Unlocking the Power of Solar Energy: Red Sky Supercomputer

🔋Red Sky supercomputer aids in converting solar energy into biofuels by modeling molecular dynamics and developing enzymes to extract sugar from cellulose.

🌽Corn cellulose, considered waste, is a promising biomass for biofuel production due to its abundance and well-established distribution infrastructure.

🧪Complex molecular dynamics simulations on Red Sky help scientists understand the deconstruction of cellulose and optimize biofuel production.

🔥Red Sky also contributes to the development of advanced engines capable of efficiently burning biofuels, further supporting their widespread adoption.

💡Red Sky's energy-efficient design, including power distribution and refrigerant-based cooling, minimizes environmental impact while delivering exceptional computational capability.

Why is the extraction of sugar from cellulose important for biofuel production?

—Cellulose is the structural part of plants and contains the sugar molecules that can be converted into biofuels. Extracting the sugar from cellulose is crucial for efficient biofuel production.

Why is corn cellulose a promising biomass for biofuel production?

—Corn is the largest crop grown in the US, and its cellulose waste, such as stalks and leaves, can be utilized to produce biofuels. The existing distribution infrastructure for corn makes it a viable choice for biofuel production.

How does Red Sky contribute to developing better engines for burning biofuels?

—Red Sky enables the creation of kinetic models of advanced fuel chemistry, including biofuels, which can be used to predict how the fuel will burn in an engine. This helps in optimizing engine performance and efficiency for biofuel combustion.

What is unique about Red Sky's energy-efficient design?

—Red Sky implements energy-efficient components, such as the Intel Xeon 5500 series processor, and features like power leakage reduction and a refrigerant-based passive cooling system. These optimizations make Red Sky one of the most energy-efficient supercomputers available.

Who were the key collaborators in the development of Red Sky?

—Red Sky is a collaborative effort between Sandia National Laboratories, Sun Microsystems, and Intel. Each partner contributed their expertise and innovations to create this advanced supercomputer.

01:23Sandia National Laboratories' red sky supercomputer, with its special cluster red mesa, is dedicated to the conversion of solar energy into biofuels.

02:30Corn cellulose, considered waste, is a promising biomass for biofuel production due to its abundance and existing distribution infrastructure.

02:44Red Sky's complex molecular dynamics modeling and simulations aid in understanding the deconstruction of cellulose and the extraction of sugar molecules.

04:07Red Sky is also involved in the development of advanced engines capable of efficiently burning biofuels, supporting their widespread adoption.

05:15Red Sky's energy-efficient design and innovative features minimize its environmental impact while delivering exceptional computational capability.