Expandable Boundary Layer Turbine

Abstract

A boundary layer turbine that uses flat disks that can be precision cut at low cost is more cost-effective to construct and maintain than conventional turbines. Bolt-on hub design significantly decreases breakage and distortion. Delta-wing shaped center spacers and flow enhancing, teardrop-shaped outer spacers further increase durability by providing improved support for the disks while minimizing the disturbance of the natural flow of fluids. Use of endplates with heavy outer rims results in turbines with greater gyroscopic effect and greater mass for kinetic energy storage. A disk-directed inlet valve and focused inlet nozzle system increases efficiency by directing flows to the individual disks valve in a low friction containment case. The directed flow tuned inlet nozzle system further increases efficiency. Coating the inner case of the turbine's enclosure with Teflon or similar materials reduces friction and further improves efficiency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A boundary layer turbine comprising a fluid from which to extract useful work, said fluid including but not limited to steam, gas, liquid, air, water, wind or water currents, or emissions from smokestacks;
 whereby said fluid rotates one or plural disks within said turbine due to cohesion of said fluid to said one or plural disks;   wherein holes, from which said fluid exits endplates or exits said one or plural disks, are not centered in said endplates nor centered in said one or plural disks.   
     
     
         2 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 1  further comprising a focused inlet nozzle system that increases efficiency by directing flows of said fluid to said one or plural disks. 
     
     
         3 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 1  wherein edges of said one or plural disks or inner portion of said endplates are sharpened for improved flow of said fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 1  wherein said one or plural disks are bolted together with spacers. 
     
     
         5 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 4  wherein said bolts and spacers are located on an outer and inner rim of said one or plural disks to provide support for said one or plural disks and aid in initiating movement of said turbine by incorporating elements of an impulse turbine. 
     
     
         6 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 4  wherein said spacers are delta-wing shaped center spacers or teardrop shaped outer spacers to further increase durability by providing improved support for said one or plural disks while minimizing the disturbance of the natural flow of said fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 4  wherein said turbine is expandable by changing a length of said bolts and adding more said disks and more said spacers. 
     
     
         8 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 7  wherein more than one said expandable turbine can be used together in a multi-stage system or in a closed loop. 
     
     
         9 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 7  wherein said expandable turbine can be used as a pump by expanding the distance between said disks. 
     
     
         10 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 7  wherein said expandable turbine can be used as a water jet for water craft of all types including jet skis or jet boats or any pressure type water system. 
     
     
         11 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 7  wherein said expandable turbine can be used as a gyroscope and can be placed in gimbals. 
     
     
         12 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 7  wherein said expandable turbine can be used as a flywheel. 
     
     
         13 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 12  wherein said expandable turbine is paired and said pair of expandable turbines mutually counter-rotated thereby canceling-out rotational bias. 
     
     
         14 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 12  wherein said endplates comprise heavy outer rims resulting in said turbine having greater gyroscopic effect and greater mass for kinetic energy storage. 
     
     
         15 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 1  wherein hubs are bolted directly onto said one or plural disks without a hole through the center of said one or plural disks to reduce susceptibility to distortions and breakage of said one or plural disks. 
     
     
         16 . The boundary layer turbine of  claim 1  wherein an inner case of an enclosure of said turbine is coated with Teflon or similar materials to reduce friction thereby further improving efficiency. 
     
     
         17 . A method of constructing a boundary layer turbine comprising a first step of precision cutting one or plural flat at low cost;
 wherein said one or plural flat disks are precision laser cut by CNC machines;   wherein holes are not centered in said one or plural disks.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising a subsequent step wherein edges of said one or plural disks or inner portion of said endplates are sharpened. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising a subsequent step wherein said one or plural disks are bolted together with spacers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising a subsequent step wherein hubs are bolted directly onto said one or plural disks without a hole through the center of said one or plural disks.