An evaluation index system of the user satisfaction for the natural gas pipeline network

With the intent of making up for the lack of gas supply reliability in evaluating the ability of the natural gas pipeline network to provide users with gas supply services, the concept of the user satisfaction for the natural gas pipeline network is proposed in this study. The definition of the user satisfaction is firstly illustrated and the relationship and difference between gas supply reliability and user satisfaction are clarified from two aspects of definition and mathematical expression. The evaluation index system of the user satisfaction for the natural gas pipeline network is then constructed, which includes six indicators, namely user satisfaction for gas amount, user satisfaction for gas pressure, user satisfaction for gas quality, user satisfaction for gas supply strategy, user satisfaction for emergency, and user satisfaction for gas price. The process of determining the weight of each indicator based on the analytic hierarchy process method is proposed. Moreover, considering the user characteristics, natural gas users are classified into four types, namely the users whose demand need to be fully satisfied, the users whose demand can be shed by a small amount, the users whose demand can be shed, and the users whose demand can be interrupted. The results of the weight of each indicator for the above four types of the natural gas users are calculated.