Adaptive Computing

NREL's adaptive computing research aims to reduce the computational and financial resources needed to address problems in engineering optimization and model training for multi-fidelity simulations.

Adaptive computing enables:

  • Catalytic upgrading – surrogate modeling through integration with virtual engineering
  • Electric grid reliability – machine-learning-based electrical controllers that learn on the fly from simulations of the electrical demands of communities of buildings.

Our adaptive computing research addresses engineering design optimization and model training for multi-fidelity simulations subject to resource constraints (use of computational and financial resources).

Simulations play a key role in engineering design, but often high-fidelity simulations that provide an accurate representation of physics require too much computational resources for routine use. Low-fidelity models—less expensive to perform—are less accurate.

Multi-Fidelity Modeling Framework

We propose a framework for performing multi-fidelity modeling, which learns trends from many low-fidelity simulations and uses a limited number of high-fidelity simulations to correct the low-fidelity simulations. This technique is being applied to discover novel materials for solar panels, develop efficient HVAC controls for buildings, and create next-generation biofuels.

Graphic representation of an adaptive computing multi-fidelity modeling framework. In an adaptive computing driver, multi-fidelity simulation data trains surrogate models that queries an acquisition function, which decides which case to run next. That function asks which fidelity level simulation to run and where to run it in the sample space. Information from the adaptive computing driver is fed into application-specific simulation code where simulation task management occurs while employing cloud resources, high-performance computing resources, and the Amazon Web Services database to further run modeling that learns from simulations and correct them.

Data and Tools

G2Aero Software: Aerodynamic Shape Parametrization Using Separable Shape Sensors

Biomass Feedstock Conversion Interface Handling Computational Models

High-Fidelity Simulation Codes for Industrial Decarbonization

Combustion Simulations for Sustainable Aviation Fuels End Use

NMACFoam Software for Ultra-High-Pressure Reverse Osmosis Membrane and Module Design and Optimization

Virtual Engineering of Biofuels Software

PVade: Photovoltaic Aerodynamic Design Engineering Software

Wind Turbine Stall Modeling

Development Team

NREL's adaptive computing development team includes Marc Day, Olga Doronina, Hilary Egan, Kevin Griffin, Marc Henry de Frahan, Ryan King, Juli Mueller, Jibo Sanyal, Deepthi Vaidhynathan, and Dylan Wald.

Contacts

Juli Mueller

Group Manager III—Computational Science

Juliane.Mueller@nrel.gov
303-630-5543

Marc Day

Group Manager III—Computational Science

Marcus.Day@nrel.gov
303-275-4330

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