Tesla Turbine
The 'Tesla Turbine' also known as 'Boundary Layer Turbine', 'Flat-disk Turbine', 'Bladeless Turbine' was invented by Nikola Tesla in 1913. The Tesla Turbine was one of his great inventions. This turbine has no blades to drag the axel move by the water. It has two disk in which was a very small, very small gap.
The Tesla Turbine has much more efficiency than a water turbine. According to Nikola Tesla, this turbine's efficiency is 60% - 95%. Here, in the Tesla Turbine water and blades are not used as a normal water turbine. It also uses nozzles to flow the fluid. In this turbine the Laminar fluid is used. This turbine runs on the principle of Shear Forces by Boundary Layer flowing fluid on a solid surface.
In this turbine a fluid flows with a high velocity from the nozzles. The Laminar fluid applied to the edge of the disk. The fluid drags the disk by means of viscosity and the adhesion of the surface layer of the fluid. As the fluid slows and adds energy to the disks, it spirals into the center exhaust. The Laminar fluid will make a boundary layer with the disk's surface and make it moving because of Shear Force. The disk is attached with a axel, when the disk rotates by the shear force by boundary layer of fluid, the axel also rotates. The turbine's axel joined with a generator. When the turbine's disk rotates the generator makes energy. We can flow the fluid in any direction, clockwise or anti-clockwise. The power output of the turbine depends on the number of disk used, the spacing of the disk's, the velocity of inlet fluid and the type fluid used.
Differences between a Water Turbine and Tesla Turbine:
- Tesla turbines has not blades but water turbines has blades.
- The Tesla Turbine uses a Laminar fluid where the water turbine use the water.
- Tesla turbine can move in both direction, clockwise and anticlockwise but water turbine can move only in one direction.
- Tesla turbine is much more efficient than water turbine.
- Tesla turbine is maintenance free but there water turbine has a lot of maintenance.
Some specifications are :
- This turbine can move clockwise and anticlockwise both.
- The number of disks increase the rpm of the turbine grows.
- This turbine is easy to build.
- This turbine don't needs maintenance ( it is maintenance free).
- It also can be use like a pump.
Image source: Google, Bing
Read also: Tesla Tower
For more informative posts click here.
No comments