processor configured to control electrical power supply to a plurality of refrigerated containers

wherein said system is adapted to execute the method according to claim 1.