Research Article
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Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 186 - 193, 30.06.2025

Emre Üner , Ömer Cihan

https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech..1637285

Abstract

References

  • [1] Heywood JB. Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals. 1st ed. McGraw-Hill International Editions; 1988.
  • [2] Basshuysen RV, Schaefer F. Internal Combustion Engine Handbook. 1st ed. SAE International; 2004.
  • [3] Temizer İ, Arı A. Long Term Endurance Analysis of the Ef-fects on Ring Wear and Lubrication Oil of Biofuel Used in a DI Diesel Engine. International Journal of Engine Research. 2023;24(6):2614–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680874221125519
  • [4] Kutlar OA, Emre Doğan H, Demirci A, Arslan H. An Investi-gation of the Impact of Combustion Chamber Geometry on Turbulent Burning Speeds in a Thermodynamic Model. Jour-nal of Energy Resources Technology. 2023;145(6):062304. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4056609
  • [5] Ansdale RF. The Wankel RC Engine. Iliffe Books Ltd.; 1968.
  • [6] Yamamoto K. Rotary Engine. Sankaido; 1971.
  • [7] Cihan Ö, Doğan HE, Kutlar OA, Demirci A, Javadza-dehkalkhoran M. Evaluation of Heat Release and Combustion Analysis in Spark Ignition Wankel and Reciprocating Engine. Fuel. 2020;261:116479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116479
  • [8] Kutlar OA, Cihan Ö, Doğan HE, Demirci A. Tek Rotorlu Bir Wankel Motorunda Farklı Emme Penceresi Geometrilerinin Performans ve Emisyonlara Etkisi. Gazi Üniversitesi Mühendislik Mimarlık Fakültesi Dergisi. 2018;33(3):809–20. https://doi.org/10.17341/gazimmfd.416383
  • [9] Cihan Ö, Kutlar OA. Effect of Leading and Trailing Spark Plugs on Combustion, Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Emis-sion in a Wankel Engine. Arab J Sci Eng. 2021;46(8):7471–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-021-05456-3
  • [10] Ohkubo M, Tashima S, Shimizu R, Fuse S, Ebino H. Devel-oped Technologies of the New Rotary Engine (RENESIS). SAE International. 2004;2004-01–1790. https://doi.org/10.4271/2004-01-1790
  • [11] Boretti A. CAD/CFD/CAE Modelling of Wankel Engines for UAV. In SAE International. 2015;2015-01-2466. https://doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-2466
  • [12] Butti A, Site VD. Wankel Engine for Hybrid Powertrain. SAE International. 1995;951769. https://doi.org/10.4271/951769
  • [13] Amrouche F, Erickson PA, Varnhagen S, Park JW. An Exper-imental Analysis of Hydrogen Enrichment on Combustion Characteristics of a Gasoline Wankel Engine at Full Load and Lean Burn Regime. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2018;43(41):19250–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.08.110
  • [14] Chou SK, Yang WM, Chua KJ, Li J, Zhang KL. Development of Micro Power Generators – A Review. Applied Energy. 2011;88(1):1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.07.010
  • [15] Yang J, Meng H, Ji C, Wang S. Comparatively investigating the Leading and Trailing Spark Plug on the Hydrogen Rotary Engine. Fuel. 2022;308:122005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122005
  • [16] Kucuk M, Surmen A, Sener R. Combustion Characteristics and Performance of a Wankel Engine for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles at Various Altitudes. Fuel. 2024;355:129483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.129483
  • [17] Yang Z, Ji C, Huang X, Yang J, Wang H, Wang S. Modeling and Analysis of Apex Seal Leakage in a Hydrogen Fueled Wankel Rotary Engine. Fuel. 2023;331:125848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125848
  • [18] Lamping HD, Galliers MW, Wolosin SM, Lamping HD, Gal-liers MW, Wolosin SM. Rotary Combustion Engine Trochoid Coatings and Seals. In SAE International; 1974;741043. https://doi.org/10.4271/741043
  • [19] Patir N, Cheng HS. An Average Flow Model for Determining Effects of Three-Dimensional Roughness on Partial Hydrody-namic Lubrication. Journal of Lubrication Technology. 1978;100(1):12–7. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3453103
  • [20] Warren S, Yang DCH. Design of Rotary Engines from the Apex Seal Profile (Abbr.: Rotary engine design by apex seal). Mechanism and Machine Theory. 2013;64:200–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2013.01.015
  • [21] Puranik R, Akotkar A. Dynamic Sealing Design for Wankel Engines. International Journal for Advance Research and De-velopment. 2019;4(6):17–21.
  • [22] Tozer G, Al-Dadah R, Mahmoud S. Simulating Apex Gap Sizes in a Small Scale Wankel Expander for Air Liquefaction. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2019;154:476–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.03.085
  • [23] Picard M, Tian T, Nishino T. Predicting Gas Leakage in the Rotary Engine—Part I: Apex and Corner Seals. Journal of En-gineering for Gas Turbines and Power. 2016;138(6):062503. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4031873
  • [24] Zhang DL, Wu YT, Wang JF, Du CX, Chen X, Ma R, Ma C. Theoretical Study of Seal Spring in a Wankel Compressor. In-ternational Compressor Engineering Conference; 2016; Indi-ana, USA.
  • [25] Fan B, Zhang Y, Pan J, Wang Y, Otchere P. Experimental and Numerical Study on the Formation Mechanism of Flow Field in a Side-Ported Rotary Engine Considering Apex Seal Leak-age. Journal of Energy Resources Technology. 2021;143(2):022303. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4047787
  • [26] Oliveira MVM, Guarato AZ. Development and Experimental Test of New Gas Seals for a Rotary-Piston Engine, 25th ABCM International Congress of Mechanical Engineering, 2019; Uberlândia, Brazil.
  • [27] Gerami AKN, Shadloo MS, Ghasempour M, Kimiaeifar A. Analysis of the Forces Acting on Apex Seal of a Wankel En-gine. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. 2010;4(9):4205–12.   [28] Warner M. Street Rotary. USA: Penguin Group; 2009.
  • [29] Böhm M, Stetina J, Svída D. An Analysis of the Force Acting on the Apex Seal of a Rotary Engine, KOKA – 2021; 2021; Praha, Czech Republic.
  • [30] Venkataraj VRB. Design and Analysis of Wankel Engine [MSc. thesis]. Kaunas University of Technology Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design; 2017.
  • [31] Cihan Ö. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Wankel Engine and Skip Cycle System [PhD thesis]. Institute of Science and Technology, Istanbul Technical University; 2017.
  • [32] Bensinger WD. Rotationskolben Verbrennungsmotoren. Springer-Verlag Berlin; 1973.

Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 186 - 193, 30.06.2025

Emre Üner , Ömer Cihan

https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech..1637285

Abstract

In Wankel engines, the negative aspects are high HC emissions and fuel consumption, as well as leakage and wear caused by the apex seals directly contacting the inner surface of the housing. The position of the apex seals in the seal groove is important. The turning angle of the rotor (piston) corner relative to the housing, the thickness of the seal and the tip radius value are important factors that determine the movement of the apex seal in the groove. Within the scope of this study, a solid model of a Wankel engine with basic geometric dimensions and a 13B Wankel engine used in the RX8 vehicle were created. Using Solidworks software, the height variation between the base of the apex seal and the base of the seal groove was analyzed in both solid models for one cycle. An empirical formula was then derived to give this height variation. From the results obtained, it is seen that the values calculated from the formula coincide with the dynamic analysis results of the solid model and consistently reflect the height change. As the tip radius increased, the height between the seal and the housing decreased. This height changes also increased as the maximum turning angle of the rotor corner relative to the housing and the seal tip radius increased. The minimum tip radius value should be at least half the seal thickness. The increase in the height change caused an increase in the maximum spring force.

Keywords

Apex Seal Sealing Dynamic Analysis Spring Force Wankel Engine

Ethical Statement

The presented study does not pose any ethical problems.

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the Scientific and Techno-logical Research Council of Turkey -TÜBİTAK (2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program).

Thanks

The authors also want to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. O. Akın KUTLAR on the preparation of this paper.

References

  • [1] Heywood JB. Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals. 1st ed. McGraw-Hill International Editions; 1988.
  • [2] Basshuysen RV, Schaefer F. Internal Combustion Engine Handbook. 1st ed. SAE International; 2004.
  • [3] Temizer İ, Arı A. Long Term Endurance Analysis of the Ef-fects on Ring Wear and Lubrication Oil of Biofuel Used in a DI Diesel Engine. International Journal of Engine Research. 2023;24(6):2614–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680874221125519
  • [4] Kutlar OA, Emre Doğan H, Demirci A, Arslan H. An Investi-gation of the Impact of Combustion Chamber Geometry on Turbulent Burning Speeds in a Thermodynamic Model. Jour-nal of Energy Resources Technology. 2023;145(6):062304. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4056609
  • [5] Ansdale RF. The Wankel RC Engine. Iliffe Books Ltd.; 1968.
  • [6] Yamamoto K. Rotary Engine. Sankaido; 1971.
  • [7] Cihan Ö, Doğan HE, Kutlar OA, Demirci A, Javadza-dehkalkhoran M. Evaluation of Heat Release and Combustion Analysis in Spark Ignition Wankel and Reciprocating Engine. Fuel. 2020;261:116479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116479
  • [8] Kutlar OA, Cihan Ö, Doğan HE, Demirci A. Tek Rotorlu Bir Wankel Motorunda Farklı Emme Penceresi Geometrilerinin Performans ve Emisyonlara Etkisi. Gazi Üniversitesi Mühendislik Mimarlık Fakültesi Dergisi. 2018;33(3):809–20. https://doi.org/10.17341/gazimmfd.416383
  • [9] Cihan Ö, Kutlar OA. Effect of Leading and Trailing Spark Plugs on Combustion, Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Emis-sion in a Wankel Engine. Arab J Sci Eng. 2021;46(8):7471–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-021-05456-3
  • [10] Ohkubo M, Tashima S, Shimizu R, Fuse S, Ebino H. Devel-oped Technologies of the New Rotary Engine (RENESIS). SAE International. 2004;2004-01–1790. https://doi.org/10.4271/2004-01-1790
  • [11] Boretti A. CAD/CFD/CAE Modelling of Wankel Engines for UAV. In SAE International. 2015;2015-01-2466. https://doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-2466
  • [12] Butti A, Site VD. Wankel Engine for Hybrid Powertrain. SAE International. 1995;951769. https://doi.org/10.4271/951769
  • [13] Amrouche F, Erickson PA, Varnhagen S, Park JW. An Exper-imental Analysis of Hydrogen Enrichment on Combustion Characteristics of a Gasoline Wankel Engine at Full Load and Lean Burn Regime. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2018;43(41):19250–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.08.110
  • [14] Chou SK, Yang WM, Chua KJ, Li J, Zhang KL. Development of Micro Power Generators – A Review. Applied Energy. 2011;88(1):1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.07.010
  • [15] Yang J, Meng H, Ji C, Wang S. Comparatively investigating the Leading and Trailing Spark Plug on the Hydrogen Rotary Engine. Fuel. 2022;308:122005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122005
  • [16] Kucuk M, Surmen A, Sener R. Combustion Characteristics and Performance of a Wankel Engine for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles at Various Altitudes. Fuel. 2024;355:129483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.129483
  • [17] Yang Z, Ji C, Huang X, Yang J, Wang H, Wang S. Modeling and Analysis of Apex Seal Leakage in a Hydrogen Fueled Wankel Rotary Engine. Fuel. 2023;331:125848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125848
  • [18] Lamping HD, Galliers MW, Wolosin SM, Lamping HD, Gal-liers MW, Wolosin SM. Rotary Combustion Engine Trochoid Coatings and Seals. In SAE International; 1974;741043. https://doi.org/10.4271/741043
  • [19] Patir N, Cheng HS. An Average Flow Model for Determining Effects of Three-Dimensional Roughness on Partial Hydrody-namic Lubrication. Journal of Lubrication Technology. 1978;100(1):12–7. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3453103
  • [20] Warren S, Yang DCH. Design of Rotary Engines from the Apex Seal Profile (Abbr.: Rotary engine design by apex seal). Mechanism and Machine Theory. 2013;64:200–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2013.01.015
  • [21] Puranik R, Akotkar A. Dynamic Sealing Design for Wankel Engines. International Journal for Advance Research and De-velopment. 2019;4(6):17–21.
  • [22] Tozer G, Al-Dadah R, Mahmoud S. Simulating Apex Gap Sizes in a Small Scale Wankel Expander for Air Liquefaction. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2019;154:476–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.03.085
  • [23] Picard M, Tian T, Nishino T. Predicting Gas Leakage in the Rotary Engine—Part I: Apex and Corner Seals. Journal of En-gineering for Gas Turbines and Power. 2016;138(6):062503. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4031873
  • [24] Zhang DL, Wu YT, Wang JF, Du CX, Chen X, Ma R, Ma C. Theoretical Study of Seal Spring in a Wankel Compressor. In-ternational Compressor Engineering Conference; 2016; Indi-ana, USA.
  • [25] Fan B, Zhang Y, Pan J, Wang Y, Otchere P. Experimental and Numerical Study on the Formation Mechanism of Flow Field in a Side-Ported Rotary Engine Considering Apex Seal Leak-age. Journal of Energy Resources Technology. 2021;143(2):022303. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4047787
  • [26] Oliveira MVM, Guarato AZ. Development and Experimental Test of New Gas Seals for a Rotary-Piston Engine, 25th ABCM International Congress of Mechanical Engineering, 2019; Uberlândia, Brazil.
  • [27] Gerami AKN, Shadloo MS, Ghasempour M, Kimiaeifar A. Analysis of the Forces Acting on Apex Seal of a Wankel En-gine. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. 2010;4(9):4205–12.   [28] Warner M. Street Rotary. USA: Penguin Group; 2009.
  • [29] Böhm M, Stetina J, Svída D. An Analysis of the Force Acting on the Apex Seal of a Rotary Engine, KOKA – 2021; 2021; Praha, Czech Republic.
  • [30] Venkataraj VRB. Design and Analysis of Wankel Engine [MSc. thesis]. Kaunas University of Technology Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design; 2017.
  • [31] Cihan Ö. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Wankel Engine and Skip Cycle System [PhD thesis]. Institute of Science and Technology, Istanbul Technical University; 2017.
  • [32] Bensinger WD. Rotationskolben Verbrennungsmotoren. Springer-Verlag Berlin; 1973.
There are 31 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Internal Combustion Engines
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Emre Üner 0009-0001-8175-4343

Ömer Cihan 0000-0001-8103-3063

Publication Date June 30, 2025
Submission Date February 10, 2025
Acceptance Date April 11, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 9 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Üner, E., & Cihan, Ö. (2025). Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology, 9(2), 186-193. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech..1637285
AMA Üner E, Cihan Ö. Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine. IJASTECH. June 2025;9(2):186-193. doi:10.30939/ijastech.1637285
Chicago Üner, Emre, and Ömer Cihan. “Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine”. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology 9, no. 2 (June 2025): 186-93. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech. 1637285.
EndNote Üner E, Cihan Ö (June 1, 2025) Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology 9 2 186–193.
IEEE E. Üner and Ö. Cihan, “Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine”, IJASTECH, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 186–193, 2025, doi: 10.30939/ijastech..1637285.
ISNAD Üner, Emre - Cihan, Ömer. “Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine”. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology 9/2 (June 2025), 186-193. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech. 1637285.
JAMA Üner E, Cihan Ö. Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine. IJASTECH. 2025;9:186–193.
MLA Üner, Emre and Ömer Cihan. “Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine”. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology, vol. 9, no. 2, 2025, pp. 186-93, doi:10.30939/ijastech. 1637285.
Vancouver Üner E, Cihan Ö. Analysis of Apex Seal Dynamic Behavior in a Wankel Engine. IJASTECH. 2025;9(2):186-93.


International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology (IJASTECH) is published by Society of Automotive Engineers Turkey

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