it runs on diesel. can be configured to run on most liquid fuels, but its torquiest design, and the one used by the military is a diesel.
As electrification takes off, it's a difficult time to be working on new combustion engine concepts
It's taking off and like the challenger, it will crash before it gets anywhere. Petroleum based technology will be around for a long time.
This is an engine, not a motor. Everyone wants increased HP/wt, which those provides. Diesel is ideal for aviation because of its energy per pound, but weight of the power plant has historically limited it's appeal.
The sky is the limit for this. Likely military aviation, generators, and later boats are an ideal target because cars require (((blessing))) to enter the stage.
I'd love to see Mazda make a licencing deal to develope and get this into their cars.
Diesel is not ideal for aviation. #2 gels at about 20-25°F and #1 gels at around -5°F. That's why they use kerosene (jet fuel). It's around 30 below or colder where commercial jets fly.
I'm a pilot. This is a well known topic. Diesel is ideal for aviation because of energy per unit of weight. Jet A is very closely related to diesel. For cold use, additives are used in either case.
For Mazda, it would be a game changer.
This company has military contracts, and as far as green agenda goes i bet wankel motors and this company will see a resugeance as alternate fuel vehicles become much more common.
Hydrogen fuel cell rotary hybrids are coming... (I mean that would be cool af wouldn't it tho... perhaps i'm just thinking wishfully)
I believe this EV shit is a con. It's true purpose is to lock people down. Not save the planet. It can prevent people from freely moving about (300 mile range max) not to mention it has connectivity with a central server and can be disabled and/or geofenced to prevent you from driving the vehicle where they don't want you. Charging stations are scarce, there's not enough electric generation to support EVs.... it's a parlor trick, not a viable transportation platform.
The first thing that jumped out at me with this engine design is how easy it would be to have dynamically variable compression ratios. Could be a pretty cool engine, particularly for light weight applications: small aircraft, drones, motorbikes, etc. Imagine a turbo-diesel road bike, that'd be pretty cool.
I think for higher load road/rail stuff, opposed piston diesel engines would be better for the high torque at lower RPMs.
Mazda was all over this 5 decades ago.
Yes and no. They have a rotary design but the way it's deigned is like mirrored compared to this design.
Mazda * triangular rotor inside a peanut-shaped housing * long, skinny, moving combustion chamber * apex seals inside the rotor
X-engine * peanut-shaped rotor in a tri-lobed housing * stationary combustion chamber that's nice and round * apex seals like piston rings.
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