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Tesla valves
Aug. 17th, 2025 11:07 amI came across a reference to a Tesla valve today. Far from the first time. But this time it clicked with a old memory.
Back in the late 60s, my mom bought a tabletop fountain. I got curious and took it apart to look at the pump (I put everything back together just fine). It was rather odd. a donut shaped magnet with some wire coils and a copper tube thru it.
The only moving part was a steel tube that fitted inside the pipe and had oddly shaped plastic pieces on its ends. When AC power was applied, the tube moved up and down in the pipe at 60 Hz.
At the time, I couldn't figured out how it pumped the water. Now, I realized that the tube was a Tesla valve. Ingenious design as there was nothing to break during any reasonable service life.
Back in the late 60s, my mom bought a tabletop fountain. I got curious and took it apart to look at the pump (I put everything back together just fine). It was rather odd. a donut shaped magnet with some wire coils and a copper tube thru it.
The only moving part was a steel tube that fitted inside the pipe and had oddly shaped plastic pieces on its ends. When AC power was applied, the tube moved up and down in the pipe at 60 Hz.
At the time, I couldn't figured out how it pumped the water. Now, I realized that the tube was a Tesla valve. Ingenious design as there was nothing to break during any reasonable service life.
