A Review of Tesla Valve
A Review of Tesla Valve
A Review of Tesla Valve
Picture source:-Simulation and optimization of tesla valve, T-Q quing and N-T Nguyen, Nanyang technological university, Singapore
Topic introduction
A. There are need to control flow in microfluids.
Pumps and valves are the main things to do this.
B. Several types of valves are available
bilayer valve
Elastic one way valve(operates like a trap door)
Plunger valve.
C. However,these all have atleats one of the following problems,
Requires active control
Requires input energy
Contains moving parts
Topic introduction
• A valve invented by Nicolas tesla solves these problems
• No moving parts: “no moving part valve ”NMPV”
• Passive with no input energy
Picture source:-Nikola Tesla U.S. Patent 1,329,559 - Valvular Conduit | Tesla Universe
Topic introduction
The ratio of pressure drop of the forward to the reverse flow is called
“diodicity”
Analogy of diode in an electrical circuit
Higher diodicity is reqired
One can always chain valves together
Uses
Limits backflow of one fluid into another
Charge a resoirvoir with high pressure a vaccum
Fundamental building blocks of pneumatic “circuit”
Focused on continuum flow-nothing yet on near vaccum conditions
Working terminologies and keywords in
brief:-
• 1 diodicity:- The valves are structures that have a higher pressure drop for the flow in one
direction (reverse) than the other (forward). This difference in flow resistance causes a net
directional flow rate in the forward direction in oscillating flows. The efficiency is often
expressed in diodicity , being the ratio of pressure drops for identical flow rates
∆𝑝𝑟
𝐷𝑖 =
∆𝑝𝑓
Where ∆𝑝𝑟 is the reverse flow pressure drop, and the forward flow pressure drop
∆𝑝𝑓 for flow rate Q
2. The Knudsen number (Kn) :- is a dimensionless number defined as the
ratio of the molecular mean free path length to a representative physical
length scale. This length scale could be, for example, the radius of a
body in a fluid.
𝜆
𝐾𝑛 =
𝐿
Where;
𝜆 = mean free path ,
L = representative physical length scale .
Relation between mach no, Reynolds number and mach no is given below.
𝑀𝑎 𝜆𝜋
𝐾𝑛 =
𝑅𝑒 2
5) PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Papers referred
Ref:1 Ref:2
Figure in Ref 1 shows us the plot between alpha optimum and
Reynolds number, ie the value of flow rate for which the diodicity will
have maximum value and is given by the rekation, given by a straight
line
For figure Ref 2 shows us the relation between (L/W)ratio and Reynolds
number, given by the relation
1. 𝜌=1000kg/m3
2. 𝜇 =0.00046
3. 𝛼 =45(in degrees)
4. 𝛽 =90(in degrees)
5. R=228 micrometer
6. D=600 micrometer
7. L=235 micrometer
8. Width= 100 micrometers
1.4
1.2
1
DIODICITY
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
reynolds number
REYNOLDS NUMBER
OBJECTIVE 3:- EXTENSION OF GEOMETRY
Current design
1 width of the junction near beta was narrowed as shown in the following
slide which yielded inconclusive result
2another design proposed by Gamboa altering the beta angle in the acute
range.
Design 1
Design 1
1.4
1.35
1.3
1.25
1.2
1.15
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
reynolds number
The upper line represents the result obtained from gamboa whereas the lower line
belongs to T-Q quing and N-T Nguyen
Discussion