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)