Design of district heating networks through an integrated thermo-fluid dynamics and reliability modelling approach

This paper aims to describe a newly developed analysis tool for supporting District Heating Networks (DHNs) grid design and energy-reliability optimization procedures. The tool couples a Thermo-fluid dynamic Module to simulate the energy and physical behaviour of the analysed network, and a Monte Carlo Module to manage grid failure and repair processes: as a consequence, it is able to investigate both the fluid dynamics and the reliability aspects of the entire network, from the production plants to the final users. The tool can also take into account the effect of thermal energy storages (TESs), whose installation along the grid could be beneficial not only to improve the efficiency and the management of the network, but also to increase the quality of the service and its reliability, reducing the number of hours of service disruption in the case of system failures. It thus allows evaluating the effects on both load coverage and overall network availability of different grid configurations assuming alternative size and location of TES systems. The methodology has been applied for testing purposes to a case study representative of a portion of an Italian district heating network, focusing on three different scenarios and several possible alternative grid configurations. •An approach for District Heating design and energy-reliability optimization is proposed.•An integrated thermo-fluid dynamic and Monte Carlo tool has been developed.•The effects of Thermal Energy Storage on efficiency and quality of service have been considered.•A scenario analysis on a case study related to an Italian District Heating has been implemented.•The results underlined the benefits of including reliability in the design phase.