What is a Rotary Engine Car?

A rotary engine car is a type of car that uses a rotary engine instead of a piston engine. Rotary engines are different from piston engines in that they use a triangular rotor that spins inside a figure-8 shaped chamber. This spinning motion creates a combustion cycle that is much smoother than the reciprocating motion of a piston engine.

How Does a Rotary Engine Work?

A rotary engine works by spinning a triangular rotor inside a figure-8 shaped chamber. The rotor is mounted on an eccentric shaft, which is offset from the center of the chamber. As the rotor spins, it creates three combustion chambers between itself and the chamber walls. These combustion chambers are constantly changing shape, which allows the engine to complete the four strokes of the combustion cycle in one revolution of the rotor.

The four strokes of the combustion cycle are:

1. Intake: The intake port opens and the air-fuel mixture is drawn into the combustion chamber.
2. Compression: The intake port closes and the rotor spins, compressing the air-fuel mixture.
3. Power: The spark plug ignites the air-fuel mixture, creating a combustion event. The expanding gases push the rotor around, creating power.
4. Exhaust: The exhaust port opens and the combustion gases are expelled from the combustion chamber.

Advantages of Rotary Engines

Rotary engines have several advantages over piston engines, including:

• Smoother operation: The spinning motion of a rotary engine is much smoother than the reciprocating motion of a piston engine. This results in less vibration and noise.
• Higher power-to-weight ratio: Rotary engines are more compact and lighter than piston engines, which gives them a higher power-to-weight ratio.
• Lower emissions: Rotary engines produce fewer emissions than piston engines, because they burn the air-fuel mixture more completely.

Disadvantages of Rotary Engines

Rotary engines also have some disadvantages, including:

• Lower fuel economy: Rotary engines are less fuel-efficient than piston engines, because they lose more heat through the exhaust port.
• Shorter lifespan: Rotary engines have a shorter lifespan than piston engines, because the rotor seals wear out more quickly.
• More complex design: Rotary engines are more complex to design and build than piston engines.

Rotary Engine Cars

Several car manufacturers have produced rotary engine cars over the years, including:

• Mazda
• NSU
• Alfa Romeo
• Citroën
• General Motors

The most famous rotary engine car is the Mazda RX-7, which was produced from 1978 to 2002. The RX-7 was a popular sports car that was known for its smooth operation and high performance.

Conclusion

Rotary engines offer several advantages over piston engines, including smoother operation, higher power-to-weight ratio, and lower emissions. However, they also have some disadvantages, including lower fuel economy, shorter lifespan, and more complex design. Rotary engine cars are a niche market, but they continue to be popular among enthusiasts who appreciate their unique characteristics.