Energy consumption analysis and optimization of cold stores considering differential electricity price

Despite the rapid development of cold stores, most cold store facilities exhibit high energy consumption. Reducing energy costs in cold stores is crucial for minimizing operating expenses and effectively managing the overall cold supply chain. Our objective is to optimize the operational strategy of cold stores based on differential pricing to minimize energy consumption. Firstly, we employ computational fluid dynamics simulation to model the operation of cold stores and determine optimal boundary conditions. Secondly, we propose a comprehensive method for accounting for cold stores' energy consumption by considering heat conduction from the enclosure structure and air seepage. Additionally, under the conditions of extra cool storage at a low electricity price, we divide the cold store operation process into four stages and establish a mathematical model for optimizing energy consumption throughout the entire operational cycle based on differential electricity pricing policies. Finally, three cities are selected for case analysis purposes. The results demonstrate that all three cities achieve an average energy saving level exceeding 8%, with Harbin city achieving over 18% savings specifically, thereby validating that our optimization model can yield superior results in northern cities characterized by significant diurnal temperature variations.