Multilevel modelling of heating networks in their design

The problem of heating network design is characterized by high complexity, which is due to the multi-ring network configuration, a large number of pipelines and the presence of many active elements (pumps, flow and pressure regulators). The use of approaches based on the decomposition of the problem being solved into a set of simpler subproblems is an effective means of overcoming the high complexity of these problems. A new methodology for solving the problem of optimal design of heating networks has been developed. It allows, using the principles of multilevel modelling, to move from the original complex problem to a hierarchically related set of subproblems, each of which has a lower dimension and complexity in comparison with the original problem.