What are the advantages of a three-rotor engine?

The three-rotor engine has the following advantages:

　　1. Fewer components, simple mechanism.

　　The entire three-rotor engine has only two rotating components during operation— the eccentric shaft and the three rotors—significantly simplifying its design compared to conventional four-stroke reciprocating engines. Since the three-rotor engine directly converts the expansion pressure generated by the combustion of the air-fuel mixture into rotational force for the triangular-shaped rotors and the eccentric shaft, it eliminates the need for connecting rods altogether. Instead, the intake and exhaust ports are opened and closed by the movement of the rotors themselves. As a result, there’s no requirement for a valve train system—including timing belts, camshafts, rocker arms, valves, or valve springs—components that are essential in traditional reciprocating engines. In short, the rotary engine requires far fewer parts to function effectively.

　　The advantage of having fewer parts is that it significantly reduces the failure rate and enhances reliability—though, of course, the durability of the three-rotor engine has long been questioned due to its sealing design, as discussed below—and makes maintenance much easier. At the same time, this also brings the following benefits. The WeChat content on metalworking is quite good and worth paying attention to.

　　2. Smaller size, lighter weight, and higher power density contribute to improved front-to-rear balance in vehicles.

It is precisely because the number of parts has been dramatically reduced that the three-rotor engine is smaller in size and lighter in weight. This allows the three-rotor engine to deliver significantly more power at the same weight and volume—or, alternatively, to produce the same level of power while being even lighter and more compact. Even this single feature has already captivated countless engineers and modification enthusiasts alike.

　　3. Powerful strength.

　　Because the three-rotor engine lacks reciprocating motion, it doesn’t require precise crankshaft balancing to achieve high rotational speeds. This reduces the number of rotating components in the engine, minimizing kinetic energy losses from accessory movements and lowering wear between parts—resulting in higher overall efficiency (referring to mechanical efficiency, not combustion efficiency). As a result, its rotational speed surpasses that of conventional reciprocating engines.

　　4. Exhibits excellent quietness and balance, with a remarkably consistent torque curve across the entire speed range.

　　The piston movement in a reciprocating engine itself is a source of vibration, and the valve mechanism also generates mechanical noise. While a reciprocating engine produces low noise at idle, it doesn’t mean the same level of quietness during acceleration. When the engine runs smoothly, the resulting vibrations are minimal—and without the presence of a valve train, it can operate even more steadily and quietly. In fact, the Twin-Turbocharged Tri-Rotor engine boasts noise levels and stability comparable to those of an inline-six-cylinder reciprocating engine.

　　In a reciprocating engine, the inline-six configuration is already a remarkably stable and quiet design, as its structure effectively eliminates most of the impact noise caused by unwanted inertial forces. However, component-level noise is unavoidable—yet the three-rotor engine easily matches, or even surpasses, the balance achieved by an inline-six, which is truly impressive!