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Description
The present work aims to evaluate the feasibility of using a purpose-built computational fluid model to design a Tesla bladeless turbine for use within a residential scale organic Rankine cycle power generation system. Several methods for quantitatively evaluating Tesla turbines are developed and explored computationally and used in a parametric study and part-load sensitivity analysis to determine ideal single-phase turbine configurations. Mathematical derivations and code developed for these single-phase models are made available to the reader in the appendices of the present work. These models are evaluated against an experimental model turbine tested using compressed air as the working medium. The models allowed optimization of design points within constraints chosen by users. A turbine design ideal for use within the test system at San Diego State University is also presented. Comparison between the experimental and computational results indicates that the models have significant potential as a design tool, but they require further development to improve the accuracy of their predictions. Additionally, it was found that the Tesla turbine operates at comparable efficiencies to other residential-scale expander options when properly optimized for a cycle’s operating conditions using a parametric study. The sensitivity analysis indicates that the Tesla turbine also operates with acceptable efficiencies across a range of input conditions. The simplistic design of the Tesla turbine also results in lower manufacturing and material costs than other options with comparable efficiency. Improvements to the accuracy of the models may be achieved in future works by developing models to include turbulent effects and to more precisely budget and evaluate losses. A turbine for use within an organic Rankine cycle test system is currently in development.
