Abstract: A boundary layer turbine includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a rotatable shaft at least partially disposed within the housing. Two or more rotor discs are coupled to the shaft in spaced relation to one another. Spacers are attached to at least a plurality of the rotor discs. The spacers are configured so as to provide a lifting force as fluid is passed over the spacers. An inner surface of the housing as well as the outer 25% of the disc surface may have spaced apart depressions formed thereon to assist in fluid flow passing more freely between the housing and the rotor discs, as well as along the outer leading edge of the disk.