I did contact Richard Sohn on the single rotor. Below is his response.
He has spent some 10 years on this unique project. There are still some
issues.
My aim to is start and finish in 12 months. With all issues already
resolved.
Zahid Rahman
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Zahid,
let me first give you some basic information on my engine.
The size is based on a 12A RX7 engine, which is pre 1985. It is almost
impossible to find any useable rotor housings any more for this engine.
My engine is about to make its first flight in an AVID FLYER.
I have no plans for manufacturing and selling any components, however, I
will be glad to let my findings know to anybody who wants it.
The down side of a light weight single rotor is high torque vibration.
This was the most aggravating issue in that development. When you think
about it, it is like building a single cylinder two stroke engine for
100+ hp, firing once per crank shaft revolution. All this is not really
bad if the engine is using the original cast iron end housings,
providing some torque pulse absorbing inertia.
Everything else on the engine is really positive. I never had a rotary
related engine stoppage during 50+hrs of ground testing, it just keeps
running. Finding the right ancillary components is quite another story.
My recommendation for a new project is to start out with a Renesis RX8
engine. Convert it to P-Port and do as much a possible weight reduction
on the Cast Iron parts. I just have started working on a set of
recommendations.
For the gear reduction drive I have been using a G40 gear box from Hirth
without any problem from the beginning. For an ignition system, any
simple single point electronic ignition works, since there is no no
spark advance required.
Carburation is a different story. Because of the single intake
configuration on the rotary(P-Ported) it is a single carburetor setup.
Non of the suitable carburetors I have tested will provide acceptable
idle and at the same time maintain an acceptable mixture at high power
settings. This was until I came across the TBI40 from ROTEC is AUS .
This system is performing very satisfactory, and provides additional
features most carburetors do not have. Again here, since I have been
using it, there was no problem after the initial settings were established.
I hope this helps clarifying what the situation is, as far as single
rotor, Mazda based engines, are concerned.
Richard Sohn
N2071U
http://www.fairpoint.net/~res12/home.html
From: Zahid Rahman
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2014 2:58 PM
To:
res12@fairpoint.net <mailto:res12@fairpoint.net>
Subject: Single rotar aero wankel engine
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