1: Did you know?
It utilizes the rotational motion of triangular rotors to control the compression and exhaust of gases, directly converting the combustion and expansion force of the combustible gas into driving force. The triangular piston rotary engine is also known as a rotary engine.
2: Principle
In a rotary engine, the pressure generated by combustion is contained in the sealed chamber formed by the housing and the triangular rotors. The path of the rotors is similar to that of a breathing spirometer. The apexes of the rotors come into contact with the housing, creating three independent chambers. The rotors constantly move around the combustion chamber, causing the three different volumes of gas to expand and contract alternately. It is this expansion and contraction that draws air and fuel into the engine, compresses the mixture, generates useful power during gas expansion, and finally exhausts the waste gases.
3: Advantages and Disadvantages
The rotary engine has several advantages, with the most significant one being its smaller size and lighter weight. It also requires fewer components to assemble. However, the disadvantages of the rotary engine are also evident: 1. It has a relatively high fuel consumption. 2. It cannot use compression ignition, meaning it cannot run on diesel. 3. The position of the power output shaft is relatively high, which makes vehicle layout and arrangement inconvenient. 4. The manufacturing technology for rotary engines is complex and costly, making it difficult to promote.
4: History
This engine was invented by the German engineer Felix Wankel. Based on the research achievements of his predecessors, Wankel successfully solved some key technical problems and developed the first rotary engine. Therefore, it is also known as the Wankel Engine. The introduction of the Wankel engine made many capable automakers sense the scent of a new era of technology. However, the disadvantages revealed during the initial tests of the Wankel engine dissuaded many from challenging it.
Mazda, a company always keen on new technologies, invested heavily to acquire the technology from the Wankel company. After acquiring the rights, Mazda introduced the rotary engine with the translated name "RE-Rotary Engine." In 1964, the joint venture company COMOBIL in Geneva became the first to install a rotary engine in a sedan as a commercial product. In 1967, the Japanese also began mass production of vehicles with rotary engines, starting with Mazda cars. In the 1970s, the oil crisis broke out, and countries were busy dealing with various difficulties, leaving little time to focus on developing rotary engines. Only Mazda continued to believe in the potential of the rotary engine, conducting independent research and production, at a considerable cost. They gradually overcame the shortcomings of the rotary engine, successfully transitioning from experimental production to commercial production, and introduced the RX-7 sports car with a rotary engine to the American market, gaining significant attention. However, the RX-7 exited the US market in 1995.
