ABSTRACT
Typical power systems for spacecraft and electronics involve the use of solar panels, though not always. The two current rovers on Mars use radioisotope thermal electric generators (RTGs) in combination with a pumped fluid loop system. This section explores the use of a Tesla turbine to replace the standard turbine impeller as means to convert fluid work into shaft power. The benefits include momentum transfer without the need for impeller blades that suffer from impingement due to debris in the flow stream. These turbines can also handle multiphase flows and are inexpensive to construct. The chapter offers a closed-formed solution to determining rotor size and offers a cost-savings example.
