Wankel Engine
A rotary engine with a rotor rotating in an oval cylinder. Named after it′s designer Felix Wankel.
Advantages:
- Size
- Simplicity
- Smoothness.
Disadvantages:
- Less efficient than a regular four-stroke piston engine.
- Higher carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions.
Historical Notes
- 1951 Felix Wankel began development of the engine at NSU Motorenwerke AG
- 1 February 1957 First working prototype DKM 54 was run at the NSU research and development dept.
- 1965 Mazda′s first production wankel engine the 10A
See also: Engine, Wankel, Felix Heinrich.
