LUMI supercomputer impressed Wärtsilä Finland: superior capacity, cost efficiency, and sustainability
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Wärtsilä Finland tested LUMI supercomputer for their Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations with superior results in improved efficiency and reduced energy consumption and costs.
Bulut Tekgül, Wärtsilä’s Combustion & CFD Expert, Thermofluids & Simulations team, works in the company’s R&D and Engineering division. The team utilises Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to understand and improve engine function, propulsion systems, and energy solutions.
“By leveraging advanced CFD techniques, we analyse complex fluid dynamics, combustion processes, and thermal interactions to optimize performance, efficiency, and sustainability. Our work plays a crucial role in driving Wärtsilä’s mission to decarbonize marine and energy industries, ensuring innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for a cleaner future,” Tekgül describes.
Complex problems require advanced computing
“We deal with very complex and computationally demanding problems that often include mesh motion, chemical reactions, moving particles, and multi-phase flows. We are constantly aiming for improvements in our cost efficiency and effectiveness in demanding simulations. The scale and complexity of our simulations have to fit within the required timeframes, too,” Tekgül says.
To solve some challenges and enhance their computational capabilities, Wärtsilä wanted to explore what the LUMI supercomputer computing infrastructure and CSC expertise has to offer.
“In our collaboration with CSC, we aimed at evaluating how LUMI’s resources could help us perform high-fidelity simulations more efficiently and cost-effectively,” Tekgül explains.
LUMI supercomputer for business use
It is not a given that one is able to uptake supercomputing into their computing repertuar. Tekgül had the advantage of having previously used CSC’s computing services: initially Taito and Sisu supercomputers, and later Puhti and Mahti for reactive Computational Fluid Dynamics problems during his doctoral studies at Aalto University.
He also knew that LUMI’s computing power and simulation capabilities were acknowledged by research colleagues as well as by the media. Once he became aware that CSC was also offering solutions for industrial use, Wärtsilä decided to test LUMI via CSC’s Try and Buy model.
“The uptake process was straightforward. After the creation of the user accounts and transfer of the billing units, we were able to compile the custom libraries. We still needed some help from CSC experts, and after their quick response, we were able to start our test runs,” Tekgül says.
Cost efficiency boost with reliable support
“We were really positively surprised by the results. The improved efficiency was clearly visible in our test runs. We were able to run our simulations much faster, meeting tight project deadlines and accelerating our R&D processes,” Tekgül says.
We were really positively surprised by the results. The improved efficiency was clearly visible in our test runs. We were able to run our simulations much faster, meeting tight project deadlines and accelerating our R&D processes.
Bulut Tekgül, Wärtsilä Finland
“We also assessed the cost efficiency of our in-house infrastructure versus CSC’s services. We compared the costs, scalability, and performance benefits of each approach, which provided us with a clear understanding of the potential advantages of using high-performance computing. CSC’s responsive service desk ensured that any technical challenges were addressed promptly, minimizing downtime and enhancing overall productivity.”
The test runs also serve Wärtsilä’s ambitions of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. To achieve this goal, the company invests in developing new technologies, large scale simulations and the increased use of machine learning. All this requires more computing power.
Maximizing simulations, minimizing energy consumption and costs
“Our focus is towards ramping up our industrial R&D computations in LUMI with the applications already identified. Obviously, our goal is to maximize the use of simulations and minimize carbon intensive energy consumption and costs. If we are successful, we should be able to leverage the use of any capacity offered to us,” Tekgül says.
“We also need to adopt new technology more quickly, starting with GPU computing, continuing with Artificial Intelligence models and hopefully soon, using quantum computing,” he concludes.
CSC is very excited that Wärtsilä’s test runs with LUMI were a success, says Partnership Manager Dan Still.
“It is encouraging to see that we can offer a competive supercomputer-based solution also for industrial applications. At CSC, we strive to deliver a world-class computing environment and the best possible support for Finnish industry to support their efforts towards increased competitiveness and to meet their sustainability values as well,” Still says.
Read more
- LUMI’s business use: High-performance computing for companies
Dan Still
Dan Still works with building industrial partnerships and networks to boost industrial HPC use.
