My Other Rotary Nomination

[Nexcis]

No seriouslly, it's a rotary!!! I wasn't sure where to post this (section) so I figured this is as good as any... not to mention funny. (Mods feel free to move.)

But seriously, did you guys know that the Toyota Prius is a rotary car?
No, well read on!




Rotary Atkinson-cycle engine

Rotary Atkinson-cycle engine


The Atkinson cycle can be used in a rotary engine. In this configuration an increase in both power and efficiency can be achieved when compared to the Otto cycle. This type of engine retains the one power phase per revolution, together with the different compression and expansion volumes of the original Atkinson cycle. Exhaust gases are expelled from the engine by compressed-air scavenging. This modification of the Atkinson cycle allows for the use of alternative fuels like Diesel and hydrogen. See External Links for more information
Vehicles using Atkinson-cycle engines

While a modified four-stroke engine using the Atkinson cycle provides good fuel economy, it is at the expense of a lower power-per-displacement than a traditional four-stroke. If the engine is only run at high powers intermittently, then the power of the engine can be supplemented by an electric motor during times when high power is needed. This forms the basis of an Atkinson-cycle-based hybrid electric drivetrain. These electric motors can be used independently of, or in combination with, the Atkinson-cycle engine, to provide the most efficient means of producing the desired power.
Multiple production vehicles use Atkinson-cycle engines:

• Toyota Prius hybrid electric (front-wheel drive) with a (purely geometric) compression ratio of 13.0:1
• Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute hybrid electric (front- and four-wheel drive) with a compression ratio of 12.4:1
• Toyota Camry Hybrid hybrid electric (front-wheel drive) with a compression ratio of 12.5:1
• Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid hybrid electric (four-wheel drive) with a compression ratio of 10.8:1

Note that any compression ratio shown above only reflects the physical compression ratio, which provides the ratio of the combustion chamber volumes when the piston is at "bottom dead center" versus "top dead center". The effective compression ratio of the air-fuel mixture in an Atkinson-cycle engine, with respect to atmospheric pressure, is lower due to the aforementioned delay in closing the intake valve.


Find out more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkinson_cycle