4 ms·
Surely the engineers who came up with this are a lot smarter than myself, but to me it looks like the lower half of the rotor rotates into the combustion and th
by Cockbrand 4y ago
Surely the engineers who came up with this are a lot smarter than myself, but to me it looks like the lower half of the rotor rotates into the combustion and thus has to work _against_ its force. If this is true, I'd assume that this takes away a lot of effectiveness.
- jutrewag 4y ago[dead]
- KAMSPioneer 4y agoI'm not sure what you mean -- are you referring to at the end of the combustion cycle during the exhaust phase? If so, then because the exhaust channel is open, the gases in the combustion chamber won't be exerting appreciable force on the shaft/rotor, the gasses will simply escape through the exhaust channel. At least, that's how I see it. But maybe I've understood you wrong.
- Cockbrand 4y agoYes, it’s a bit hard to explain, and I’m not a native speaker. But you got me right, and now I see that too. Thanks for the heads up!
- qbrass 4y agoIt actually happens less on this engine than piston engines because the lobe on the rotor kind of rotates over the combustion chamber for a while instead of moving towards or away from it. On the other hand, it exposes a lot of surface area to heat, which gets absorbed by the rotor but isn't used to turn the engine. It's a problem it shares with wankel engines. The advantage over wankels is the extra time air and fuel spends burning in the combustion chamber before the chamber volume expands. It means it gets more time to combust evenly which should help reduce both hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions.
- eYrKEC2 4y agoI know this goes towards steam-engine design, but why can't that heat be re-captured as steam? When the engine heat gets above a threshold, inject [distilled?] water instead of fuel.
- coryrc 4y agoWater injection is a thing, it gains a little efficiency. Generally not worth the complexity.