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Al Gietzen <alventures@email.msn.com> wrote:
>> The rotary can survive a little detonation, but won't take much
>> preignition.
>>
>> Lynn E. Hanover
> OK, Lynn; now you've done it. I understand that concepts that
> preignition is ignition of the compressed fuel/mixture prior to the
> normal ignition by the spark, caused by some hot spot or something; and
> detonation is a sort of flash, or spontaneous combustion ahead, or away
> from, the normal flame front caused sonic compression waves, or
> whatever. How can you tell the difference? And what causes one or the
> other? And does one lead to the other? When the piston engine in my car
> "pings" because the timing is too early or the octane is too low, which
> is it. I've never heard preignition or detonation in a rotary, but if I
> ever do, now I'm going to want to know which it is.
>
I'm not Lynn, but detonation does not change the effective timing, only the pressure curve. As long as the tangent of the rotor has passed over_center before the pressure reaches a certain point, damage is unlikely.
Pre-ignition, on the other hand, acts just like advancing the timing. Considering the geometry of the rotary chamber, it's probably far harder on a rotary engine than on a reciprocating piston engine.
Regards,
Dale
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