Towards a generic supporting framework for multiscale modelling of process systems

多尺度建模是一种新兴的建模范式，它结合了复杂系统的不同分辨率尺度的模型，以获得整个系统的高质量特征，可用于解决具有挑战性的科学和工程问题。这种建模范例现在被广泛认为是在各个学科中有前途的强大工具，包括过程工程的广泛领域。另一方面，由于要解决一系列概念、数值和软件方面的挑战，多尺度模型通常比单尺度模型更难开发。不幸的是，到目前为止，很少有支持开发促进多尺度建模。因此，多尺度建模的应用仍然是高度熟练的建模专家的特权，其成功是建立在一个非常具体的案例基础上；尽管大多数科学家和工程师对从这种先进的建模范式中受益抱有很高的期望，但他们仍然要与概念和实践上的困难作斗争。这项拟议的研究旨在通过努力建立一个基于计算机的、通用的和开放的支持框架，在多尺度建模领域做出一步改变。该框架将在所有概念、数值和软件方面为多尺度应用的开发提供全面的支持。它将基于多尺度系统的统一理论框架，以最大限度地提高解决方案的通用性，以处理非常多样化的应用。此外，它将采用多尺度建模的三阶段策略，允许在概念建模，模型实现和模型执行方面最大限度地利用基于计算机的支持。这项工作将有助于将多尺度建模从专家手中转移到更广泛的实践建模者社区。我们的研究结果也将为研究人员和商业软件供应商在未来推进多尺度建模的理论和工具提供良好的基础。

Multiscale modelling is an emerging modelling paradigm which combines the models of different resolution scales of a complex system to obtain a high-quality characterisation of the entire system which can be utilised to solve challenging scientific and engineering problems. This modelling paradigm is now widely regarded as a promising and powerful tool in various disciplines, including the broad area of process engineering. On the other hand, a multiscale model is usually much more difficult to develop than a single-scale model due to a range of conceptual, numerical, and software challenges to be addressed. Unfortunately, there has been very little support developed so far to facilitate multiscale modelling. Consequently, the application of multiscale modelling still remains a special privilege of highly skilled modelling experts and its success is established very much on a case-specific basis; the majority of scientists and engineers has yet to struggle with conceptual and practical difficulties, despite their high expectations on benefiting from this advanced modelling paradigm. This proposed research is intended to make a step change in the area of multiscale modelling by working towards a computer-based, generic and open supporting framework. This framework will provide comprehensive supports to the development of multiscale applications in all conceptual, numerical, and software aspects. It will be based on a unified theoretical framework of multiscale systems to maximise the generality of the solution in dealing with very diverse applications. Furthermore, it will adopt a three-stage strategy to multiscale modelling which allows to maximise the computer-based supports in conceptual modelling, model realisation, and model execution. This work will contribute to the transfer of multiscale modelling from the hand of experts to the much wider community of practising modellers. Our result will also offer a sound basis for researchers and commercial software vendors to advance theories and tools for multiscale modelling in the future.