We recently wondered if 5G connectivity could make electricity without wires possible , as Nikola Tesla dreamed at the time, now more than a hundred years ago. Something that could be closer if we consider that this connectivity would use the same elements necessary for the development of a totally wireless electrical network.
But, on this occasion, we have learned that a group of scientists are testing the viability of a device originally patented by Tesla himself more than a century ago.
It would be, to be precise, a valve invented by the aforementioned engineer, which would not only be more functional than was initially thought, but would also have other potential applications today , especially after having carried conducted a series of experiments on replicas of the original design from the early 20th century.
The findings, published in the specialized journal ‘Nature Communications’, have suggested that the Tesla device, which at the time it decided to baptize with the name of “valve conduit” , could take advantage of vibrations in engines and other machinery to pump fuel, lubricants, refrigerants and other liquids and gases .
Now, the patented device, currently baptized as Tesla Valve , has inspired different strategies to direct currents inside networks and flow circuits. And experts are surprised, especially when an invention from 100 years ago is still not fully understood, and can be useful even in modern technologies in ways that would not have been considered yet.
What is the “valve conduit”?
The so-called “valve conduit” , or currently called the Tesla Valve, consists of a series of interconnected teardrop-shaped loops , designed to pass fluid flows in a single direction, and without having moving parts.
In this way, it provides a clear path for flows, albeit a slower path for reverse flows. Although this last “problem” was seen as a drawback, it would actually point to a potential benefit, especially at times when flows need to be controlled.
In order to understand the operation of the aforementioned valve, the scientists did different experiments at the New York University Applied Mathematics Laboratory, where they replicated the original design of the Tesla valve and subjected it to different tests that measured its resistance. to the passage of flow in both directions.
They found that, in general, the device responds similarly to how a switch would. At decreased flow velocities, there would be no difference in the resistance of the forward and backward flows. However, above a certain speed, the device is capable of “turning on” abruptly.
This abrupt “ignition” occurs with the generation of turbulent flows in the reverse direction, which “plug” the pipe with disturbing currents and vortices. Additionally, turbulence appears at much lower flow rates than previously observed for traditional or standard shaped pipes.
However, turbulence has been found to appear at flow rates up to 20 times slower than conventional turbulence in a cylindrical tube or pipe. Which, according to experts, would show the power that the Tesla device has when it comes to controlling flows, which could be used in many applications .
On the other hand, the scientists also discovered that the Tesla valve works even better when the flow is not constant , such as when it comes to oscillations or pulses, which the device is capable of converting into a directed and smooth outflow. It would be a pumping action that mimics AC-DC converters, which transform alternating current into direct current.
As the researchers believe, the Tesla valve could be used to take advantage of vibrations in both engines and machinery, in order to pump fuel, coolant and lubricants, among others.
