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OpenTerrace
What OpenTerrace is
OpenTerrace is a free, open-source Python framework for simulating packed bed thermal energy storage systems on Linux and Windows desktops. It uses the finite volume method to calculate transient temperature responses in the tank and bed phases. Models can define tank and bed shapes, substances, boundary conditions, and source terms. Documented domains include cylinders, blocks, spheres, and hollow spheres. Listed fluid substances include air, water, and Nak2278, while bed materials include Swedish diabase, magnetite, ATS50, and ATS58. Central differences are available for diffusion, with an upwind scheme for convection. The project uses Numba, NumPy, and SciPy, and allows extensions for materials such as non-spherical rocks and phase change materials. Installation covers pip and an editable developer setup using Python 3.12 in Conda; Linux or WSL on Windows is recommended for that setup. Documentation describes automated checks against analytical limiting cases, while validation studies content is still being added. OpenTerrace is aimed at researchers and industry decision makers and welcomes contributions.
Who it suits
OpenTerrace is intended for researchers and industry decision makers working with packed bed thermal energy storage simulations. Developers who plan to modify the framework can use its editable installation guidance.
What it does well
- Free open-source Python framework
- Finite volume thermal simulation
- Configurable shapes, substances, and boundaries
- Uses Numba, NumPy, and SciPy
- Supports extension modules
What to know first
- No 3D visuals
- Validation studies content is still being added
- Editable setup recommends Linux or WSL
- Pure advection verification results are still to be added
Verdict
OpenTerrace provides configurable packed-bed thermal storage simulations with documented numerical schemes and materials. Its incomplete validation documentation is a key consideration for users assessing the framework.
Facts from OpenTerrace's own pages
- Audience
- The project aims to give researchers and industry decision makers a shared, transparent, open-source simulation framework. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Authoring tools
- Yes · openterrace.github.io, 23 Sept 2026
- Configurable models
- Users can configure tank and bed shape, substance type, boundary conditions, and source terms. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Contact
- The contact page names Jakob Hærvig, Associate Professor at Aalborg University's Department of Energy, and gives an Aalborg East address in Denmark. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Contributions
- OpenTerrace is open source and welcomes contributions, with larger changes to core functionality requested to be discussed in advance. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Delivery mode
- desktop · openterrace.github.io, 23 Sept 2026
- Dependencies
- The project says it uses Numba, NumPy, and SciPy. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Developer use
- The installation guide recommends editable installation for people who plan to extend or modify OpenTerrace. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- The framework supports adding modules for materials such as non-spherical rocks and phase change materials. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · openterrace.github.io, 23 Sept 2026
- Installation
- Regular users can install OpenTerrace with pip, which the guide says resolves dependencies automatically. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project describes its intended audience as researchers and industry decision makers working with thermal energy storage packed bed simulations. · openterrace.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The contact page names Jakob Hærvig, Associate Professor at Aalborg University’s Department of Energy. · openterrace.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Materials
- Documented fluid substances include air, water, and Nak2278, while bed materials include Swedish diabase, magnetite, ATS50, and ATS58. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Materials and geometries
- The user guide lists fluid and bed substances and domain types including cylinders, blocks, spheres, and hollow spheres. · openterrace.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Model options
- The documentation lists cylinder, block, sphere, hollow sphere, and lumped domain types. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Numerical method
- It uses the finite volume method to calculate transient temperature response in packed bed systems. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Numerical schemes
- The documentation includes a central difference scheme for diffusion and an upwind scheme for convection. · openterrace.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OpenTerrace is a pure Python framework for simulating thermal energy storage packed bed systems. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Python version
- The developer setup instructions create a Conda environment with Python 3.12. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Simulation method
- It uses the finite volume method to calculate transient temperature responses in the storage tank and bed phases. · openterrace.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Support and contributions
- The project welcomes contributions and invites students interested in semester projects on thermal energy storage to contact the maintainer. · openterrace.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported development environment
- For editable installation, the guide recommends Linux or WSL on Windows. · openterrace.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- 3D visuals
- No · openterrace.github.io, 23 Sept 2026
Where OpenTerrace stands on Freedom251
- Physics Simulation Software#55 of 89