New Diesel Outboard

They must have solved a few inherent problems with this concept. I have talked to an old friend of mine from university. He is presently a pretty high wheel in the Volkswagen developement departement. He said, the intial problems where located in the thermodynamic field (the exhaust pistion gets very hot), high pulsation in the intake and exhaust tubings and the biggest problem exhaust gas cleaning (Lub oil is burned in the combustion process, remember 2-stroke) and the old precharge issue of any 2-stoke diesel. He stated, that his retired former colleague Prof. Peter Hofbauer, the founder of Ecomotors, is one of the greatest cumbustion engine geniuses on this planet. If one engine specialists could gets this engine working, then it would be this man. The above mentioned problems were the reason, Hofbauer was allowed to take his invention with him, when he retired.

As venture capital is not really available in Europe (our bankers and investors are far to conservative), he went to the states and started his own business. If you look at his list of investors, his cushion (financial backround) is pretty thick to work with. Volkswagem may regret in the future, letting this invention go, he said.

Ideas like self lubricating piston rings and cylinder liners sound pretty clever. But this is a typical problemwith large car companies. Far to profit orientated and inflexible. Fundamental research is not their neck of the wood. Smaller thinktanks with a highly motivated team of scientists and backed up with venture capital can come up with great ideas. I am only afraid, China will step in for mass production.

Btw. Here is my Wankel Diesel outboard engine. Multi fuel (Diesel, petrol, Kerosin) vertically mounted, small and light. Tell me where to send the money !!!






I will get in contact with them.

The specific fuel consumption of a wankel engine is somewhat higher than with piston engines. With diesel engines, the difference is not that big. But the elimination of petrol stores on yachts and ships is worth it. The other advantage is the total absence of vibration at higher RPM and the very small size of the engine. Perfect for a outboard engine. My glider petrol Wankel engine gets quieter at increasing RPM and at full power (8000 RPM) it sounds like an electric motor.

The key figure on long lasting Wankel engines is the internal air cooling of the triangular rotating piston. The engine itself is watercooled. The early Wankel engines had many problems with the piston seals (the equivalent of piston rings) in the corners of this triangular piston, because the oval combustion chamber (Epitrochoid) has a constant changing shape.



I had some nightmares with the math of this engine in university.