Tesla Turbine
Computers & Fluids 88 (2013) 344–353
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Computers & Fluids journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/compfluid
Analytical and computational solutions for three-dimensional flow-field and relative pathlines for the rotating flow in a Tesla disc turbine
Sayantan Sengupta, Abhijit Guha ⇑
Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
a r t i c l e
i n f o
Article history:
Received 22 December 2012
Received in revised form 18 June 2013
Accepted 8 September 2013
Available online 19 September 2013
Keywords:
Tesla turbine
Absolute pathline
Relative pathline
3-D CFD simulation
Flow reversal
a b s t r a c t
The three-dimensional flow field and the flow pathlines within a Tesla disc turbine have been investigated analytically and computationally. The description of the flow field includes the three-dimensional variation of the radial velocity, tangential velocity and pressure of the fluid in the flow passages within the rotating discs. A detailed comparison between the results obtained from the analytical theory and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) solutions of Navier–Stokes equations is presented in order to establish the reliability of the simplified mathematical model. The present work reveals the dependence of the shape, size and orientation of the pathlines on various operating parameters (such as tangential speed ratio, radial pressure drop, inlet nozzle angle, and position of the exit) and local balance of various forces
(viz. inertial, viscous, centrifugal and Coriolis). The relative merits of two possible ways of representing the pathlines in the absolute and relative frame of reference are discussed that provide physical understanding of subtle flow features.
Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
The study of detecting and analysing fluid path is important in various fields of fluid dynamics, such as in atmospheric
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Computers & Fluids journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/compfluid
Analytical and computational solutions for three-dimensional flow-field and relative pathlines for the rotating flow in a Tesla disc turbine
Sayantan Sengupta, Abhijit Guha ⇑
Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
a r t i c l e
i n f o
Article history:
Received 22 December 2012
Received in revised form 18 June 2013
Accepted 8 September 2013
Available online 19 September 2013
Keywords:
Tesla turbine
Absolute pathline
Relative pathline
3-D CFD simulation
Flow reversal
a b s t r a c t
The three-dimensional flow field and the flow pathlines within a Tesla disc turbine have been investigated analytically and computationally. The description of the flow field includes the three-dimensional variation of the radial velocity, tangential velocity and pressure of the fluid in the flow passages within the rotating discs. A detailed comparison between the results obtained from the analytical theory and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) solutions of Navier–Stokes equations is presented in order to establish the reliability of the simplified mathematical model. The present work reveals the dependence of the shape, size and orientation of the pathlines on various operating parameters (such as tangential speed ratio, radial pressure drop, inlet nozzle angle, and position of the exit) and local balance of various forces
(viz. inertial, viscous, centrifugal and Coriolis). The relative merits of two possible ways of representing the pathlines in the absolute and relative frame of reference are discussed that provide physical understanding of subtle flow features.
Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
The study of detecting and analysing fluid path is important in various fields of fluid dynamics, such as in atmospheric
References: [10] Guha A. Computation, analysis and theory of two-phase flows. Aeronaut J 1998;102(1012):71–82. [21] Guha A. Optimisation of aero gas turbine engines. Aeronaut. J 2001;105(1049):345–58. S. Sengupta, A. Guha / Computers & Fluids 88 (2013) 344–353 [25] Hoya GP, Guha A microstructured wall surfaces. Phys Fluids 2011;23(8) [Art. No. 082003].