Abstract: Turbine is an important mechanical structure in the process of ocean energy transformation and utilization, which can convert the kinetic energy of the fluid into rotating mechanical energy and drive the generator operation to generate electricity, which has been widely used in the field of Marine energy power generation. In the traditional sense, the blade turbine structure is a little bit complex, easy to use the working media leakage and other problems, which will greatly reduce the efficiency of turbine use. Tesla turbines due to simple structure, low manufacturing tolerance requirements, good sealing and other advantages are back in the eyes of researchers, and the operating performance of Tesla turbines determines the level of energy conversion efficiency, through the study found that Tesla turbines are not yet high conversion efficiency, in engineering practice applications can not be widely used, so it is particularly important to improve the efficiency of tesla turbines. This paper summarizes and analyzes the factors affecting the performance of Tesla turbines, introduces the mechanical structure, application field and research status of Tesla turbines, lists the experiments and studies carried out by researchers at home and abroad on Tesla turbines, summarizes the numerical simulation methods of Tesla turbines, provides some reference basis for improving the energy conversion efficiency of Tesla turbine and in future practical application, and finally looks forward to the application prospects of Tesla turbines in small marine energy utilization devices.

Key words: Tesla Turbine, Boundary Layer Effect, Run Performance, Small Equipment