Optimization of Developing Heat Supply System in Competitive Market Environment

The paper is aimed at working out the mathematical models and methods to solve the problems of operation of developing heat supply systems in a competitive market environment. The formation of new principles of functioning in this field is conditioned by the market mechanisms emerging due to the interaction between different owners of heat economy facilities within the single system. Today heat energy markets are represented by a great number of enterprises with different types of ownership that operate heat energy sources and heat networks. It is obvious that such a situation explicitly causes conflicts of interests among the heat energy market participants and unbalances the responsibility for production reliability, heat energy supply efficiency and its quality among the participants of centralized heat supply (heat sources – heat networks - consumers). A reasonable solution to this problem can make it possible to determine optimal conditions for operation of the developing heat energy market, and their implementation can increase technical, economic and energy efficiency of heat energy. These problems are solved by using the methods of hydraulic circuit theory, nonlinear dynamic programming and two level programming. The studies performed allowed the creation of mathematical models and methods for optimal construction of efficient heat supply systems, organization of their operation that ensure the realization of full energy saving potential in the field of heat supply to consumers, taking into account the interests of all participants of the heat energy market.