The ALBA Synchrotron Light Source in Barcelona (Spain) requires a reliable, stable and adequate cooling system for its optimal operation. The current design with four long and intricate consumption lines with a ring type piping layout (270 m perimeter) and a common return pipe is believed to compromise the operability and to promote the trapping of air pockets. In order to improve its performance, a better understanding of the thermo-fluid dynamic behaviour is required that permits to opmitize the system and to anticipate unexpected failures. For that, a detailed 1D model has been built with Flowmaster® software comprising all the components and the various regulation mechanisms to control fluid temperature and pressure. Preliminarily, the model has been validated in steady state operating conditions against experimental measurements showing good agreement. Then, a series of specific steady and transient numerical simulations have been carried out to determine the system response. In particular, the effects of blockage and leakage as well as the increase or decrease of heat duty have been analysed. Furthermore, the best flow distribution through the rings has also been found to reduce the air content by maximizing the velocities.