Tesla-type turbine, method for operating a Tesla-type turbine, apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy and method for converting thermal energy into electrical energy

An apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, the apparatus comprising:

• a shaft;
• a Tesla-type turbine having:
• at least one disc arranged on an axis of rotation, the at least one disc adapted to be set in rotation with a gas volume flow flowing substantially tangentially so that mechanical energy is collectable from the shaft coupled to the at least one disc,
• a disc body that forms the at least one disc and has at least one cavity in which, for the purpose of cooling the disc body, a cooling medium is receivable, and
• at least one gas receiving chamber to receive and discharge the gas volume flow flowing substantially tangentially relative to the at least one disc,
• wherein the at least one disc of the Tesla-type turbine is arranged coaxially on the shaft,
• wherein the shaft is mechanically connected to a compressor unit, which has at least one compressor disc connected to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, so that, upon rotation of the Tesla-type turbine, the at least one compressor disc is set in rotation,
• wherein the compressor unit comprises a compressor gas receiving chamber that is fluidically connected to the at least one gas receiving chamber of the Tesla-type turbine so that gas compressed by the compressor unit is supplied to the Tesla-type turbine or to the at least one gas receiving chamber of the Tesla-type turbine, and
• wherein the at least one compressor disc has at least one cavity in a disc body forming the at least one compressor disc, the at least one cavity of the at least one disc of the Tesla-type turbine being fluidically connected to the at least one cavity of the at least one compressor disc so that cooling medium present at least partially in the gaseous phase is adapted to be supplied from the at least one cavity of the at least one disc of the Tesla-type turbine to the at least one cavity of the at least one compressor disc.