Through thorough design and manufacturing, our team was able to model and construct a rotary engine. We did this by 1) researching different Wankel engines 2) computing the math for the engine shape 3) designing our model 4) machining the parts and 5) constructing the engine and testing it. Once these steps were completed, we had a functioning model of a Rotary Wankel Engine. The Wankel engine is a type of rotary combustion engine that converts thermal energy into mechanical energy through eccentric rotation movement. Compared to the traditional Otto cycle combustion engine with reciprocal pistons, Wankel engines have fewer moving parts, and therefore are proven to be more compart and smooth during operation. As the world is moving into a unified effort of decarbonization and downsize of combustion engines, Wankel engines are slowly being brought back as a compact solution for source of energy. To have a better understanding of the operation of Wankel engines, and to produce a functioning prototype, the team conducted extensive literature examination and review of the early documents of the development of rotary engine. Through extensive computation, the team was able to create the epitrochoid shape of the housing that the rotor is sitting in and create the rotor that has similar shape to a Rouleaux’s triangle with correlating dimensions. The material of the parts was selected accordingly from the team’s research on past development and within the parameter of the project budget allowance. The dimensions were then transferred to computer-aided design and manufacturing software to start the manufacturing process.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Leach, Patrick
• Han, Yutai
• Hopkins, William
• Gillett, Ryan

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032323-174409
• 94766

Keyword

• Automotive
• Design
• Sustainability
• Machining
• Manufacturing
• Engine

Advisor

• Guceri, Selcuk

Year

• 2023

Date created

• 2023-03-23

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Source

• E-project-032323-174409

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-04-13