Alternative Fuels Discussion and Tech on using alternatives such as E85 or Hydrogen or other fuels and/or supplements to Gasoline in Rotary Engines

propane?

Old 09-29-09, 11:37 PM
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propane?

Has anyone thought of running this fuel?
Old 09-30-09, 02:08 AM
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Its been done there is a conversion some where out there.
I never had the interest so I never looked it up.
Old 04-18-10, 08:59 PM
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up to the top !

no replies after all this time?

myself am using a propane /LPG mix and impco 225 mixer and model E convertor ( with boost ) in a FC
--- and have been for several years now,, daily

LPG/ propane is a common enough conversion in aus
- both mixer systems and also vapour injection systems have been installed on turbo rotaries

though vapour injection systems have limitations in outputs due to injector sizing cutting things to around 200 rwhp
( unless adding 4 - 8 more injector locations )
the relatively cheaper mixer systems dont have the same flow limitations, nor the expected trade down in drivabilty to EFI
- they drive exceptionally smoothly ,, thanks to LPG's inherent properties
though mine being the 320 + hp rating of the single convertor and single excess flow lockoff

my engine is a modded 6 port/ turbo hybrid with highflow turbo

i have excellent, affordable,,streetable power,, without the trade down of shitty injector staging and terrible fuel bill that all those with petrol extend ports and bigger injectors suffer

PS
i also have more than 15 years experience of DAILY driving turbo ported rotaries on petrol
i know exactly how expensive they can be to operate,, and exactly how bad drivabilty can get in some injector combos

Last edited by bumpstart; 04-18-10 at 09:05 PM. Reason: ps
Old 04-30-10, 01:13 PM
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I have seen some "new" rotary development where they are running on Hydrogen but I haven't seen much on propane.

To Grappler, what game is that achievement from?
Old 05-08-10, 03:06 AM
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i was talking to a friend of mine.he was talking about running propane as an accessary like nitrous.push the button,it sprays propane through the intake,you get more power.he's been doing this for years in mudd trucks,track car,go karts,lawn mowers and pretty much anything else with an engine.he was explaining that since it's so much more dense that it'll allow for more fuel/air mixture at a time and it burns much hotter than regular fuel.he showed me some dyno slips of some power difference in his fiero (2.8l v6). he got as high as 150hp bump from the propane as a power adder.he said he could have probably gotten more power but the pressure regulater he used wouldn't go any higher.he did it kinda redneckish using a pressure regulater from a propane grill.it did the job.he explained hooking it up like nitrous.he's done this on 4bangers,v6's,v8's,4 wheelers,and once just to see how much better it would be,a weed eater lol.my question is,could this hurt our rotary?i keep thinking about nitous,but nitrous if the can gets punctured will explode,propane will just leak out.also,one of my best friends who is in my car ALOT is allergic to nitrous oxide/loughing gas,so if i ran nitrous she could never be in my car just in case if it leaked.lemme kno what you guys think.im realy thinking bout trying this.my friend can get me all the supplies on the cheap.i just don't want to try it if you think it could hurt my beloved rotary engine.
Old 05-08-10, 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by rx7freak13v
i was talking to a friend of mine.he was talking about running propane as an accessary like nitrous.push the button,it sprays propane through the intake,you get more power.he's been doing this for years in mudd trucks,track car,go karts,lawn mowers and pretty much anything else with an engine.he was explaining that since it's so much more dense that it'll allow for more fuel/air mixture at a time and it burns much hotter than regular fuel.he showed me some dyno slips of some power difference in his fiero (2.8l v6). he got as high as 150hp bump from the propane as a power adder.he said he could have probably gotten more power but the pressure regulater he used wouldn't go any higher.he did it kinda redneckish using a pressure regulater from a propane grill.it did the job.he explained hooking it up like nitrous.he's done this on 4bangers,v6's,v8's,4 wheelers,and once just to see how much better it would be,a weed eater lol.my question is,could this hurt our rotary?i keep thinking about nitous,but nitrous if the can gets punctured will explode,propane will just leak out.also,one of my best friends who is in my car ALOT is allergic to nitrous oxide/loughing gas,so if i ran nitrous she could never be in my car just in case if it leaked.lemme kno what you guys think.im realy thinking bout trying this.my friend can get me all the supplies on the cheap.i just don't want to try it if you think it could hurt my beloved rotary engine.
sounds all ****

propane has different ignition timing requirements to petrol . using both would amount to a compromised ignition curve not suited to either fuel

propane tanks are not light ,, adding one to a car already with petrol tank amounts to a massive weight and space handicap,, especially in your average rx7

they dont just leak out in an accident,, they are pressurized,, and if the emergency features work it MAY leak out of the overpressure relief valve

the value in LPG is to jump in both feet,, throwing the expensive petrol fuel system far away ,, and hence only suffering a minor weight and space handicap
add in a decent ignition system and some LPG dedicated timing curve
all in view of making a 300 rwhp rx7 as cheap to operate as your average modern 2L multivalve piston engine

the original idea of this mod is not to make more power than with petrol
- ive already had 350+ rwhp ported turbo petrol rotaries
and know all about the expense of the fuel, ECU and fuel pumps
and also all about the horrible part throttle and staging that porting entails

this one is around the 280 - 300 rwhp ,, and operating costs are HALVED over that of the petrol equiv
-- all while maintaining some pretty decent low speed intake air driving characteristics,, unlike the petrol versions

-- a daily driving rx7 without the usual rx7 heartaches of cost, pollution and poor low speed intake air driving characteristics
Old 05-09-10, 04:29 AM
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hm.....i wonder what his real secret is then?alot of talk i guess.he probably was using nitrous on his dyno run and just said it was from propane.i didnt see him do it of course,only some slips.it sounded like a believable idea.im not up to parr on the whole idea of propane instead of pump gas.thanks for the info.thas one more idea gone.im shooting for around 300-350 hp but not sure if i want to turbo or not.i've spoken with expeienced rotary mechanics and the people i've spoken with talks about unreliability issues when boosting a rotary and advise staying N/A but then they say a bridge port won't last beyond an estimated 20k miles and i can't afford that.but i can't reach the power numbers i want off of a street port can i? i plan to pick up a microtech stand alone in the fall and rebuild in the spring with a port and trying to decide on if i should rebuild with TII rotars and boost or stay N/A.i need reliability but also want power...im so lost
Old 05-09-10, 05:43 AM
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Originally Posted by rx7freak13v
hm.....i wonder what his real secret is then?alot of talk i guess.he probably was using nitrous on his dyno run and just said it was from propane.i didnt see him do it of course,only some slips.it sounded like a believable idea.im not up to parr on the whole idea of propane instead of pump gas.thanks for the info.thas one more idea gone.im shooting for around 300-350 hp but not sure if i want to turbo or not.i've spoken with expeienced rotary mechanics and the people i've spoken with talks about unreliability issues when boosting a rotary and advise staying N/A but then they say a bridge port won't last beyond an estimated 20k miles and i can't afford that.but i can't reach the power numbers i want off of a street port can i? i plan to pick up a microtech stand alone in the fall and rebuild in the spring with a port and trying to decide on if i should rebuild with TII rotars and boost or stay N/A.i need reliability but also want power...im so lost
hes using nitropropane,, something different all together

a boosted rotary done well is the only way to get that HP and eat cake
NA will never have that sort of power with reliability and powerband suit the gearing most are limited with

LPG,, especially propane has a rather high octane not unlike methanol, but with the bonus of a much higher energy content than alcohols
( 1.3-1.6 : 1 compared to petrol ratio,, unlike a methanol 3 + )
add to the point that it rather resistant to stratifying, and burns relatively stably and slowly
( inherently suited to a long burn , high surface area chamber like a rotary one )
with low co and hydrocarbon emissions
( which tradionaly are high for rotaries )

LPGs one bane is the higher temp in the burn and N20 emissions if optional AFR isnt maintained
- here the long burn and high surface area and traditional low N20 emissions of rotary engines play towards LPGs main weakness

add a little bias to the OMP injection on the apex seal accounts for the dry fuel lubrication issue

all in all LPG is a successful fuel for rotary engines for many of the reasons H2 and also NG are
Old 05-09-10, 05:36 PM
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i guess that answers my dispute.boost it and be happy lol.thanx for the info and advice
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