Analyzing the Importance of Tesla Valve Bifurcation in Diodicity

The Tesla valve, originating from Nikola Tesla's "valvular conduit" patent in 1920, offers a unique solution to fluid control challenges by enabling unidirectional flow while impeding reverse flow. With applications ranging from fluid pumps to high-power engines, Tesla's design functions as a fluidic diode, inducing pressure drops across the valve to define its efficiency through diodicity. Through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using ANSYS Fluent, the impact of removing the bifurcated section on Tesla valve efficiency is explored. The T45-R, D-Valve, and GMF Valve designs are analyzed across a range of Reynolds numbers (Re). Results show that while the absence of bifurcation can lead to higher diodicity values due to increased flow divergence and vortex formation, efficiency varies depending on flow conditions. The T45-R valve exhibits linear diodicity increase with Reynolds number, plateauing at higher values due to reduced fluid inertia influence. Conversely, the D-Valve with bifurcation excels at lower Re values, while the non-bifurcated version proves more efficient at higher Re values. The GMF Valve with bifurcation demonstrates efficiency at lower Re values but decreases in effectiveness as Re rises, with the non-bifurcated version showing lower efficiency overall. Overall, this research provides insights into the fundamental physics and design considerations of Tesla valves, offering guidance for optimizing fluid control applications across diverse industries. The study underscores the importance of considering geometric variations and flow conditions when designing Tesla valves for specific applications, highlighting the intricate relationship between valve geometry, flow dynamics, and efficiency.