Leaman Audley B. The Design, Construction and Investigation of a Tesla Turbine

Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the Uniter tfity of Maryland in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science. — Maryland: University of Maryland, 1950. — 80 p.It was desired to construct and test a Tesla type turbine. The design to be similar to that of Mr. R. K. Warner, for hia thesis of Jtme, 1949, with the following alterations: In place of the two rotating discs and the single nozzle, a series of discs and nozzles were to be used. This should not complicate the design to a large extent, but it should give a larger output and probably a higher efficiency. A part of the added efficiency would be due to the lower percentage of windage losses. Par the bearings, a ball type was to be used rather than the Jaumel type. Mr. Warner noted that the bearing friction was very high In his unit. The ball bearings should measurably reduce the friction losses. An investigation of surface roughness was to be conducted. Testing with both rough and smooth discs. Divergent section nozzles were to be designed and constructed to attempt to reduce the expansion losses. The Tesla Turbine was invented and patented by Nicola Tesla. The applies tion was filed in January 1911 and the patent was not approved until May, 1913. During the intervening time, a William A. Scott had a similar type of turbine patented. Scott’s machine used a smooth surfaced discs with a serrated circumference. Shortly after Tesla’s patent was granted, a William W. Wonner obtained a patent for another turbine which had about the same design as those menticned above. Wonner ''s unit, instead of the smooth discs, had numerous holes drilled through the discs. The Tesla Tbrbine is a hoieing containing a series of discs keyed to a shaft. A let of compressible fluid is directed toward the disc and tangential to the periphery. This fluid tends to carry the discs with it and gives rotation to the shaft.Theory of operation.
Design.
Construction.
Instrumentation.
Summary of results.
Conclusions.Apparatus.
Appendix:
Construction.
Plates.
Figures.
Tables.
Calculations.