Monte Carlo Method Application for Reliability and Availability Analysis of Highly Meshed Network Systems

摘要

This paper aims to examine the problem of reliability and availability assessment for highly meshed network systems, as gas or heat distribution systems. The specific associated problems, related to the structural complexity and the dynamic character of these systems, are firstly highlighted. Subsequently, we present a brief description of the AEM Torino Sud heating transport network, that is the main subject of this study. The application of Monte Carlo method to this network and the realization of a simulation tool based on this method are then discussed. A final discussion follows, where the results of this new approach are critically presented. This work follows preceding researchs on this subject that used Graph Theory and Fault Tree Analysis.