Open thread on rotary revival 

"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer) 10/02/2018 at 16:44 • Filed to: None

0

21

FP says Mazda wants a new rotary engine for their future PHEV vehicles. Said engine would be mounted flat againts the floor and have a single rotor

They claim the smoothness and compactness of the rotary is key to the use as a generator. On the other hand the extra maintenance of a rotary might be a disadvantage. Specially the oil consumption.

Thoughts? 

Maxima Speed > Spanfeller is a twat 10/02/2018 at 16:47

3

Ill believe it when I see it. Every year Mazda talks about brining backache rotary in one form or a mother and never does. Im OK with not brining it back but they keep teasing it to keep people talking about the brand. IMO there are far better options for a range extending engine that a rotary. Specifically, a motorcycle based v-twin.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Spanfeller is a twat 10/02/2018 at 16:51

2

1L 3 cylinder like fords little eco-poop would be better. Rotary’s are just inefficient , unless they’ve made leaps and bounds of improvements .

For Sweden > Spanfeller is a twat 10/02/2018 at 16:53

3

The way to make a rotary engine last is to run it as little as possible.

This is the perfect application for a rotary engine.

Echo51 > For Sweden 10/02/2018 at 16:56

4

Removing the ability of the user to control it and having it fully computer controlled to allow the most optimal use-case(rpm, throttle, on/off cycle so on) is a big up too, when used a generator/range-extender

bob and john > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/02/2018 at 16:59

3

they are when you try to run a car at variing RPM and load.

this is going to run at a set RPM as basicly a small back up generator, and its a PERFECT application for them

Spanfeller is a twat > Echo51 10/02/2018 at 17:08

0

Wouldn’t this be true of a normal engine as well? 

Spanfeller is a twat > Maxima Speed 10/02/2018 at 17:09

0

Like um, this small german brand. Based in Bavaria? They’ve been quite successful lately

Maxima Speed > Maxima Speed 10/02/2018 at 17:11

1

A pologies of the atrocious problems in the post. I can't edit it (Because Kinja), and auto-correct is all screwed up for my computer (screw you apple)!

Echo51 > Spanfeller is a twat 10/02/2018 at 17:14

0

Of course, they’re just less finicky than a wankel

MoCamino > Spanfeller is a twat 10/02/2018 at 17:24

2

So they’re saying that a Wankel engine, known for poor fuel economy and high emissions, will be great for extending the range of electric vehicles? The same electric vehicles that are desired because they are better for the environment?

Either I’m confused or they are.  

Spanfeller is a twat > MoCamino 10/02/2018 at 17:30

0

It does have relatively low NOX emissions, which is what most cities are shitting their pants about when it comes to poisonous gasses. But in essence I agree with this take... why do we need a wankle engine again if it’s been proven it’s not a very good way to combust fuels? 

Spanfeller is a twat > bob and john 10/02/2018 at 17:31

0

But like, a regular combustion engine would work too... I’m not sure where the gains are made.

Spanfeller is a twat > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/02/2018 at 17:33

0

Mounting it sideways might reduce oil consumption? I guess? it might also make servicing much less of a nightmare than it would be normally. Maybe they figured out a way to deliver oil without overwheming the engine? Maybe they learnt how to make a high compression ratio rotary engine?

All of these are questions that we wouldn’t be asking ourselves if mazda just did what everyone else does: Small piston  engine!

AestheticsInMotion > Spanfeller is a twat 10/02/2018 at 17:52

1

Packaging? Weight? Those were always huge draws of the rotary engine, right? 

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Spanfeller is a twat 10/02/2018 at 18:03

0

I don’t think it’s a good idea fiscally. Mazda’s most recent rotary design is already very outmoded. They would have to design a new rotary engine from the ground up. That means a higher final price for cars from a manufacturer that already has never had a significant market share. The cars themselves would have to be leagues better than the competition for bringing back the rotary to be worth it.

bob and john > Spanfeller is a twat 10/02/2018 at 18:09

0

packaging.

a regular motor would be a lot bigger and harder  to package under the boot of a car then this will be.

Spanfeller is a twat > bob and john 10/02/2018 at 18:16

0

I’d also wager a regular motor needs less servicing (can be serviced in more places), and that the drawbacks aren’t as significant as people say. I mean, the RX7 had a rotary engine, but an LS still fits in the same cavity the rotary fit in. All the piping, to keep a rotary running,  takes a lot of space.

The question is also of efficiency. A rotary does burn less NOX, but it has a lot more CO2 than a similar piston engine. I suppose that if they make a very clever design that can get past heat, oil consumption, inefficiency, and high emissions it might work... But those are a lot of ifs. I’m willing to bet that if automakers had stuck the idea of hydrogen a lot harder ten years ago with the first Honda FCX, we’d be looking at this differently.

Though it is worth mentioning that Mazda sold some Hydrogen ICE engine RX8s!

bhtooefr > Maxima Speed 10/02/2018 at 18:18

0

V-twin is a bad idea for a genset because it won’t package well in an EV.

Boxer could be interesting, though - not as compact as an inline-twin, but it could package decently in the back of an EV. With pushrods, it could be light and not horribly large, too.

(I just say put more battery in and have a good fast charging network, though, at this point.)

daender > Spanfeller is a twat 10/02/2018 at 18:59

0

The oil consumption won’t be bad if the rotary spins at a steady RPM. The issue with rotaries (AFAIK, feel free to correct me) is that it’s poorly inefficient if the revs fluctuate (going through the gears). If that single rotor can spin at a constant RPM just to generate electricity, then it should be fine!

Also, single rotor = one (or two if you have a 20B) less rotor housing to remove to replace 3 apex seals. That’s potentially a lot easier to do than replacing a timing belt/chain on a transverse V6 (or any VAG V6/V8).

pip bip - choose Corrour > Spanfeller is a twat 10/03/2018 at 07:09

0

\O/

woo hoo!

LongbowMkII > Spanfeller is a twat 10/03/2018 at 13:46

0

a lot of the reliability issues of rotaries are alleviated with this format. theres not going to be a high a high load on it (less seal stress) and it’ll be able to be computer controlled so no flooding or other human errors.