The Industrial Metaverse is about to revolutionize the development of a prototype fusion energy plant for the UK Atomic Energy Agency. stepin Nottinghamshire.
An immersive, connected virtual environment serves as a digital realm where engineers and scientists collaborate to design and refine plant engineering blueprints.
The UKAEA has partnered with Dell Technologies, Intel and the University of Cambridge to leverage the power of supercomputers capable of performing up to quintillion calculations per second and advanced AI technology to create digital twins of STEP designs. I am aiming. This digital replica enables comprehensive testing, analysis and optimization of various plant components and systems.
Dr. Paul Calleja, Director of Research Computing Services, University of Cambridge, said:
“UKAEA’s monthly mission to bring clean fusion energy to the UK grid in the 2040s is a very ambitious target, facilitating virtual engineering efforts to create a fully digital reality of power plants. Equally ambitious advanced computing and AI technologies are required to do so, and being able to develop and test in silicon greatly accelerates the process.
To this end, the Cambridge Open Zettascale Lab has collaborated with teams of HPC experts across Intel, Dell, the UKAEA, and the UKRI on a world-leading co-design effort called Project Dawn for the past two years. I have been designing and prototyping. It is a UK exascale-class AI and simulation GPU/CPU candidate with an integrated supercomputer, providing the computational power to help the UKAEA meet its enormous computational requirements.
Project Dawn is closely aligned with the recent UK Computing Futures Review recommendations which target over £1 billion in investment in the development of the UK’s AI and exascale computing ecosystem. ”
The concept of the industrial metaverse goes beyond traditional computer-aided design (CAD) systems. It provides a fully interactive and immersive experience, enabling multidisciplinary teams to work seamlessly across geographic boundaries.
Engineers and scientists will be able to visualize fusion energy plants in 3D space, explore their intricate details, and simulate their behavior under various operating conditions.
By leveraging the capabilities of the industrial metaverse, the UKAEA aims to pave the way for the integration of STEP into national grids by the 2040s while ensuring ecosystem readiness and cost-effectiveness. Virtual environments enable rigorous testing and validation, minimizing the risks associated with physical prototyping and building.
Exascale computing, the pinnacle of computing power, will play a key role in the industrial metaverse. This next-generation technology provides unprecedented computational resources to enable complex simulations, advanced analytics and predictive modeling. This allows engineers to study fusion reaction behavior, plasma behavior and overall plant performance under extreme conditions. Such detailed analysis is very important for developing robust and efficient designs.
The collaboration between UKAEA, Dell Technologies, Intel and the University of Cambridge demonstrates the blend of cutting-edge technologies required for a successful industrial metaverse.
By integrating supercomputing power, AI algorithms, and advanced software solutions, our partners aim to democratize access to high-performance computing, making it practical and vendor-neutral.
The transformative potential of the industrial metaverse extends beyond fusion energy. It represents a paradigm shift in how the industry approaches design, engineering and manufacturing processes. By leveraging virtual environments, companies can accelerate product development, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact.
Applications of the industrial metaverse are spread across various fields such as aerospace, automotive, architecture, and healthcare. This enables real-time collaboration, iterative design refinement, and comprehensive testing of complex systems. A virtual environment makes it easier to identify design flaws, optimize performance, and improve overall product quality.
The Industrial Metaverse represents a new frontier in design and engineering, offering innovative approaches to product development across industries.
(Image credit: Ukea)
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