Operational Parametric Study of a Prototype Tesla Pump

Abstract

A parametric study of a prototype Tesla pump was performed for various disk pack spacings and rotational speeds. The 15 thou spacing was the most effective disk pack spacing. A 40/60 weight percent mixture of propylene glycol and water was used to show the effect viscosity has on the Tesla pump performance. The boundary layer thickness was found to increase for the viscous working fluid and the performance between the various disk pack spacings were clearer than that for the water testing. A CFD simulation of a Tesla pump was attempted to determine if the results are similar to the experimentally obtained results. The boundary layers that form between the disks have been shown to combine and develop similarly to fully developed flow between plates. The effects of vibration on the operation of the prototype Tesla pump were also tested, and no effect was found for two vibrational frequencies.