Investigating the Possibility of Utilizing a Tesla Turbine as a Drive Unit for an Automotive Air-Condition Compressor Using CFD Modeling (OR-16-012)

This paper investigates the possibility of using a Tesla turbine as an alternative air-conditioning compressor drive unit rather than the traditional method of linking the compressor rotor to the vehicle engine crank-shaft belt or chain. Interest in Tesla turbines has recently gained momentum due to the possibility in obtaining high efficiency in energy conversion, as claimed by the inventor Nikola Tesla. This paper investigates the possibility of driving the air-conditioning compressor using the hydraulic energy available in the engine lubrication oil piping provided by the engine oil pump. Tesla turbines are easy to adapt and can cover a range of flow rate capacities. Using such a system for energy conversion can lower capital equipment costs and improve the turbine life span. Contributing to sustainable engineering development.