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HELP! - Combustion engine vs. Rotary Engine

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Old 01-26-2005, 01:04 PM
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HELP! - Combustion engine vs. Rotary Engine

Im doing a presentation to my class on a rotary engine and I need the lowdown on the advantages of the rotary engine versus a combustion engine. thanks.
Old 01-26-2005, 01:05 PM
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howstuffworks.com
Old 01-26-2005, 01:09 PM
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i know how the rotary works I just hope someone can help me and give a quick summary on the advantages and disadvantages.
Old 01-26-2005, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Minda
i know how the rotary works I just hope someone can help me and give a quick summary on the advantages and disadvantages.
Try a Yahoo search on "advantages of rotary engine"

Here's an example of what you'll find:

http://www.monito.com/wankel/advantages.html

Good luck!
Old 01-26-2005, 01:28 PM
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Advantages:
- extremely smooth, no reciprocating parts
- can rev easily and happily to speeds that exceed most piston engines

Disadvantages:
- not as efficient as its piston counterparts
- little torque output, must rev high to produce power
Old 01-26-2005, 01:43 PM
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Rotaries are combustion engines.
Old 01-26-2005, 01:45 PM
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A rotary engine is an internal combustion engine. You probably want to call the project a comparison between a piston engine and a rotary.
Old 01-26-2005, 02:10 PM
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I would add to the advantages that a rotary has fewer moving parts, so (i) it's less complicated, and (ii) theoretically, at least, there are fewer things that can go wrong.
Old 01-26-2005, 04:02 PM
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Some already mentioned that the rotary is a combustion engine. Other than www.howstuffworks.com, read through rotarygod's posts here. Also, there's some info in these threads/documents:

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/ny-autoshow-%93structure-working-principles-rotary-engine%94-handout-955-kb-28125/
http://asmic.com/collect/rotary1999/rotary_e.pdf

In summary, compared to piston engines of similar size and weight
  • rotary engines provide higher power output
  • rotary engines are smoother and have more linear output
  • rotary engines consume more fuel
Because of the poor fuel economy, the rotary is destined to only be used in sports and race cars (in other vehicles, the trade-off is not worthwhile).

The Honda S2000's F20c (4 cylinder 2.0L piston engine) is unusual as it's comparable to the RENESIS in many ways. The S2000 gets 15-20% better fuel economy, but it's slightly heavier and larger and is more expensive to build (getting a piston engine to spin up to 8900 RPM and still be reliable requires finer tolerances) which is partly why the high-power 6MT RX8 can be had for $8k less than the S2000.

Also, due to the smaller number of moving parts, rotary engines are more durable. For example:
Originally Posted by Rotarynews
When the Lola T616 Mazda first took to the track, it featured a modified 13B rotary engine and was rated at 300-horsepower. As with all rotary engines, the T616 lacked the displacement of competitors' engines, but more than made up for this short-coming with incredible, high-revving reliability and the engine's small size and low weight. In the 1984 season, the team went almost a full year without an engine failure, a huge accomplishment, when other teams were rebuilding their engines after each race. The Mazda Lola's engines weren't even cracked open.
Old 01-26-2005, 04:02 PM
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Also the rotary engine takes less volume (same power and weight) compared to the Otto engine.

You also have to compare it with a 4 cycle piston gas or Otto engine, since a 2 cycle piston gas engine has probably less moving parts and higher power to weight ratio than the rotary or Wankel engine, but also worse emissions.
Old 01-26-2005, 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by trophymaker
Disadvantages:
- not as efficient as its piston counterparts

depends on the eficiency you are talking about.

mechanically the rotary is more efficient
thermally the piston is more effecient.
Old 01-26-2005, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by zoom44
depends on the eficiency you are talking about.

mechanically the rotary is more efficient
thermally the piston is more effecient.
Fuel consumption it's significantly less efficient
Old 01-26-2005, 05:01 PM
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I'm only posting to say that I'm laughing my *** off at the title. Goodbye.
Old 09-26-2008, 08:37 PM
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OMFG! Holy thread revival lol. I'm happy I found this thread because I'm doing the same thing for school and the info in this thread has some good stuff.
Old 09-27-2008, 12:30 AM
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I'm glad someone at least pointed out the fact it's a combustion engine. If our cars didn't have a combustion engine, then what's been happening to all that gas I put in? lol
Old 09-27-2008, 02:58 AM
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Did the OP get banned for this? I wonder sometimes.
Old 09-27-2008, 03:13 AM
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nobdy mentioned that the normal engine goes boing boing while the mazda goes
hmmmmmmmmmmm .
Old 09-27-2008, 03:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Brettus
nobdy mentioned that the normal engine goes boing boing while the mazda goes
hmmmmmmmmmmm .
that explains the tent scene that i have not seen.. but hey i work at disney.. what do i know...

beers
Old 09-27-2008, 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Brettus
nobdy mentioned that the normal engine goes boing boing while the mazda goes
hmmmmmmmmmmm .
~~~~~ boing boing ~~~~~~
Old 09-27-2008, 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by AJ's Shinka
Did the OP get banned for this? I wonder sometimes.
No, he got banned for this.
Old 09-27-2008, 10:58 PM
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^^^Good.
Old 06-24-2009, 01:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Deslock
Some already mentioned that the rotary is a combustion engine. Other than howstuffworks.com, read through rotarygod's posts here. Also, there's some info in these threads/documents:

In summary, compared to piston engines of similar size and weight
  • rotary marshall engines provide higher power output
  • rotary engines are smoother and have more linear output
  • rotary engines consume more fuel
Because of the poor fuel economy, the rotary is destined to only be used in sports and race cars (in other vehicles, the trade-off is not worthwhile).

The Honda S2000's F20c (4 cylinder 2.0L piston engine) is unusual as it's comparable to the RENESIS in many ways. The S2000 gets 15-20% better fuel economy, but it's slightly heavier and larger and is more expensive to build (getting a piston engine to spin up to 8900 RPM and still be reliable requires finer tolerances) which is partly why the high-power 6MT RX8 can be had for $8k less than the S2000.

Also, due to the smaller number of moving parts, rotary engines are more durable. For example:
Can you give me another engine which is comparable or better than the Honda S2000's F20c? I don't think I can handle Renesis.

Last edited by zacknolden; 06-29-2009 at 09:09 PM.
Old 06-24-2009, 02:41 AM
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OP is a ******* idiot.


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