AN EFFECT OF SURFACE FINISH AND SPACING BETWEEN DISCS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF DISC TURBINE

Abstract

The turbine, invented by Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), is a bladeless turbine. Tesla disc turbine and a flexible test rig have been designed and manufactured, and experimental results are presented. An analysis of the performance and efficiency of the disc turbine is carried out. The design philosophy of the flexible test rig has been explained. Notice that there are no blades whatsoever – parallel, closely spaced discs used. Resistance to fluid flow between the plates results in energy transfer to the shaft. High velocity water enters the disk pack through inlet nozzle path tangent to the outer edge of the discs. Convergent nozzle imparts high velocity water jet tangentially on disc thickness. Lower-energy water spirals toward the central exit port, adhesion, drag and centrifugal forces continue to convert kinetic energy to shaft rotational power. The results of the study represent the step towards development boundary layer turbine. It has been determined that surface roughness and spacing affects the performance of the multiple disc turbines significantly. Efficiency may be improved at least up to 45%, which has been deemed achievable by Professor Warren Rice [2].