Using Tesla turbine for waste heat recovery: Currents status and future directions

Abstract

: Waste heat recovery (WHR) has gained significant attention as a promising approach to enhance system performances and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Tesla turbine, known for its simplicity, reliability, good off-design performance, a simple structure, easy operation cleaning and maintenance, no blade corrosion, and low manufacturing costs, has emerged as a promising technology for waste heat recovery applications. This paper provides an extensive evaluation of the present state and prospective pathways concerning the utilization of Tesla turbines in waste heat recovery applications. The outline of Tesla turbine and its operating principles, highlighting its advantages and limitations, are introduced. A summary of the available literature on the utilization of Tesla turbines for waste heat recovery in different industrial sectors, including power plants, automotive, manufacturing, and renewable energy systems, is performed. The performance and energy conversion efficiency of Tesla turbines in these applications are critically evaluated. Furthermore, this review discusses the challenges and technical barriers associated with the implementation of Tesla turbines for WHR. It also identifies potential future research directions and suggests innovative strategies to enhance the performance and reliability of Tesla turbine-based WHR systems. These include application area in liquefied natural gas supply system and boil-off-gas return configuration. In conclusion, this review highlights the significant potential of Tesla turbines for waste heat recovery and emphasizes the need for further research and development efforts to overcome the existing challenges. The findings of this review can guide researchers and engineers in the design and implementation of efficient and sustainable waste heat recovery systems using Tesla turbine technology.