Wankel engines : a popular choice
Wankel engine is an internal combustion engine that makes use of rotary design for converting pressure into rotating motion. This forbids the use of reciprocating pistons. It is designed in such a manner that high rpm smooth power is produced by it due to its compact size. It is often regarded as a rotary engine since it was introduced. However, this name could be referred to many entirely different designs.
Wankel engines have a compact design and because of this they are used in automobiles, racing cars, aircrafts, chain saws, go-karts and many other devices. Mazda, a Japanese company, has been extensively using these engines.Wankels are returning in aircrafts in the recent time. They still have their own advantages despite new engines coming up. They have a special role to play in UAVs and drones because of their quiet operation and compact size. Mazda rotary engines have been adapted by several companies for use in aircrafts. Many other companies, which include Wankel GmbH, make Wankel engines specially for this purpose. An example of this would be Moller Skycar M400 that makes use of Rotapower.
Wankels are gaining tremendous popularity in experimental aircrafts that are of homebuilt type. Many of them are Mazda 13B and 12A engines for automobiles that are converted for the aviation purpose. This alternative is extremely cost effective in nature. It provides engines of the range from 100 hp to 300 hp at fractional cost as compared to traditional engines. This trend started in the beginning of 1970s. Very few incidents have been reported about aircrafts that have Mazda engines in the past. Moreover these incidents did not occur due the failure in design.
Wankels operate at comparatively high rotational speeds. Besides this they operate at a low torque relatively. Propeller aircrafts should make use of PSRU for keeping the speed range of conventional propellers in proper limits. Several experimental aircrafts make use of this arrangement for flying. There is a diesel Wankle engine being developed that makes use of varying size wankel rotors on an eccentric shaft that is shared for enhancing the efficiency. This is a diesel engine that involves full compression and full expansion.
Tags: rotary aircraft engines, rotary engine, rotary engine aircraft, the rotary engine, wankel engines
