I had that thought too, but the Tesla Turbine worked well only with laminar flow. This thing clearly uses well mixed, turbulent flow.
Check back issues of Pop/Sci/Mechanics for 18 mos. I recall seeing an article on this engine in one or the other. Some more info and better pics than linked. But I can see where the “inventor” wants to keep things pretty close to their vest.
You might also remember another “revolutionary engine” coming out of Australia. Lots of advance hoopla, but it seems to have died an unremarked natural death.... >PS