With access to some of the world’s most advanced and powerful computers, NETL uses them to solve some of the world’s most complex energy and advanced manufacturing problems, which will be the subject of the Lab’s upcoming Regional Workforce Initiative (RWFI) Energy 101 webinar series.

“The Future of Work” webinar is scheduled 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday Feb. 26. At the center of this webinar is groundbreaking work being conducted by the Lab’s Modeling, Simulation and Analysis group and how research being conducted by the team leads to innovations and discoveries that promote further regional and national economic development.

“In addition to developing and supporting the commercialization of new tools, NETL also takes an active role in supporting work force development wherever we can, and this webinar series is one of those avenues,” RWFI Federal Coordinator Anthony Armaly said. “Everyone tuning in on this session can expect to gain a basic understanding of controls and sensors courtesy of NETL’s Computational Science Division, among other topics.”

The session will highlight key challenges such as the advanced energy technologies and processes which rely on phenomena that confound the ability of experimental scientists because the key elements are not observable, or the measurements are impractical. This leads to costly, and lengthy experimental and developmental phases. Simulation Based Engineering focuses on developing and applying advanced computational tools at multiple scales: atomistic, device, process, grid and market scales to accelerate development and deployment of new technologies.

Computational design methods and concepts are required to significantly improve performance, reduce the costs of existing fossil energy power systems, and to enable the development of new system and capabilities such as advanced ultra-supercritical combustion, and hydrogen turbines. This effort combines theory, computational modeling, advanced optimization, experiments, and industrial input to simulate complex advanced energy processes, resulting in virtual prototyping.

The research conducted in the Simulation-Based Engineering program develops accurate and timely computational models of complex reacting flows and components relevant to advanced power systems. Model development and refinement is achieved through in-house research and partnerships to utilize expertise throughout the country.

Participation in the webinar is free but an RSVP is required. Those interesting in participating in the webinar can register here.

The NETL RWFI Energy 101 Series provides a basic primer on the research conducted at NETL, including the challenges and potential economic and workforce opportunities that successful research into these topics and their related challenges may bring to the region and the nation. NETL researchers present information on their work in an easy to follow and thus easy to communicate fashion.