How the Wankel engine works

Working principles of Wankel engine

4 stroke cycle on wankel engine

From our previous post, we've seen some major difference between the Wankel engine and other internal combustion engine (reciprocating piston types), this self explanatory photo shows the uniqueness of the four stroke cycle in Wankel engine.

Wankel engine

Wankel engine, also known as rotary engine is a type of internal combustion engine that converts pressure into rotary motion using an eccentric rotary design. The wankel engine operates on four stroke cycle but unlike other internal combustion engines, the combustion takes place in a moving combustion chamber in the oval-shaped housing, The rotor is triangular in shape (unlike the crankshaft used in other engine types).

The Wankel engine has the advantages of compact design and low weight over the most commonly used internal combustion engine employing reciprocating piston These advantages have given rotary engine applications in a variety of vehicles and devices, including: automobiles, motorcycles, racing cars, aircraft, chain saws, and auxiliary power units.