Calculating Area of a Tesla Turbine | Power Output Formula

[T C]

TL;DR Summary

The power that can be generated by a Tesla turbine can be deduced by using a formula that has been given in a equation in given document. Want to know how the area (mentioned in the formula) can be determined for Tesla turbine.

Found this paper regarding performance of Tesla turbine. At the page 23, a formula regarding possible power output from a Tesla turbine is given. But, I want to know how to deduce the area given the formula. Tesla turbines are discs placed one after another with specific gaps in between the discs. I want to know, whether it's just the area of only one side of a single disc or both front and back part of all the discs that will come into contact with the flow.

 

[Baluncore]

Page 12 of the paper, is on page 23 of the pdf file.
The equation is at the bottom of that page.
I believe that is a general equation, where area refers to the flow section of the turbine, not applicable directly to a Tesla turbine.

 

[T C]

You want to mean that this equation can hardly describe the output for Tesla turbine, right? Me too have some doubt about that part. In case of common market available turbines, the driving force is either impulse or reaction. But, for a Tesla turbine, it's totally different. That's why this equation can't properly define the output IMO.

 

[Baluncore]

Correct.

The Tesla turbine is very inefficient compared to other turbines. I have yet to see a justified application.

The Tesla turbine is driven by boundary layer drag on the disc surfaces. Those close plates also create a back pressure that blocks the exhaust, reducing efficiency.

Because it has the Tesla name, it receives attention that it does not deserve.