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Jay H. Lee

Publications and source records attributed to Jay H. Lee.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

EARL-BO: Reinforcement Learning for Multi-Step Lookahead, High-Dimensional Bayesian Optimization

To avoid myopic behavior, multi-step lookahead Bayesian optimization (BO) algorithms consider the sequential nature of BO and have demonstrated promising results in recent years. However, owing to the curse of dimensionality, most of these methods make significant approximations or suffer scalability issues. This paper presents a novel reinforcement learning (RL)-based framework for multi-step lookahead BO in high-dimensional black-box optimization problems. The proposed method enhances the scalability and decision-making quality of multi-step lookahead BO by efficiently solving the sequential dynamic program of the BO process in a near-optimal manner using RL. We first introduce an Attention-DeepSets encoder to represent the state of knowledge to the RL agent and subsequently propose a multi-task, fine-tuning procedure based on end-to-end (encoder-RL) on-policy learning. We evaluate the proposed method, EARL-BO (Encoder Augmented RL for BO), on synthetic benchmark functions and hyperparameter tuning problems, finding significantly improved performance compared to existing multi-step lookahead and high-dimensional BO methods.

cs.LG

Integrating solid direct air capture systems with green hydrogen production: Economic synergy of sector coupling

In the global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, mitigating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions stands as a pivotal challenge. With escalating atmospheric CO2 levels, the imperative of direct air capture (DAC) systems becomes evident. Simultaneously, green hydrogen (GH) emerges as a pivotal medium for renewable energy. Nevertheless, the substantial expenses associated with these technologies impede widespread adoption, primarily due to significant installation costs and underutilized operational advantages when deployed independently. Integration through sector coupling enhances system efficiency and sustainability, while shared power sources and energy storage devices offer additional economic benefits. In this study, we assess the economic viability of polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers versus alkaline electrolyzers within the context of sector coupling. Our findings indicate that combining GH production with solid DAC systems yields significant economic advantages, with approximately a 10% improvement for PEM electrolyzers and a 20% enhancement for alkaline electrolyzers. These results highlight a substantial opportunity to improve the efficiency and economic viability of renewable energy and green hydrogen initiatives, thereby facilitating the broader adoption of cleaner technologies.

econ.GN

Multi-technology co-optimization approach for sustainable hydrogen and electricity supply chains considering variability and demand scale

In the pursuit of a carbon-neutral future, hydrogen emerges as a pivotal element, serving as a carbon-free energy carrier and feedstock. As efforts to decarbonize sectors such as heating and transportation intensify, understanding and navigating through the dynamics of hydrogen demand expansion becomes critical. Transitioning to hydrogen economy is complicated by varying regional scales and types of hydrogen demand, with forecasts indicating a rise in variable demand that calls for diverse production technologies. Currently, steam methane reforming is prevalent, but its significant carbon emissions make a shift to cleaner alternatives like blue and green hydrogen imperative. Each production method possesses distinct characteristics, necessitating a thorough exploration and co-optimization with electricity supply chains as well as carbon capture, utilization, and storage systems. Our study fills existing research gaps by introducing a superstructure optimization framework that accommodates various demand scenarios and technologies. Through case studies in California, we underscore the critical role of demand profiles in shaping the optimal configurations and economics of supply chains and emphasize the need for diversified portfolios and co-optimization to facilitate sustainable energy transitions.

eess.SY

Enhancing Data Efficiency and Feature Identification for Lithium-Ion Battery Lifespan Prediction by Deciphering Interpretation of Temporal Patterns and Cyclic Variability Using Attention-Based Models

Accurately predicting the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries is crucial for optimizing operational strategies and mitigating risks. While numerous studies have aimed at predicting battery lifespan, few have examined the interpretability of their models or how such insights could improve predictions. Addressing this gap, we introduce three innovative models that integrate shallow attention layers into a foundational model from our previous work, which combined elements of recurrent and convolutional neural networks. Utilizing a well-known public dataset, we showcase our methodology's effectiveness. Temporal attention is applied to identify critical timesteps and highlight differences among test cell batches, particularly underscoring the significance of the "rest" phase. Furthermore, by applying cyclic attention via self-attention to context vectors, our approach effectively identifies key cycles, enabling us to strategically decrease the input size for quicker predictions. Employing both single- and multi-head attention mechanisms, we have systematically minimized the required input from 100 to 50 and then to 30 cycles, refining this process based on cyclic attention scores. Our refined model exhibits strong regression capabilities, accurately forecasting the initiation of rapid capacity fade with an average deviation of only 58 cycles by analyzing just the initial 30 cycles of easily accessible input data.

cs.LG

Evaluating the Efficiency and Cost-effectiveness of RPB-based CO2 Capture: A Comprehensive Approach to Simultaneous Design and Operating Condition Optimization

Despite ongoing global initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions, implementing large-scale CO2 capture using amine solvents is fraught with economic uncertainties and technical hurdles. The Rotating Packed Bed (RPB) presents a promising alternative to traditional packed towers, offering compact design and adaptability. Nonetheless, scaling RPB processes to an industrial level is challenging due to the nascent nature of its application. The complexity of designing RPB units, setting operating conditions, and evaluating process performance adds layers of difficulty to the adoption of RPB-based systems in industries. This study introduces an optimization-driven design and evaluation for CO2 capture processes utilizing RPB columns. By employing detailed process simulation, we aim to concurrently optimize unit design and operating parameters, underscoring its advantage over conventional sequential approaches. Our process design method integrates heuristic design recommendations as constraints, resulting in 9.4% to 12.7% cost savings compared to conventional sequential design methods. Furthermore, our comprehensive process-level analysis reveals that using concentrated MEA solvent can yield total cost savings of 13.4% to 25.0% compared to the standard 30wt% MEA solvent. Additionally, the RPB unit can deliver an 8.5 to 23.6 times reduction in packing volume. While the commercial-scale feasibility of RPB technology has been established, the advancement of this field hinges on acquiring a broader and more robust dataset from commercial-scale implementations. Employing strategic methods like modularization could significantly reduce the entry barriers for CO2 capture projects, facilitating their broader adoption and implementation.

cs.CE

A Dynamic Penalty Function Approach for Constraints-Handling in Reinforcement Learning

Reinforcement learning (RL) is attracting attention as an effective way to solve sequential optimization problems that involve high dimensional state/action space and stochastic uncertainties. Many such problems involve constraints expressed by inequality constraints. This study focuses on using RL to solve constrained optimal control problems. Most RL application studies have dealt with inequality constraints by adding soft penalty terms for violating the constraints to the reward function. However, while training neural networks to learn the value (or Q) function, one can run into computational issues caused by the sharp change in the function value at the constraint boundary due to the large penalty imposed. This difficulty during training can lead to convergence problems and ultimately lead to poor closed-loop performance. To address this issue, this study proposes a dynamic penalty (DP) approach where the penalty factor is gradually and systematically increased during training as the iteration episodes proceed. We first examine the ability of a neural network to represent a value function when uniform, linear, or DP functions are added to prevent constraint violation. The agent trained by a Deep Q Network (DQN) algorithm with the DP function approach was compared with agents with other constant penalty functions in a simple vehicle control problem. Results show that the proposed approach can improve the neural network approximation accuracy and provide faster convergence when close to a solution.

cs.LG