Gasoline rotary engines serve as a distinct alternative to traditional, piston-based internal combustion variants, generally using a rotating triangular rotor within a specially shaped housing to complete combustion cycles. This often results in fewer moving parts than traditional piston engines, which is a potential benefit to certain applications and operations. This blog will delve into key components of a gasoline rotary engine, so continue reading to learn more.
The Core Components of a Gasoline Rotary Engine
Gasoline rotary engines are unique in their design and operation, relying on several key components to function efficiently. Below, we explore these components and their roles in the engine's operation.
Rotor
The rotor of these assemblies typically has a triangular shape with gently curved sides, allowing it to move smoothly within its housing as combustion cycles progress. This design facilitates continuous power delivery, as each face of the triangle successively undergoes the intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust phases.
Eccentric Shaft
An eccentric shaft functions in a way that is similar to a crankshaft in a piston engine, translating a rotor's rotational motion into usable mechanical power. As a rotor spins inside its housing, it exerts force on the eccentric shaft, which subsequently transfers rotational energy through other components to drive a vehicle's transmission.
Rotor Housing
The rotor housing generally has an epitrochoidal shape that, by its very geometry, promotes continuous contact between the rotor and housing walls to ensure the formation of distinct combustion chambers. This housing is also typically coated with a wear-resistant material like chrome-molybdenum steel so it can better endure the extreme heat and friction that is usually produced during combustion.
Apex Seals
Apex seals play a vital role in maintaining compression by sealing the edges of a rotor against the housing walls. These seals help prevent leakage of combustion gases, which serves to enable efficient pressure buildup for power generation. Since they typically experience high wear due to constant contact with the housing, it is generally advisable to make apex seals from durable materials to maximize longevity.
Side Seals and Corner Seals
In addition to apex seals, side and corner seals contribute to maintaining airtight chambers by reducing gas leaks along a rotor’s sides and edges. These components are designed to work together to ensure efficient combustion and power delivery while minimizing compression loss.
Spark Plugs
Unlike conventional engines, which typically use a single spark plug per cylinder, rotary engines often require two spark plugs per rotor chamber. This is because a combustion chamber in a rotary engine is usually elongated, which generally necessitates dual ignition points to promote complete and efficient combustion.
Fuel Injection or Carburetor System
Fuel delivery in a rotary engine may be controlled either by a fuel injection system or a carburetor, depending on the design of the system. Fuel injectors usually regulate the amount of fuel introduced into a combustion chamber with precision, helping to optimize efficiency and power output. In older rotary engines, carburetors blend fuel and air before introducing the mixture into the chamber, though this method tends to be less precise than modern fuel injection.
Cooling System
Due to the high heat that can be generated by continuous combustion cycles, rotary engines typically require an effective cooling system to maintain integrity over time. Most employ a combination of liquid cooling and oil cooling to regulate temperatures and prevent overheating, where an engine block may feature integrated coolant passages that aid in dissipating heat, among other features.
Exhaust System
Since a rotary engine completes combustion cycles in a manner distinct from piston variants, it usually requires a specially designed exhaust
