OpenFOAM

OpenFOAM is an open‑source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) toolbox used to simulate fluid flow, pressure drop and transport phenomena in complex geometries. In filtration and process‑belt design it models distribution manifolds, under‑cloth drainage, shear fields in crossflow channels and transient events that cause re‑entrainment. Porous‑media models (Darcy/Forchheimer terms) represent screens and cakes as momentum sinks so designers can compare layouts before hardware is built. Successful projects couple OpenFOAM predictions with laboratory data—air/water permeability, porometry—so model coefficients reflect real media; they also include temperature‑dependent viscosity and, where needed, non‑Newtonian rheology. When combined with structural analysis, CFD highlights stress hot‑spots at seams and supports, guiding material choice and geometry for long service life. The outcome is more uniform flow, lower energy consumption and fewer scale‑up surprises in B2B plants.