The Chinese company Harbin Dongan Auto Engine, a subsidiary of the automobile concern Changan Automobile Group, presented the prototype R05E, the first Chinese rotary (Wankel) high-power engine, which began production testing this month.
However, instead of cars, it will be primarily intended for “low-flying aerial vehicles” – so probably passenger multicopters, flying taxis that will be able to fly up to heights of about 300 meters. The R05E engine recently successfully achieved its first ignition, and its creators aim to put it into serial production in 2027.
Complex technical background
On the technical side, the R05E is a single-rotor rotary engine with a curved triangular piston housed in an epitrochoid housing, which allows for a compact design and a continuous combustion cycle. The engine uses an independent dual-circuit ignition system, a lightweight eccentric shaft and balancing system, and an integrated water-cooled cooling jacket to increase thermal efficiency and durability.
According to official data, the R05E develops a nominal speed of 6,500 rpm and a power of 53 kW, with a very high power-to-weight ratio. The housing made of die-cast aluminum and nanodiamond composites and friction-reducing coatings further reduce the internal losses and mass of the powertrain, which should thus be very efficient and, possibly, more successful than previous applications of Wankel engine configurations.
Primarily for aircraft
The R05E is designed primarily for low-flying aircraft platforms, including medium to large manned aircraft flying in low airspace, where compact dimensions and light power unit mass are critical. The company also highlights improved noise and vibration characteristics, which are particularly important for comfort and safety in urban aerial mobility solutions such as flying taxis.
At the same time, the project has a strategic goal to strengthen the domestic development of rotary engines in China and reduce reliance on imported technologies in the segment of advanced air mobility. Dongan plans to enter the growing market of low-flying vehicles precisely through the R05E as the basic drive platform – as opposed to strictly electric drives, which are usually seen in the domain of passenger multicopters.