Abstract
We use analytical, numerical and experimental methods to characterize the laminar flow inside a Tesla turbine rotor gap. A comparison based on one particular set of operating conditions mutually validates the three approaches. The simplicity of the analytical flow model allows for a cost efficient optimization of the underlying turbine parameters. Performance charts exhibit general trends and serve as a guide for preliminary turbine design and optimization. In terms of the ratio of half the gap width to inlet radius and the ratio of outletto inlet radius, the designer of a tesla turbine has to find a compromise between optimal efficiency and optimal power output.
Highlights
A Tesla turbine uses the friction of a working fluid on the surfaces of multiple closely spaced disks to generate torque
The present study summarizes the analytical, numerical and experimental research done at the authors’ institutes and performs a brief parameter study based on the analytical approach
Particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) measurements are conducted on a test facility with a single, optically accessible friction turbine gap
Summary
A Tesla turbine uses the friction of a working fluid on the surfaces of multiple closely spaced disks (see Fig. 1) to generate torque. With this simple and robust design, friction-type turbomachinery might be a considerable competitor to conventional turbomachinery in certain niche fields of application, e.g. harvesting of industrial waste energy. The first important step towards this goal is to fully understand their flow physics. In this context, the present study summarizes the analytical, numerical and experimental research done at the authors’ institutes and performs a brief parameter study based on the analytical approach
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