Identifying and mitigating energy losses in Tesla turbines: A study on CFD optimization

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates the flow dynamics and energy losses of Tesla turbines using Computational Fluid Dynamics with OpenFOAM. Our goal is to identify the main sources of energy loss. Four main sources of energy loss were identified. The most significant loss occurred during the conversion of pressure energy to kinetic energy, estimated to range from 88 % to 64 % of the total energy. Energy losses due to leaks between the rotor and the casing were also quantified, ranging from 4.97 % to 7.95 % of the kinetic energy at peak efficiency points. Design modifications, such as incorporating a nozzle at the entrance of the turbine, can improve efficiency. These findings highlight specific areas for efficiency improvement, offering opportunities for improved turbine design and integration into energy‐generation systems.

Keywords

• efficiency
• energy losses
• OpenFOAM
• Tesla turbine