CLS · RESEARCH AREAS

Multiscale Modeling and Computational Design

Revealing key mechanisms in energy processes, from atoms and molecules to flow fields and devices, to provide a computational basis for designing fuels, materials and energy equipment.

Molecular structures and recolored turbulent reacting-flow visualization: a multiscale-modeling concept illustration
The reacting-flow structure on the right is recolored from a University of Duisburg-Essen DNS visualization; it is not a simulation produced by our team.

Overview

Multiscale modeling combines computational methods across spatial and temporal scales to investigate relationships between microscopic mechanisms and macroscopic performance. Molecular reactions in fuels and processes at material interfaces influence energy conversion, while flow and heat transfer within devices alter local reaction conditions. We use molecular simulations and flow-field calculations to analyze how these processes affect system performance, assessing model reliability through comparison with experiments. This research seeks to reveal internal processes that are difficult to observe directly and to inform material selection, reactor design and energy-equipment optimization.

Research themes

Molecular reactions and material-interface mechanisms

We use molecular dynamics and reaction-kinetic analysis to investigate fuel pyrolysis, oxidation and the formation of key intermediates, revealing how molecular structure and reaction environments influence conversion pathways. We also examine gas–surface interactions, interfacial oxidation, structural evolution and microscopic transport processes, providing a basis for evaluating fuel reactivity, selecting materials and studying catalytic processes.

CFD and complex reacting-flow simulation

We investigate interactions among flow, mixing, chemical reactions and species transport, analyzing flame shape and stability as well as temperature and product distributions. For burners, industrial furnaces and reactors, we examine how inlet conditions, swirl structures, wall interactions and device geometry affect reactions. Further exploration of turbulence–chemistry interactions supports combustion-system and device design.

Heat and mass transfer and multiphysics modeling

We investigate conduction, convection, thermal radiation and phase change, analyzing interactions between reaction heat release or absorption and fluid transport. For thermal-storage units, battery thermal management and catalytic reactors, we address local overheating, temperature nonuniformity, heat losses and dynamic response, revealing how material properties, structural layouts and operating conditions influence overall performance.

Computational design and performance optimization

Starting from defined design objectives, we compare how material choices, channel layouts, structural dimensions and operating parameters affect performance. Parametric studies, sensitivity analysis and optimization identify dominant factors and assess trade-offs among conversion efficiency, energy consumption, temperature uniformity and operational stability. This approach reduces reliance on trial-and-error design while exploring data-assisted rapid prediction and design screening.

Future directions

Future research will address complex equipment such as industrial kilns and furnaces, examining the coupling of combustion kinetics with flow and heat transfer. Particular attention will be given to interactions between furnace atmospheres and heat distributions and the heating, sintering or melting of processed materials, providing a basis for equipment and process optimization. Building on this work, we will explore digital-twin methods that integrate operating data with mechanistic models to improve state prediction, progressively developing optimization and control strategies that account for energy consumption, emissions and product quality.

Related publications

  1. Exploring reaction mechanism and kinetics of acetone pyrolysis and combustion in O2/H2O/CO2 environments via ReaxFF MD simulations

    Y. Yang*, R. Kai, H. Watanabe*

    Energy · 2025; 335: 137999

    Uses reactive molecular dynamics to investigate reaction mechanisms in acetone pyrolysis and combustion.

  2. Understanding the oxidation mechanism of Fe (1 0 0) in supercritical CO2: A ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulation

    Y. Yang, J. Zhou, Y. Yu*

    Journal of CO2 Utilization · 2022; 63: 102119

    Investigates iron-surface oxidation in supercritical carbon dioxide at the molecular scale.

  3. A numerical investigation on the thermo-chemical structures of methane-oxygen diffusion flame-streets in a microchannel

    X. Kang, B. Sun, J. Wang, Y. Wang*

    Combustion and Flame · 2019; 206: 266–281

    Numerically investigates flame structures in a microchannel and interactions among flow, heat transfer and reactions.

  4. Numerical analysis of autothermal microchannel reactors for ammonia decomposition: Roles of material and channel architecture

    Z. Shen, Z. Weng, Y. Wang*

    Chemical Engineering Journal · 2026; 534: 175245

    Investigates performance optimization of ammonia decomposition reactors through analysis of materials and channel structures.

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