Cars with Rotary Engine
Introduction
A rotary engine is a type of internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor that spins within a figure-8 shaped chamber to convert pressure into rotating motion. This design differs from the more common reciprocating piston engine, which uses pistons moving up and down within cylinders to create power.
Rotary engines offer a number of advantages over piston engines, including:
* Smoother operation: The rotary engine’s rotating motion creates less vibration than the reciprocating motion of a piston engine.
* Higher power-to-weight ratio: The rotary engine’s compact design allows it to produce more power for its weight than a piston engine.
* Simpler design: The rotary engine has fewer moving parts than a piston engine, making it more reliable and easier to maintain.
However, rotary engines also have some disadvantages, including:
* Lower fuel efficiency: The rotary engine’s unique design makes it less fuel efficient than a piston engine.
* Higher emissions: The rotary engine’s combustion process produces more emissions than a piston engine.
* Shorter lifespan: The rotary engine’s moving parts are subjected to more wear and tear than the moving parts of a piston engine, resulting in a shorter lifespan.
History of Rotary Engines
The rotary engine was first invented in the early 1900s by German engineer Felix Wankel. However, it was not until the 1950s that Wankel’s design was perfected and became commercially viable.
The first rotary-powered car was the NSU Spider, which was introduced in 1964. The Spider was a small sports car that was powered by a 500cc rotary engine. The Spider was followed by a number of other rotary-powered cars, including the Mazda Cosmo and the Mazda RX-7.
Mazda was the only automaker to produce rotary-powered cars on a large scale. Mazda’s rotary-powered cars were known for their performance and reliability. However, Mazda discontinued production of rotary-powered cars in 2012 due to the engine’s low fuel efficiency and high emissions.
Types of Rotary Engines
There are two main types of rotary engines:
* Single-rotor engines: Single-rotor engines have one triangular rotor that spins within a figure-8 shaped chamber.
* Multi-rotor engines: Multi-rotor engines have two or more triangular rotors that spin within a figure-8 shaped chamber.
Multi-rotor engines are more powerful than single-rotor engines, but they are also more complex and expensive to build.
Applications of Rotary Engines
Rotary engines have been used in a variety of applications, including:
* Cars: Rotary engines were used in a number of cars, including the NSU Spider, the Mazda Cosmo, and the Mazda RX-7.
* Motorcycles: Rotary engines were used in a number of motorcycles, including the Norton Commander and the MZ ETZ 250.
* Airplanes: Rotary engines were used in a number of airplanes, including the Wankel-powered Gyroflug B-100 and the Cri-Cri MC-15.
* Generators: Rotary engines are used in a number of generators, including the Mazda Wankel Engine Generator and the Yanmar YD-100.
Advantages of Rotary Engines
Rotary engines offer a number of advantages over piston engines, including:
* Smoother operation: The rotary engine’s rotating motion creates less vibration than the reciprocating motion of a piston engine.
* Higher power-to-weight ratio: The rotary engine’s compact design allows it to produce more power for its weight than a piston engine.
* Simpler design: The rotary engine has fewer moving parts than a piston engine, making it more reliable and easier to maintain.
Disadvantages of Rotary Engines
Rotary engines also have some disadvantages, including:
* Lower fuel efficiency: The rotary engine’s unique design makes it less fuel efficient than a piston engine.
* Higher emissions: The rotary engine’s combustion process produces more emissions than a piston engine.
* Shorter lifespan: The rotary engine’s moving parts are subjected to more wear and tear than the moving parts of a piston engine, resulting in a shorter lifespan.
Conclusion
Rotary engines offer a number of advantages over piston engines, including smoother operation, higher power-to-weight ratio, and simpler design. However, rotary engines also have some disadvantages, including lower fuel efficiency, higher emissions, and shorter lifespan.
Despite these disadvantages, rotary engines continue to be used in a variety of applications, including cars, motorcycles, airplanes, and generators.
