[en] Abstract
The Tesla compressor is an innovative technology that offers a unique approach to fluid compression. Unlike traditional compressors that use rotating blades, bladeless compressors utilize closely spaced disks to create compression. The purpose of this article is to design a prototype Tesla air compressor with optimal design parameters and investigate the performance and loss characteristics based on numerical analysis and experimental demonstration. The prototype model has been numerically investigated at different rotational speeds, and the results have been compared with those obtained in experiments. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations indicate that the rotor-only efficiency is greater than 90% at very low mass flowrates, while the coupling of the rotor and volute leads to a total-to-static efficiency of approximately 58% (without losses) at 14 g/s. At a nominal mass flow of 4 g/s, the highest total-to-static pressure ratio would be around 1.27. Experimental results indicate leakage losses greatly reduce net mass flow, while pressure ratio values are in good agreement with CFD predictions. During this experiment, a maximum isentropic efficiency of 32.4% is measured. Indeed, the prototype included ventilation and leakage losses, which were not modeled in the CFD analysis. It is remarkable that the compressor does not show any unstable behavior down to zero mass flow (closed valve test), where the CFD and the experiment show consistent pressure ratios. An estimation of the losses from end-wall friction and leakage flow is carried out using numerical simulations at different exit radial clearances. Increasing radial clearance results in an increase in leakage and end-wall power loss, the latter being driven mainly by the axial clearance with the casing, which remained unchanged. To minimize leakage, a Teflon ring has been used as a first measure. Numerical calculations have indicated that the leakage rate is approximately 6 g/s at design speed. A brush seal-type solution can improve the sealing system to reduce leakage.
Disciplines :
Energy
Author, co-author :
Tiwari, Ravi Nath ; Department of Mechanical, Energy Management and Transport Engineering (DIME), TPG, University of Genoa , Via Montallegro, 1, Genova 16145, Italy
Reggio, Federico; Department of Mechanical, Energy Management and Transport Engineering (DIME), TPG, University of Genoa , Via Montallegro, 1, Genova 16145, Italy ; University of Genoa
Ferrari, Mario Luigi ; Department of Mechanical, Energy Management and Transport Engineering (DIME), TPG, University of Genoa , Via Montallegro, 1, Genova 16145, Italy
DE PAEPE, Ward ; Université de Mons - UMONS > Faculté Polytechnique > Service de Thermique et Combustion
Traverso, Alberto; Department of Mechanical, Energy Management and Transport Engineering (DIME), TPG, University of Genoa , Via Montallegro, 1, Genova 16145, Italy
Language :
English
Title :
Experimental Characterization of a Bladeless Air Compressor
Rice, W., 1963, "An Analytical and Experimental Investigation of Multiple Disk Pumps and Compressors, " ASME J. Eng. Power, 85(3), pp. 191-198.
Tiwari, R. N., Reggio, F., Renuke, A., Pascenti, M., Traverso, A., and Ferrari, M. L., 2022, "Performance Investigation of a Bladeless Air Compressor, " ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 144(9), p. 091008.
Rice, W., 2003, "Tesla Turbomachinery, " Handbook of Turbomachinery, E. Logan and R. Ray, eds., Marcel Dekker, New York, Chap. 14.
Miller, G. E., Etter, B. D., and Dorsi, J. M., 1990, "A Multiple Disk Centrifugal Pump as a Blood Flow Device, " IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng., 37(2), pp. 157-163.
Tiwari, R.N., NiccoliniMarmont, C. A., Reggio, F., Silvestri, P., Traverso, A., and Ferrari, M. L., 2023, "Acoustic Signature Analysis of a Bladeless Blower, " Appl. Acoust., 208(6), p. 109382.
Miller, G. E., and Fink, R., 1999, "Analysis of Optimal Design Configurations for a Multiple Disk Centrifugal Blood Pump, " Int. Soc. Artif. Organs, 23(6), pp. 559-565.
Talluri, L., Fiaschi, D., Neri, G., and Ciappi, L., 2018, "Design and Optimization of a Tesla Turbine for ORC Applications, " Appl. Energy, 226, pp. 300-319.
Renuke, A., Vannoni, A., Pascenti, M., and Traverso, A., 2019, "Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Small-Scale Tesla Turbines, " ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 141(12), p. 121011.
Zhao, D., Ji, C., Teo, C., and Li, S., 2014, "Performance of Small-Scale Bladeless Electromagnetic Energy Harvesters Driven by Water or Air, " Energy, 74, pp. 99-108.
Magistri, L., Costamagna, P., Massardo, A. F., Rodgers, C., and McDonald, C. F., 2002, "A Hybrid System Based on a Personal Turbine (5 kW) and a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack: A Flexible and High Efficiency Energy Concept for the Distributed Power Market, " ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 124(4), pp. 850-857.
Meadville, J. W., 1980, "Low-Thrust Chemical Propulsion System, " NASA, Washington, DC, Report No. NASA CR-165210 RI/RDS0-222.
Tiwari, R., Eleftheriou, K., Ferrari, M. L., Efstathiadis, T., Traverso, A., and Kalfas, A., 2023, "Numerical Investigation of Bladeless Compressor on Different Disk Spaces and Diffuser Configurations, " ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 145(1), p. 011017.
Tiwari, R. N., Traverso, A., Pascenti, M., and Ferrari, M. L., 2023, "Performance Investigation of a Bladeless Air Compressor Using Numerical Simulation, " ASME Paper No. GT2023-102615.
Rajendran, J. D., Palaveev, K., Anselmi, E., Santhanakrishnan, M., and Pachidis, V., 2024, "Insights Into the Flow Field and Performance of a Boundary Layer Pump, " ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 146(6), p. 061002.
Tiwari, R. N., 2023, "Investigation of Micro Gas Turbine System Configurations for Compact Lightweight Applications Based on Reversible Bladeless Tesla Machinery, " Ph.D. thesis, Universita degli Studi Genova, Genova, Italy.
Hasinger, S. H., and Kehrt, L. G., 1963, "Investigation of a Shear Force Pump, " ASME J. Eng. Power, 85, pp. 201-206.
Balje, O. E., 1962, "A Study on Design Criteria and Matching of Turbomachines: Part A-Similarity Relations and Design Criteria of Turbines, " ASME J. Eng. Power, 84(1), pp. 103-114.
Wang, B., Okamoto, K., Yamaguchi, K., and Teramoto, S., 2014, "Loss Mechanisms in Shear-Force Pump With Multiple Corotating Disks, " ASME J. Fluids Eng., 136(8), p. 081101.
De Souza, B., Niven, A., and McEvoy, R., 2010, "ANumerical Investigation of the Constant-Velocity Volute Design Approach as Applied to the Single Blade Impeller Pump, " ASME J. Fluids Eng., 132(6), p. 061103.
Pan, D., Whitfield, A., and Wilson, M., 1999, "Design Considerations for the Volutes of Centrifugal Fans and Compressors, " Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part C: J. Mech. Eng. Sci., 213(4), pp. 401-410.
Yu, Y., Ren, W., and Liu, J., 2019, "A New Volute Design Method for the Turbo Air Classifier, " Powder Technol., 348, pp. 65-69.
Galindo, J., Hoyas, S., Fajardo, P., and Navarro, R., 2013, "Set-Up Analysis and Optimization of CFD Simulations for Radial Turbines, " Eng.Appl. Comput. Fluid Mech., 7(4), pp. 441-460.
Menter, F. R., 1992, "Influence of Freestream Values on k-Omega Turbulence Model Predictions, " AIAA J., 30(6), pp. 1657-1659.
Menter, F. R., 1996, "A Comparison of Some Recent Eddy-Viscosity Turbulence Models, " ASME J. Fluids Eng., 118(3), pp. 514-519.
Wilcox, D. C., 1988, "Reassessment of the Scale-Determining Equation for Advanced Turbulence Models, " AIAA J., 26(11), pp. 1299-1310.
Abernethy, R. B., Benedict, R. P., and Dowdell, R. B., 1985, "ASME Measurement Uncertainty, " ASME J. Fluids Eng., 107(2), pp. 161-164.
Moffat, R. J., 1985, "Using Uncertainty Analysis in the Planning of an Experiment, " ASME J. Fluids Eng., 107(2), pp. 173-178.
Renuke, A., Reggio, F., Traverso, A., and Pascenti, M., 2022, "Experimental Characterization of Losses in Bladeless Turbine Prototype, " ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 144(4), p. 041009.
Gülich, J. F., 2003, "Disk Friction Losses of Closed Turbomachine Impellers, " Forsch. Ingenieurwes., 68(2), pp. 87-95.
Aslan-Zada, F. E., Mammadov, V. A., and Dohnal, F., 2013, "Brush Seals and Labyrinth Seals in Gas Turbine Applications, " J. Power Energy, 227(2), pp. 216-230.
MTU Aero Engines AG, 2024, "Brush Seal, World Class Sealing Technology, " MTU Aero Engines AG, Munich, Germany, accessed Oct. 10, 2024, https://www. mtu.de/engines/services/brush-seals/