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Wankel engine: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As Wankel rotary engine

Photos

Diagram showing three stages in the operation of a Wankel rotary engine: intake of fuel-air mixture, ignition by spark plug, and exhaust release, with labeled parts and rotary motion indicated.
Diagram showing four types of gasoline engines: an opposed-piston engine with pistons facing each other, a Wankel rotary engine with a triangular rotor, an in-line engine with pistons arranged vertically, and a V-type (V-8) engine with pistons set in a V shape. Arrows indicate the direction of motion in each engine.
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Key People

Portrait of Dr. Felix Wankel, wearing glasses, a suit, and a tie, looking at the camera.
Felix Wankel
German inventor