Rotary Engines – Cars
What is a Rotary Engine?
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.
Rotary engines were first developed in the early 20th century, but they did not become popular until the 1960s, when they were used in the Mazda Cosmo.
Today, rotary engines are no longer used in production cars, but they are still used in some racing cars.
Advantages of Rotary Engines
- Compact and lightweight: Rotary engines are more compact and lightweight than piston engines of comparable power.
- Smooth operation: Rotary engines run very smoothly, with minimal vibration.
- High power-to-weight ratio: Rotary engines have a higher power-to-weight ratio than piston engines, which means they can produce more power for their size and weight.
- Potential for high efficiency: Rotary engines have the potential to be more efficient than piston engines, but this has not yet been fully realized in production cars.
Disadvantages of Rotary Engines
- Oil consumption: Rotary engines consume more oil than piston engines.
- Fuel economy: Rotary engines are less fuel-efficient than piston engines.
- Emissions: Rotary engines produce more emissions than piston engines.
- Reliability: Rotary engines are less reliable than piston engines.
Cars that Used Rotary Engines
The following is a list of some of the cars that have used rotary engines:
- Mazda Cosmo
- Mazda RX-2
- Mazda RX-3
- Mazda RX-4
- Mazda RX-5
- Mazda RX-7
- Mazda RX-8
- NSU Ro 80
- Citroën GS Birotor
- Mercedes-Benz C111
Conclusion
Rotary engines are an interesting and unique type of internal combustion engine. They offer several advantages over piston engines, but they also have some disadvantages. As a result, they have never been as popular as piston engines in production cars. However, they are still used in some racing cars and may have a future in the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.
