Optimization of the Effective Heat Supply Radius for the District Heating Systems

The problem of determining the effective (optimal) heat supply radius is considered. Heat supply radius is transportation distance of heat energy in the district heating systems (DHS), under which the highest indices of economic efficiency of district heating to consumers are respected. To solve this difficult and multifactorial problem, a bi-level approach has been proposed. This approach allows finding the optimal frameworks of territorial areas of district heating while fulfilling the necessary requirements for thermal-hydraulic modes in heat networks and for reliability of heating to consumers. Methodology for solving the formulated problem is based on bi-level programming methods, models of Theory of hydraulic circuits, nonlinear optimization methods, nodal reliability indices (availability factor, failure-free operation probability), Markov random processes models and other methods and models. A case study has been conducted using the developed methodological apparatus for the actual DHS scheme of the Irkutsk city (Russia, Siberia).