How Rotary Aircraft Engines Work?
Since the advent of aviation, aircraft and their engines have faced significant advancements with the rise of the jet engine and the current push towards electric flight. Rotary engines, in particular, are an older type of powerplant having long served aircraft prior to World War I. Despite their long history, rotary aircraft engines can still be found on some models, as well as on various early motorcycles and automobiles. As one of the first engine options for piston-powered aircraft, it can be beneficial to have an understanding of the functionality and design of the rotary aircraft engine.
Rotary engines are a form of internal combustion engine, and they exhibit an odd number of cylinders that are situated in a radial configuration where each cylinder spreads outward from a central crankcase. When the rotary engine was first patented in 1888, it was specifically designed to be used on a bicycle. Over the following decades, various improvements were made to the design by various engineers, and the powerplant soon found installation on aircraft leading into the first World War.
While a rotary engine may vary slightly in design across models, there are a number of components that are common to all. Pistons are a crucial aspect of rotary aircraft engines, each piston serving to transform the energy created by ignited gasses into a rotational force that may be used to drive the crankshaft. The crankshaft itself is attached to each piston with a connecting rod, and the assembly acts to convert the reciprocating motion of each piston into rotational motion. While the crankshaft is fixed, the crankcase rotates. The connecting rods, meanwhile, are simply lever arms that transfer motion between the piston and crankcase.
In order for air to enter into cylinders to mix with fuel, inlet valves are used. With outlet valves, on the other hand, the ignited fuel-and-air mixture can be safely and efficiently expelled from the assembly. For proper ignition, spark plugs are relied on for the delivery of current to the combustion chamber. Once power is created by the pistons and transformed by the connecting rods and crankshaft, the propeller assembly can be spun for the generation of thrust.
The odd number of cylinders on a rotary engine is fundamentally important, ensuring that an “every-other-piston” firing order can be upheld. With such a process, an optimal power balance can be maintained for the means of protecting the crankshaft assembly, increasing combustion efficiency, and more.
Depending on one’s needs, there are particular advantages and disadvantages that can determine whether or not a rotary engine is a good choice for a particular aircraft. Rotary engines are known for their optimal cooling and high power-to-weight ratio, allowing them to maintain lower temperatures while achieving high power. Despite this, the design of the rotary engine often leads to a large gyroscopic effect during rotation, causing control of the aircraft to suffer in some aspects. Additionally, rotary engines require a large amount of oil to remain lubricated as a result of their consumption rates and burning process.
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