Development of a Numerical Method for Calculating a Gas Supply System during a Period of Change in Thermal Loads

Nowadays, modern gas supply systems are complex. They consist of gas distribution stations; high-, medium-, and low-pressure gas networks; gas installations; and control points. These systems are designed to provide natural gas to the population, including domestic, industrial, and agricultural consumers. This study is aimed at developing methods for improving the calculation of gas distribution networks. The gas supply system should ensure an uninterrupted and safe gas supply to consumers that is easy to operate and provides the possibility of shutting down its individual elements for preventive, repair, and emergency recovery work. Therefore, this study presents a mathematical calculation method to find the optimal operating conditions for any gas network during the period of seasonal changes in thermal loads. This method demonstrates how the reliability of gas distribution systems and resistance to non-standard critical loads are affected by consumers based on the time of year, month, and day, and external factors such as outdoor temperature. The results in this study show that this method will enable the implementation of tools for testing various management strategies for the gas distribution network.