Tesla TurbineOr

The Boundary Layer Turbine

Tesla’s Airship

-Nikola Tesla believed he would be the first man to fly.-His Idea was “a flying machine propelled by an electric motor, with power supplied from stations on the earth.- In 1913 he received the patent for what he called “the perfect rotary engine”.

-High-pressure fluid enters. -Fluid exits through the exhaust ports in the center. - A boundary layer formed between the surface of the disk and the fluid (water, oil, air) causes a centripetal motion forcing everything to the center. -Small but powerful engine that has only one moving part. -You can run the turbine in a reverse direction flow so you can use it as a pump.- No blades or tight orifices, you can pump dirty fluid or a fluid that has sediment in it without harming the pump.

The Basic PartsThe Disks-

- The only moving part in the turbine.-Early disks made of inferior materials. -Modern day made of carbon-fiber, titanium-impregnated plastic or Kevlar-reinforced disks.- They spin at 3,600 – 85,000 rpm.- If disk failure occurs.

Disks

- More disks = more surface area.- More surface area= more power

Stator- Simple, lightweight. Can be aluminum, steel, plastic, composite.-Cylindrical design, Bladeless.- Houses the bearings.- Does not require crankcase oil = lighter weight.- Two ports for clockwise/counterclockwise movement.

Efficiency• First built in 1906, Had 8, 6” disks. • Weighed less than 10 pounds and developed 30 Hp. • The rotor attained such high speeds, 35,000 rpm, that the

metal disks stretched. • In 1910 they built a larger model with 8, 12” disks.• At 10,000 rpm developed 100 horsepower. • Lastly they built one with 15, 60”. • Operating at 3,600 rpm, generates 675 Hp. Disks always

distorted.• Tesla claimed 95% efficiency, but could only obtain 60%• Modern day engines are around 27-28%

• In the late 1970’s Warren Rice at Arizona State University, created a version of the Tesla turbine that operated at 41%.

• As of 2007, Frank Germano has one in continuous operation without component failure for 7 years.

• He has achieved 42.2% efficiency at 13,000 rpm, with 14.8 horse power output.

Modern Day UsageThis is the Phoenix Navigation and Guidance Inc. turbine.

-COMBINED THE DISK TURBINE WITH A PULSE DETONATION.-THEY CLAIM DELIVERS UNPRECEDENTED EFFICIENCIES. -THERE ARE 29 ACTIVE DISKS, EACH 10 INCHES IN DIAMETER.-THE ENGINE GENERATES 18,000 RPM AND 130 HORSEPOWER. - THEY USE CARBON-FIBER, TITANIUM-IMPREGNATED PLASTIC AND KEVLAR-REINFORCED DISKS.