Methods and models for defining optimal reliability parameters in district-distributed heating systems

District-distributed heating systems are considered to be the result of the development of existing district heating systems. In such the various energy technologies are integrated in order to achieve maximum efficiency of the heating for consumers. The distributed sector in these systems is associated, first of all, with the implementation of prosumers. The objective of the study is to define parameters for the reliability of components in the system which provide the required level of reliability of heating to consumers at the minimum cost. This is while ensuring the level of reliability while taking into account the reserve functions of prosumers. A methodology aimed at solving the objective thus stated was developed using various methods and models. These included: certain laws of reliability theory, nodal approach to the reliability analysis, models of the Markov random process, laws of thermophysical processes, heat load curve, etc. The proposed methods and models are presented within a comprehensive methodological schematic which includes the main stages of analysis and optimization (synthesis) of reliability. The methodological and computational tools thus developed were used to conduct a computational experiment for a test diagram of a heating system. The results obtained were analyzed, and their graphical interpretations presented. The conclusions and directions for further research were formulated.