4. Performance Parameters and Design Analysis:
Since the original patented design by Tesla in 1913,
while some researchers proposed modified designs to
the original Tesla turbine design, some researchers
showed interest on the modeling and numerical
simulation studies aimed at achieving better
performance of Tesla turbines. Many investigations
have been carried out to determine the performance
and efficiency of Tesla turbo-machinery. Most of
these investigations had a certain limited application
as the objective, with regard to size and speed as well
as the nature of the operating fluid. However, some
of the investigations have tried to establish the
generalized performance of Tesla-type
turbomachines. In general, it has been found that the
efficiency of the rotor can be very high, at least equal
to that achieved by conventional rotors. But it has
proved very difficult to achieve efficient nozzles in
the case of turbines, and efficient diffusers for pumps
and compressors. As a result, only modest machine
efficiencies have been demonstrated. Principally for
these reasons the Tesla-type turbo-machinery has had
little utilization. There is, however, a widespread
belief that it will find applications in the future, at
least in situations in which conventional turbomachinery
is not adequate.
Figure 3 illustrates a comparison of performance of
conventional bladed turbines and Tesla turbines. It
can be seen that the performance of one is the inverse
of the other and each has a certain point beyond
which a switch over between the two is sought.
While Tesla turbines are found to be more efficient at
smaller power output, conventional bladed designs
are better when higher output power is the
requirement.