[Gasification] engines (TESLA TURBINE)

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear William

William Carr wrote:
> On Feb 16, 2007, at 11:24 AM, Ken Boak wrote:
>
>   
>> No one working on Tesla turbines has published verifiable  
>> efficiency figures
>> that suggest that it is any better than a simple reciprocating  
>> steam engine.
>>     
>
>
> The "sweet spot" of the Tesla Turbine was as follows:
>
> Unlike the early bladed turbines of Tesla's day, it was easy to  
> manufacture.   Early test runs of bladed turbines showed how hard  
> they are to make, as they ended up in pieces.
>   
It is well known how to make a bladed turbine of very high efficiency. I 
would suggest Tesla Turbine technology is now very obsolete.
> Unlike Piston engines, there is only one moving part.
>   
Well built and well maintained piston engines go a million miles. Old 
Listers and Arrow engines give 50,000 to 100,000 hours life. There is 
nothing really wrong with more than one moving part.
>
> Apparently there's a version of a TT in common use in steam  
> generating facilities to "cream" off the high energy steam before it  
> goes to the pistons, or so I've read.
>   
If so, it is a "special purpose application", and not relevant to base 
power generation.
> And finally, the TT is reversible.   Perhaps it's neatest trick, just  
> power it and you can pump the working fluid backwards.
>   
It is an inefficient pump. It is an inefficient turbine. Doesn't seem to 
have much going for it.
>
> I'm sure there are high-tech approaches that work more efficiently in  
> some areas,
Name one.
>  but the TT is still a fascinating device.
>   
Crooke Radiometers, Pinwheels, and Hero Turbines are fascinating also, 
but they don't really have a place in efficient power generation.
> Kind of like the MIDGE stove, really.   Easy to build without a  
> factory, efficient in it's own way.
>   
Efficiency is Work out/work in. Everything I have seen points to the 
Tesla Turbine as being inherently inefficient.

Why don't we continue to hold Tesla in very high esteem for his enormous 
Electrical contributions, and let his turbine thingy die the peaceful, 
quiet, and unobtrusive death it deserves? :-)

Best wishes,

Kevin