STRANGE New Rotary Engine BREAKS Records

Liquid Piston inside-out rotary has 5x greater power density and
specific power vs. piston diesel engine while running on multiple fuels!

Sources & Credits:
Original Rotary

Kurt Roberson

Felix Wankel

Other Rotaries

Liquid Piston

[LibertyEver]

If the fuel efficiency is a bit better than the Wankel, this new rotary engine could be a great option for general aviation with its lightweight for the power produced and the inherent reliability of a low-part-count engine with no valve train.

[ocelblack]

As a young and dumb "early adopter" I had a rotary powered RX2. It was a great car, I had 2 problems with it, it ran so smoothly I was constantly engaging the starter when it was already running and being Y&D I didn't replace the Antifreeze often enough resulting in failed "O" rings and a rebuild of the engine. Watching the mechanic strip off the accessories, unbolt the motor mounts and pick the motor up, by himself and carry it to the work bench like it was a lunch box floored me. The RX2 looked like all the other Japanese 4 cylinder cars of the time and would eat them for lunch in the Red Light Derby. It didn't get great gas mileage but at $0.35 a gallon that wasn't a deal breaker. There has only been 1 car that I enjoyed more, an RX7 I kept for 18 years. Now if Mazda would put a rotary in a Miata....

[tootsitroll]

I’m a motorcycle builder, started at 18 fabricating the frame and rear end. I have a frame sitting 10 years and haven’t built anything because I’m not decided on a engine yet. This caught my attention since rotary has had improvements.

[shaynegadsden]

The exhaust port was the only one that was moved the intake was always on the plates and this wasn't done for airflow since it is much worse in the renesis, it was done for emissions because while the exhaust going straight out the housing is great for making power it also causes a lot of over lap

[tomwrona]

I worked on Rotary @ OMC, Johnson /Evinrude, made snowmobiles for 2 years, then OMC gave up due to poor fuel economy! Liquid piston looks like a winner!

[edreusser]

I was one of those who purchased a rotary engine wankel in 1973. I loved it, even allowing for the occasional explosion under the gar when unburned gas ignited. It didn't hurt anything; it was just loud. That car didn't get excellent gas mileage, but nothing else did at the time. But it sure was peppy. It responded yesterday when you stepped on the gas. I only had it for a year, and had to sell it for financial reasons. I certainly did love that car.

[phoenixrising]

Being a huge rotary fan I have high hopes for Liquid Piston's future. Such innovation and development is exciting. ICE's will be the dominant means of power for my lifetime so how can one not take an interest. That said, I'd love to own a cheaper electric vehicle someday (not holding my breath) if/when the battery technology advances a few clicks.

[josephpacchetti]

Interesting Video, Back in 1981, I had a 1973 Mazda RX-2, It was a twin rotor 74 cubic inch, with two dual electrode spark plugs per rotor, a four barrel carburetor and two distributors, one with two sets of points and the other with one set, It had a four speed manual gearbox, And It was very fast for such a small motor, but it guzzled fuel, I paid $140.00 for it and after about 11 months, a forty cent seal went south, which was the same as a blown head gasket on a piston engine, water in the combustion chamber, so I sold the wheels and tires for $100.00, and the car for $140.00, It was fun while it lasted, I was 23 years old at that time, THX for posting, subbed. 👊 😎

[locker]

The liquid piston engine sounds great but the road to production is littered with great ideas. Would love to see this someday.

[jonathanbuck]

Great to see that this technology isn't dead and buried. We tried it at Ingersoll Rand with medical air compressors but once again the seals were a problem.

[Dave-dm]

Swapping the rotor and stator ships solves a great many problems it would also allow tip seals to be replaced without opening the motor - if the manufacturer builds in access points.
Four cylinder radial two strokes also need a small blower but with direct injection are extremely clean and efficient. More complex (pistons rods crank) but are well understood.

[Anonymous-sbrr]

Finally a new type of engine that doesn't have any obvious fatal flaws.

[NoosaHeads]

I drove a Mazda rotary a few times in the early 1980s. It was so smooth. I really wanted it to succeed. If they have solved the seal issues and high fuel consumption, it sounds like the perfect engine - especially if they can run it as a diesel.
Who knows? Maybe they'll even be able to run a gasoline engine with compression ignition?

[dwwolf]

Also a snap in for small generators.

No need to convert linear movement to rotational.

[FiglioBastardo]

I'd love to see hear your breakdown/opinion on the IN-N engine. A single stroke, four cylinder with eight opposing pistons with zero vibration.

[GwawrNiwlog]

One benefit of the Liquid Piston engine is even distribution of heat. The Wankel engine has a problem of one side of the engine block getting hot and the other side remaining cool. Another benefit of Liquid Piston is air cooling, which makes it lighter and simpler. If the rotary seals require frequent servicing, it might not be such a big problem if the engine is easy to take apart and reassemble.

[HermannKerr]

I knew about Liquid Piston's earlier version (~75cc) and what was happening with it. 210cc is a big jump in power. For an ICE engine it has the potential to be way out in front.

[thatrickster]

I have been following liquid piston for years. A++

[dalegreer]

I've been following Liquid Piston for years. It's really disappointing how long it takes new technology to make it to market. It seems like there always has to be a military phase, so I'm glad they've been working for the DoD for a few years. Now they're touting it as able to run on hydrogen too. I think it would make a great range extender for an EV, with so much power per pound. But I've never seen anything more than 40 hp. They say it's scalable, I'm sure it is, but I wish they would just do it. Make one with 100 hp to compete with the Rotax 912 as an airplane engine. The 912 weighs 124 lbs, Let's see if Liquid Piston can produce 100 hp in an 80-85 lbs package. That would allow for 7 more gallons of fuel in a typical light aircraft, enough to fly an extra 60 to 90 minutes.

[calvinwong]

Rotary engine and wankel rotary engine are vary different engine, back in 70s my father Datsun 120 couple have one.👍👍. not many people knew about it..they only knew Mazda RX 4, RX 7.