The prototype developed by the American company LiquidPiston was used for the first time in a kart.
About two years ago, LiquidPiston founder Alec Shkolnik presented a modern interpretation of the old Wankel engine (known as the king of spin), the result of more than a decade of research and development.Like conventional rotary engines, LiquidPiston's engine uses “rotors” instead of traditional pistons, allowing for smoother movements, more linear combustion and fewer moving parts.
Although it is a rotary engine, Alec Shkolnik at the time intended to distance himself from Wankel engines. “It's a kind of Wankel engine, turned inside out, a design that solves the old problems with leakage and exaggerated consumption”, guaranteed Shkolnik, himself the son of a mechanical engineer. According to the company, this engine is simpler and more efficient, with a power per kilogram ratio well above the average. Its general operation is explained in the video below:
NOT TO BE MISSED: The factory where Mazda produced the “king of spin” Wankel 13B
Now, the company has taken an important step towards the development of the rotary engine with the implementation of a prototype in a kart, as shown in the video below. The prototype built in aluminum with 70cc capacity, 3hp of power and less than 2kg successfully replaced an 18kg engine. Unfortunately, we won't see this block in a production model anytime soon. Why? “Bringing a new engine to the car market takes at least seven years and involves costs of 500 million dollars, this in a low risk engine”, guarantees Shkolnik.
For now, LiquidPiston plans to implement the rotary engine in niche markets such as drones and work tools. Apparently, the company is being financed by the US Department of Defense. The rotary engine can be ordered through the company's official website.