Here is the answer
to the muffler problem. Active Noise Control. No big, heavy,
draggy muffler needed.
<snip from
“Canadian Driver” article>
…Active Noise
Control is unique to this vehicle. Active Noise Control (ANC) uses sound
waves generated from the audio speakers to cancel out any booming noise from
the powertrain. The ANC controller uses a microphone to detect any noise and
then generates a signal 180 degrees out of phase to cancel out the original
noise.
<snip>
Mark
S.
From:
Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]
On Behalf Of Russell
Duffy
Sent: Monday, May 09,
2005 2:24 PM
To: Rotary
motors in aircraft
Subject:
[FlyRotary] Re: center rotor OFF
I'm thinking this
would not be a good plan. For the piston engines you referred to, I
bet they have a way to control the valves with solenoids so the deactivated
pistons aren't producing compression.
Actually they do have
compression. No fuel or fire.
OK, make me look it
up :-) Apparently, they stop the valves from opening, rather than
leaving them open. I couldn't find anything that gave details of
exactly what point in the sequence they stop the valves, so the cylinder
could either be full of air (silly and wasteful of power), empty of air
(would cause vacuum that would be as bad as the compression force), or
perhaps somewhere in between.
Here's the best
article I found, though with annoying ads. Don't forget about
those active controlled engine mounts to smooth out the 3 cylinder
operation in economy mode. Just boggles the mind what they'll do to
make improvements in economy.
Rusty (Great Plains
VW 2180 running, and for sale)