PRESENT AND FUTURE OF ROTARY ENGINE TECHNOLOGY

The fuel economy of the rotary engine utilizing the thermal reactor system as an exhaust emission control system has been improved step by step through modifications to the engine and emission control system while meeting the exhaust emission standards which are becoming more stringent year by year. The newly adopted catalyst system was realized through basic research and development on the engine, various emission control technologies obtained through modifications on the thermal reactor system, and a newly developed catalytic converter, resulting in a significant improvement in fuel economy, of an equivalent level to the reciprocating engine with the same engine output. In the Rotary Engine with 6–port Induction system (RE 6pi), further increase in low engine speed torque and improved fuel economy are achieved through a variable port timing ensuring high engine speed performance. Henceforth, the rotary engine is expected to obtain even better fuel economy and higher engine performance through continuous research and development to bring out many other potentials inherent in the rotary engine.