OpenTerrace

Spec sheet

Purpose

OpenTerrace is a pure Python framework for simulating thermal energy storage packed bed systems.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Intended users

The project describes its intended audience as researchers and industry decision makers working with thermal energy storage packed bed simulations.Read 11 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Audience

The project aims to give researchers and industry decision makers a shared, transparent, open-source simulation framework.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Free plan

YesRead 23 Sep 2026 · openterrace.github.io

3D visuals

NoRead 23 Sep 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Authoring tools

YesRead 23 Sep 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Configurable models

Users can configure tank and bed shape, substance type, boundary conditions, and source terms.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Contact

The contact page names Jakob Hærvig, Associate Professor at Aalborg University's Department of Energy, and gives an Aalborg East address in Denmark.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Contributions

OpenTerrace is open source and welcomes contributions, with larger changes to core functionality requested to be discussed in advance.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Delivery mode

desktopRead 23 Sep 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Dependencies

The project says it uses Numba, NumPy, and SciPy.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com

Developer use

The installation guide recommends editable installation for people who plan to extend or modify OpenTerrace.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Extensibility

The framework supports adding modules for materials such as non-spherical rocks and phase change materials.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com

Installation

Regular users can install OpenTerrace with pip, which the guide says resolves dependencies automatically.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Maintainer

The contact page names Jakob Hærvig, Associate Professor at Aalborg University’s Department of Energy.Read 11 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Materials

Documented fluid substances include air, water, and Nak2278, while bed materials include Swedish diabase, magnetite, ATS50, and ATS58.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Materials and geometries

The user guide lists fluid and bed substances and domain types including cylinders, blocks, spheres, and hollow spheres.Read 11 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Model options

The documentation lists cylinder, block, sphere, hollow sphere, and lumped domain types.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Numerical method

It uses the finite volume method to calculate transient temperature response in packed bed systems.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Numerical schemes

The documentation includes a central difference scheme for diffusion and an upwind scheme for convection.Read 11 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Python version

The developer setup instructions create a Conda environment with Python 3.12.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Simulation method

It uses the finite volume method to calculate transient temperature responses in the storage tank and bed phases.Read 11 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Support and contributions

The project welcomes contributions and invites students interested in semester projects on thermal energy storage to contact the maintainer.Read 11 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Supported development environment

For editable installation, the guide recommends Linux or WSL on Windows.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Validation

The validation studies page says its content is to be added.Read 11 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Validation status

The validation studies page says its content is to be added.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Verification

The project says its code is tested against known analytical solutions in limiting cases, with tests run automatically using GitHub Actions.Read 12 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Windows and Linux

For developer installation, the guide recommends Linux or WSL on Windows.Read 11 Oct 2026 · openterrace.github.io

Where Specifiction places it

• Physics Simulation Software#62 of 897.4