Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Partners to Optimize Manufacturing Processes with High-Performance Computing

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) will collaborate with three U.S. companies—Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Construction Partners, Inc., and U.S. Green Magnesium—to optimize manufacturing processes through advanced modeling and simulation. The partnerships are part of $4.8 million in funding recently awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE) for 12 projects under the High Performance Computing for Manufacturing (HPC4Mfg) program. LLNL’s expertise in high-performance computing will be applied to diverse challenges, ranging from advancing solid-state battery electrolytes for Toyota to improving magnesium production and asphalt quality. The HPC4Mfg program, managed by LLNL as part of the broader HPC4EI initiative, connects companies with national laboratory resources, and each LLNL-led project will receive $400,000 in funding from DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.

DOE Funds LLNL Manufacturing Projects with $4.8 Million HPC4Mfg Program

companies. LLNL is collaborating with Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America to refine Li-ion solid state electrolytes, potentially enabling scalable solid-state battery production, building upon prior research identifying key performance factors. Furthermore, the laboratory is partnering with Construction Partners, Inc., to optimize moisture control in hot mix asphalt using detailed modeling of heat and mass transfer, and with U.S. Green Magnesium to improve magnesium production efficiency via computational fluid dynamics. “LLNL’s contributions include expertise in high-performance computing, multiphysics modeling and advanced simulation workflows,” according to the DOE. The HPC4Mfg program selected an additional nine projects nationally, furthering the initiative’s reach and impact on diverse manufacturing challenges. Details regarding the awards are available online, and further information about HPC4EI can be found at http://www.hpc4energyinnovation.org.

Toyota’s Solid-State Electrolytes Advanced via LLNL High-Performance Computing

Solid-state batteries represent a significant advancement over conventional lithium-ion technology, promising greater energy density and improved safety, yet scalable production has remained a considerable hurdle. The ultimate goal is to enable scalable energy production of these next-generation batteries. LLNL’s expertise in multiphysics modeling and advanced simulation workflows is central to this effort, applying computational power to optimize the innovative Li-ion SSEs. HPC4Mfg connects U.S. companies with national laboratory resources to tackle complex manufacturing issues through advanced modeling and simulation, and this partnership exemplifies that approach. This collaboration is part of a larger $4.8 million investment by DOE across 12 projects, highlighting the national priority placed on bolstering domestic manufacturing capabilities and securing critical mineral supply chains. LLNL is also engaged in two additional HPC4Mfg projects, one focused on asphalt production and another on magnesium recovery, demonstrating the breadth of the laboratory’s contributions to manufacturing innovation.