The interior of the conduit is provided with enlargements, recesses, projections, baffles, or buckets which, while offering virtually no resistance to the passage of the fluid in one direction, other than surface friction, constitute an almost impassable barrier to its flow in the opposite [direction].^[1]

One CFD simulation of Tesla valves with 2 and 4 segments showed that the flow resistance in the blocking (or reverse) direction was about 15 and 40 times greater, respectively, than the unimpeded (or forward) direction.^[2] This lends support to Tesla's patent assertion that in the valvular conduit in his diagram, a pressure ratio "approximating 200 can be obtained so that the device acts as a slightly leaking valve".^[1]

The Tesla Valve is used in microfluidic applications,^[3] and offers advantages such as scalability, durability, and ease of fabrication in a variety of materials.^[4]

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 ${\displaystyle Di}$, being the ratio of pressure drops for identical flow rates: ^[5]

${\displaystyle Di=\left({\frac {\Delta p_{r}}{\Delta p_{f}}}\right)_{Q}}$

where ${\displaystyle \Delta p_{r}}$ is the reverse flow pressure drop and ${\displaystyle \Delta p_{f}}$ the forward flow pressure drop for flow rate ${\displaystyle Q}$.

See also

• Coanda effect