In the spring of 2006 a team of Rutgers engineering students launched a project that would transform their lives for the rest of the semester. They embarked on a mission to redesign the Wankle rotary engine. Compelling them was the mystery and beauty of the Wankle design. Masochism also drove them to choose the most complicated possible project without any prior knowledge of the subject.

The task was daunting, but these brave students pressed on. Through rain, snow and traffic, uphill both ways, these students battled Pro Engineer for one reason and one reason only. To completely redesign something that has already been built.

Comparing The Winners HP Per Liter Efficiencies

R36 Specs High Compression Rotors9:1 Rotors compression ratio Boost (psi) HP Torque (ft lb) Torque at failure (ft lb) Displacement (cubic centimeters) 3, MEP Thermal Efficiency Case height* (mm)332.5 (13.1 inch es) Case width* (mm) (10.15 inch es) Length* (around 26 inches)

How the Rotary Engine Works

Rotor Provides the torque necessary to rotate the crankshaft and drive the motor Triangular shape divides the case into the 3 distinct volumes in which the thermodynamic cycles occur that convert the stored energy of gasoline into motion

Combustion Chamber Where all of the action takes place. The smallest volume of the engine Burns air and fuel A spark ignites the air fuel ratio and creates pressure, thus moving the rotor

Apex Seal  Prevents high pressure combustion gases from seeping past into the other volumes which the triangular rotor creates

Water Pump  Supplies the driving energy to the coolant.

Crankshaft Converts the oblong rotation of the rotors into a usable rotation that can drive the transmission Must be strong enough to with stand the incredible forces generated by the rotating rotors

Gears  Restricts the rotating motion to insure that the pressure force generated by the combustion process on the rotors rotate in a predicable dependable direction

Flywheel  Responsible for transmitting the power from the crankshaft into the transmission

Front/Rear Plates Provides a number of services to the rotary engine. Seal outside combustion chambers. Antifreeze runs thought them and into the rest of the motor. Engine accessories are mounted on to them. Bearings of crankshaft are mounted inside of them

Coolant System  The coolant system is responsible for maintaining the engine at an efficient operating temperature.

Oil Pan Reservoir of the life’s blood of an engine. Without the lubricating and cooling effects of a lubrication system the engine would seize up in moments

Intake  Delivers fresh clean air into the engine

Throttle Body  Together with the Electronic control unit regulates the rotating speed of the engine

Exhaust  Transports high energy burned fuel into turbo charger

Turbo Charger Higher intake pressure will result In a greater pressure in the combustion chamber and more power output from the motor Responsible for boosting the pressure of the air entering the engine.

Spark Plug Inserted into the combusting chamber Provides the spark that begins the chain reaction of combustion

Fuel Injection A 21st century alternative to carburetion Delivers the fuel to clean air of the intake. It is the responsibility of both the fuel injectors and the ECU to adjust maintain the proper fuel air ratio

Fuel Rail  Provides the fuel to the fuel injectors

Front Mounting Plates Attached to end plates- supports alternator, idler pulley, crank pulley All pulleys must be on same horizontal level

Alternator AC electrical generator connected to crankshaft Design depended on protrusion of exhaust system behind it

Pulley System Controls engine accessories Drives water pump, and alternator

Finished Engine

Thanks to: PowerpointProEngineerMatlabRay Mark Sproul Ismar Uzicanin QuiznosGod Jump Drives Felix Wankel MazdaGoogle- Wikipedia- How Stuff Works- Rotary Engine Illustrated Chilton’s Auto Repair Manual Internal Combustion Engines Volume I Internal Combustion Engines Volume II ThermodynamicsMomDad