Postgraduate Diploma in Thermal Network Operation and Management
Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 h in Thermal Network Operation and Management. 8 modules covering EN 13941-1 (design and installation of pre-insulated pipes), EN 253 (pre-insulated pipes for district heating networks) and TERMIS. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
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Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the generations and configurations of heat and cooling networks.
Calculate flow rates, pressures and pumping in thermal networks.
Estimate heat losses and their impact on overall efficiency.
Operate the network by adjusting flow and return temperatures.
Apply digital tools for optimisation and monitoring.
Plan maintenance of pipes, substations and pumps.
Design tariff structures and commercial models for the network.
Who it's for
- Heating and cooling network engineer who wants to specialise in Thermal Network Operation and Management.
- District heating plant operator who wants to specialise in Thermal Network Operation and Management.
- Hydraulic engineer for thermal networks who wants to specialise in Thermal Network Operation and Management.
- Thermal asset manager who wants to specialise in Thermal Network Operation and Management.
- Energy operations manager who wants to specialise in Thermal Network Operation and Management.
- Thermal efficiency consultant who wants to specialise in Thermal Network Operation and Management.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter urban district heating.
What you'll work with
- EN 13941-1 (design and installation of pre-insulated pipes)
- EN 253 (pre-insulated pipes for district heating networks)
- Real Decreto 1027/2007 (RITE)
- EN 1434 (heat meters)
- Directive (EU) 2023/1791 (energy efficiency)
- ISO 50001 (energy management systems)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Generations of heating and cooling networks1.2Fourth and fifth generation networks1.3Components: generation, distribution and substations1.4Sources: biomass, waste heat, geothermal and solar1.5High-capacity heat pumps1.6Urban cooling networks1.7Demand density and viability1.8Situation in Europe and Spain1.9Energy efficiency directive and efficient networks1.10Workshop: characterisation of an existing heating network
2.1Flow equations and head loss2.2Sizing of pre-insulated pipes2.3EN 253 standard for pre-insulated pipes2.4Pumping and pressure stations2.5Differential pressure control2.6Hydraulic balancing2.7Water hammer and transients2.8Radial and meshed configurations2.9Hydraulic simulation software2.10Practical: hydraulic calculation of a network branch
3.1Heat losses in pipes3.2Flow and return temperatures3.3Return temperature reduction3.4Thermal lag and temperature dynamics3.5Thermal storage in the network3.6Seasonal storage tanks3.7User substations and heat exchangers3.8Domestic hot water production and Legionella3.9Network efficiency indicators3.10Laboratory: dynamic thermal simulation with Modelica
4.1Dispatch of production units4.2Flow temperature control4.3Weather-compensated curves4.4Peak demand management4.5Storage tank operation4.6Leak and fault detection4.7Commissioning and shutdowns4.8Incident management4.9Operational indicators4.10Case study: winter operation strategy for a network
5.1Thermal demand forecasting5.2Optimisation of thermal dispatch5.3Predictive control of heating networks5.4Digital twins of thermal networks5.5Heat meters and remote reading5.6Analytics for user substations5.7Fault detection using data5.8Sectoral coupling with the electricity grid5.9Flexibility of heat pumps and storage5.10Laboratory: dispatch optimisation of a district heating network
6.1Inspection of pipes and insulation6.2Aerial thermography of buried networks6.3Moisture monitoring systems in pipes6.4Corrosion and water quality6.5Substation maintenance6.6Renewal planning6.7Asset information management6.8Occupational safety in thermal networks6.9Reliability indicators6.10Practical: preventive maintenance plan for a network
7.1Ownership and concession models7.2Heat pricing: fixed and variable charges7.3Customer contracts7.4Transparency and consumer protection7.5Regulation of district heating networks in Spain7.6Energy certification of connected buildings7.7Carbon footprint of supplied heat7.8Network expansion and customer acquisition7.9Satisfaction indicators7.10Case study: design of a tariff structure
8.1Characterisation of the study network8.2Hydraulic and thermal model8.3Operation strategy8.4Optimisation and predictive control8.5Maintenance plan8.6Commercial management model8.7Assessment of improvements and decarbonisation8.8Action plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is TERMIS, EnergyPLAN, QGIS, Python (pandas), advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for hydraulic modelling of district networks, analysis of heat losses and return temperatures, and optimisation of flow set points. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the generations and configurations of heat and cooling networks.
Calculate flow rates, pressures and pumping in thermal networks.
Estimate heat losses and their impact on overall efficiency.
Operate the network by adjusting flow and return temperatures.
Apply digital tools for optimisation and monitoring.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory reading.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with TERMIS, EnergyPLAN, QGIS, Python (pandas) and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher-level programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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