Pressure testing the district heating systems: results of retrospective analysis

Distribution of thermal energy using different types of mains has experienced practical application and much development over a period of more than a century. Technical excellence, operational characteristics including conservation of heat energy, reliability and future maintenance are of prime consideration. Reliability of heat supply is evaluated by the number of network failures. Failure amount in district heating (DH) networks is enormous. It makes us pay attention to DH performance issues. It is sufficiency to rehabilitate only mostly outworn distribution lengths to reduce a failure rate and heat losses. The main mean is hydraulic pressure tests. The aim of the paper is data generalization and provision an overview of the subjects included in the project within certain DH system (e. g. Omsk's DH system). The article includes general information about this method. The process to prepare this paper was as follows: defining the scope of works for the study which was discussed and mutually agreed in meetings between the authors. Back-in-time pressure tests operation data analysis technique is chosen to receive a valid data. Then the study was started with collecting relevant data in written form, a background study, familiarizing to previous studies and reports made during the span of years. Its efficiency was analysed. Negative causes were given. Relevance of modernization of pressure tests perfomance was clarified during the state assessment as well as the development of the same option in the future. According to the collected data the authors carried out that future research in this field is required.