Numerical tools for upscaling of transport processes

We present the computational and modelling challenges related to the upscaling of complex flows in porous media. To derive effective macroscopic equations for single and multiphase transport in three-dimensional porous materials, homogenisation and volume averaging techniques rely on the solution of simplified (yet representative) "cell problems". We will present a set of OpenFOAM tools and solver to generate and discretise porous media geometry, to impose proper quasi-periodic boundary conditions, and to postProcess the results to find the relevant macroscopic parameters. This is illustrated through 3D simulation of heat and mass transfer in periodic porous media. We will also illustrate the possible extensions of similar techniques to the simulation of turbulent and polydisperse flows.