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neil_g

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Nr Bournemouth

morning..

im doing a bit of research for next year when ive got space/money/life to start a new project.

im trying to find out info on using rotrex on an a-series. ive had a search about on here and havent found much useful info.

rumour has it there has been a mini using a rotrex, does anyone know any more info?

i dont want to start off a turbos vs supercharger thing.. but i figured if anyone knew about this you lot would..

cheers


turbodave16v
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There was indeed a mini with a Rotrex. Guy was in Scotland or somet. I think Evo knew who it was....

On 17th Nov, 2014 Tom Fenton said:
Sorry to say My Herpes are no better


Ready to feel Ancient ??? This is 26 years old as of 2022 https://youtu.be/YQQokcoOzeY



Jordan

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I seen a red one in a minimag yonks ago. Ill dig it out if you want.

Back once again like a renegade master


neil_g

64 Posts
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Nr Bournemouth

jordan - please, thatd be great


turbodave16v
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That is the same one.

On 17th Nov, 2014 Tom Fenton said:
Sorry to say My Herpes are no better


Ready to feel Ancient ??? This is 26 years old as of 2022 https://youtu.be/YQQokcoOzeY



AlexB
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The boring bloke who runs this place.

Berkshire

I used to have a rotrex on my old golf - great little chargers. Loads of boost.


wil_h

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Rotrex Scs are rubbish IMO, a crosss between a turbo and a supercharger, but the worst parts of both. i.e a high boost threshold using lots of power.

They have a use in that they can be bolted on to stock (read high CR) engines because they only make useful boost at high RPM where the dynamic CR is lower (I think that's right).

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph



On 2nd Jan, 2013 fastcarl said:

the design shows a distinct lack of imagination,
talk about starting off with a clean sheet of paper, then not bothering to fucking draw on it,lol

On 20th Apr, 2012 Paul S said:
I'm mainly concerned about swirl in the runners caused by the tangential entry.


AlexB
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The boring bloke who runs this place.

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I was running 1.6bar on mine.. over 1bar from 2000 and up..


neil_g

64 Posts
Member #: 1175
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Nr Bournemouth

hi will,

didnt see you guys at gurston last weekend, you still sprinting the 998?

im interested in your comments, rotrex claim their chargers are around 96% drive efficient.

i'll come clean i used to be a saxo owner (i can hear you all muttering under your breath now) and these guys use the rotrex extremely well getting 200bunnies upwards out of the 1.6 16v 120bunny lump.

im interested in all comments/opinions/facts..

cheers


On 23rd Apr, 2008 wil_h said:
Rotrex Scs are rubbish IMO, a crosss between a turbo and a supercharger, but the worst parts of both. i.e a high boost threshold using lots of power.

They have a use in that they can be bolted on to stock (read high CR) engines because they only make useful boost at high RPM where the dynamic CR is lower (I think that's right).


gr4h4m

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Chester

hang on when did we move from Banana's to Bunny's?
:)

I run a supercharger and I don't care the TB is on the wrong side.
VEMS + 12 PSI + Liquid Intercooler = Small Bore FUN!


neil_g

64 Posts
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Nr Bournemouth

sorry.. habbit. or should that be rabbit lol


On 24th Apr, 2008 gr4h4m said:
hang on when did we move from Banana's to Bunny's?
:)


alpa

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On 23rd Apr, 2008 wil_h said:
Rotrex Scs are rubbish IMO, a crosss between a turbo and a supercharger, but the worst parts of both. i.e a high boost threshold using lots of power.

They have a use in that they can be bolted on to stock (read high CR) engines because they only make useful boost at high RPM where the dynamic CR is lower (I think that's right).


I agree.
The compressor is efficient in a narrow range of RPM, while engine goes from 1000 to 7000 or more. So you have to choose torque/power range, which is the opposite of superchargers.

Even if a turbo compressor looks small it's still big compared to the available place under the Mini hood. Add the belt and all its drive staff, don't forget the intercooler. Not sure it'll be easier to install than an Eaton, while the boosted RPM range will be smaller. And it's virtually impossible to find second hand.

std 998 A+, g295, MD266, RHF4, 109hp @0.8bar/5400rpm


neil_g

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Nr Bournemouth

not a huge fan of the eaton to be honest (i can feel more people hating me by the minute).

the C15 is only 158mm diameter at its largest part so its not exactly huge. i know theyre like hens teeth second hand although i think id buy new anyway just for peace of mind.


neil_g

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Nr Bournemouth

roight.. not wanting to start a cross forum flaming session, i want to iron out any flaws in my thoughts about this... ive put some of the above concerns to some guys that run rotrex (not a-series) and this is what they can back with in response.

1 - they do have high boost threshold compared to most tubo's and positive displacement s/c's, and they may sap more power than a turbo, but they're definitely more efficient than any of the positive displacement superchargers.

Saying they combine worst parts of both simply isn't true, the worst part of a turbo is lag and the amount of heat they put into the charge. The worst part of positive displacement s/c's is they are terribly inefficient.

2 - True the compressor is only efficient over a certain range, but thats true for all turbos and S/C's. The advantage of the Rotrex is that the relationship between the input speed and the turbine speed isn't linear so as the input speed increases the turbine speed doesn't increase as quickly so the tubine can remainig spinning within its efficient region across a wider rpm range.

the Rotrex works differently from conventional S/C's, which people who have not used one dont understand.

3 - if those comments are true they have soething drastically wrong with the set-up.
there has been one guy using a c30/64 he could not run the compressor at full rpm even without an intercooler as it just kept destroying gearboxs + head gaskets--with only 8psi it gave more power than either sprintex or eaton ,was also more fuel efficent and quieter and reliable.


turbodave16v
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I'd be interested in how they claim 96%, when the highjest figure you see on any Garrett is less than 80%... 96% for any compressor is frankly, well, unbelievable....

On 17th Nov, 2014 Tom Fenton said:
Sorry to say My Herpes are no better


Ready to feel Ancient ??? This is 26 years old as of 2022 https://youtu.be/YQQokcoOzeY



neil_g

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Nr Bournemouth

taken off rotrex website..

Key to the Rotrex supercharger's unique compactness, efficiency, low noise and reliability is its state of the art traction drive technology.

Great speeds and low noise are just some of the advantages of traction drives over traditional gear transmissions. Traction drives transmit power through friction forces between its rolling elements.

The Rotrex patented traction drive uses an elastic annulus with a small pre-span to secure contact between the roller planets and the sun shaft with a reasonable force. The patented "ramp effect" increases efficiency and reliability in the transmission by regulating the torque transfer capability on demand through self-adjusting planet geometry.

To enhance performance, the Rotrex traction drive uses a special traction fluid. These fluids are a new family of synthetic hydrocarbon oils and greases offering a series of unique performance advantages. Developed specially for its use in Rotrex superchargers, the SX100 momentarily increases viscosity under high surface pressure, enhancing the traction drive performance by securing the optimum friction between rolling elements while cooling and protecting the system.

This traction drive combined with the latest technology in centrifugal compression, characterized by high adiabatic efficiency and low noise, gives Rotrex superchargers an exceptional competitive edge over any other forced induction solution.



On 24th Apr, 2008 TurboDave said:
I'd be interested in how they claim 96%, when the highjest figure you see on any Garrett is less than 80%... 96% for any compressor is frankly, well, unbelievable....


turbodave16v
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So, how do they achieve 96% system efficiency?
Take a compressor at (say) 85% (optimistic, sure, but let's try it), multiplied by a planetary gear-train of 95% (wildly optimistic, even for a floating plantet planetary, which is nothing new), and that it 80.8%.


80.8% is not 96%.
Maybe it's the engineer in me, but something smells of BS.

On 17th Nov, 2014 Tom Fenton said:
Sorry to say My Herpes are no better


Ready to feel Ancient ??? This is 26 years old as of 2022 https://youtu.be/YQQokcoOzeY



neil_g

64 Posts
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Nr Bournemouth

honestly i dont know dave, this is all fairly new to me technically wise. i'll try and find out but in the meantime.. http://www.rotrex.com/


alpa

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Grenoble, France



On 24th Apr, 2008 neil_g said:
roight.. not wanting to start a cross forum flaming session, i want to iron out any flaws in my thoughts about this... ive put some of the above concerns to some guys that run rotrex (not a-series) and this is what they can back with in response.

1 - they do have high boost threshold compared to most tubo's and positive displacement s/c's, and they may sap more power than a turbo, but they're definitely more efficient than any of the positive displacement superchargers.


Yes the centrifugal compressor is more efficient (max data, not in average) than a screw one.


Saying they combine worst parts of both simply isn't true, the worst part of a turbo is lag and the amount of heat they put into the charge. The worst part of positive displacement s/c's is they are terribly inefficient.


Lag is not a 'part', it's a phenomena existing in the engine-turbocompressor system. Centrifugal compressor with a narrow bandwidth IS a part, gearbox as well.
The heat put in the charge comes from the compressor, which is the same in turbocompre and Rotrex, your statement does not make sense.
Compressors exist because they provide a very smooth driving. And because some engines like supercharged 2 stroke can not start without them.


2 - True the compressor is only efficient over a certain range, but thats true for all turbos and S/C's. The advantage of the Rotrex is that the relationship between the input speed and the turbine speed isn't linear so as the input speed increases the turbine speed doesn't increase as quickly so the tubine can remainig spinning within its efficient region across a wider rpm range.


Very good point.


3 - if those comments are true they have soething drastically wrong with the set-up.
there has been one guy using a c30/64 he could not run the compressor at full rpm even without an intercooler as it just kept destroying gearboxs + head gaskets--with only 8psi it gave more power than either sprintex or eaton ,was also more fuel efficent and quieter and reliable.



This kind of argument can not be used. We know nothing about this car. We only know running without intercooler increases knock chances which can destroy the engine in many ways.

Edited by alpa on 24th Apr, 2008.

std 998 A+, g295, MD266, RHF4, 109hp @0.8bar/5400rpm


neil_g

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Nr Bournemouth

dave - my fault, i mis-quoted rotrex. the drive unit is 96% efficient.


akirch

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Austria

I think this was the one at the IMM in scotland, some years ago...







Regards,
Andreas

http://www.minifreunde.at


turbodave16v
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On 24th Apr, 2008 neil_g said:
dave - my fault, i mis-quoted rotrex. the drive unit is 96% efficient.


That is a pretty impressive drive given that it's a what, 1:4 ratio...



I personally think these units are not too shabby. The Space envelope is good, and if you can optimise the drive and pressure ratio for your application, there is no-doubt a pretty good 'sweet spot' that'll work out pretty well. For what they offer, and if it cvan be optimised in the flow and boost needed, they are not a bad choice. I'd be doing a whole load of calcs before purchasing though!

I have to like the Eaton's for obvious reasons (!) and they are, without doubt, the best 'OE application' unit on the market. They are not a 'high performance' (read 12psi+) supercharger though, never will be. Even the latest units offer more boost, but at an efficiency penalty (compared to a centrifugal compressor).

Never had a Rotrex / opcon / etc, but would love to have someone throw one my way to play with!!!

Edited by turbodave16v on 24th Apr, 2008.

On 17th Nov, 2014 Tom Fenton said:
Sorry to say My Herpes are no better


Ready to feel Ancient ??? This is 26 years old as of 2022 https://youtu.be/YQQokcoOzeY



wil_h

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On 24th Apr, 2008 neil_g said:


Saying they combine worst parts of both simply isn't true, the worst part of a turbo is lag and the amount of heat they put into the charge. The worst part of positive displacement s/c's is they are terribly inefficient.

.


We've covered this before, the heat transfer from the turbine is minimal as I remember, so the turbo charge is no hotter than a similarly efficient compressor.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph



On 2nd Jan, 2013 fastcarl said:

the design shows a distinct lack of imagination,
talk about starting off with a clean sheet of paper, then not bothering to fucking draw on it,lol

On 20th Apr, 2012 Paul S said:
I'm mainly concerned about swirl in the runners caused by the tangential entry.


Sir Yun

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they are about the same price as a K1100 conversion and a turbo combined.. which is of course a different kettle O' clams.

given the choice i would probably want a Lysholm i think. (also quite dear but also very compact)

Edited by Sir Yun on 24th Apr, 2008.

That sir, is not rust, it is the progressive mass reduction system

http://aseriesmodifications.wordpress.com/


turbodave16v
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On 24th Apr, 2008 Sir Yun said:

given the choice i would probably want a Lysholm i think. (also quite dear but also very compact)



Not so dear really....$250 buys you a unit that Stu from Cornwall reckons is ideal for an A-series...
I really should buy one of these to see just how big they are!


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MAZDA-MILLE...sspagenameZWDVW


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-02-Mazda...sspagenameZWDVW


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda-mille...sspagenameZWDVW


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda-Mille...sspagenameZWDVW


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-Mazda-Mi...sspagenameZWDVW





On 17th Nov, 2014 Tom Fenton said:
Sorry to say My Herpes are no better


Ready to feel Ancient ??? This is 26 years old as of 2022 https://youtu.be/YQQokcoOzeY


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