Wrathall Mark wrote:

http://www.eet.com/story/OEG20000414S0050
This URL was cicrulated on the Fly5K newsgroup. Now all that is needed is to
replace that metal exhaust valve with an electic field, and the four stroke
might finally be nearly as sensible as the rotary.
Mark Wrathall

They certainly are right about it being tried many times before.
It would be a lot easier to do on a low speed diesel with cool
exhaust valves rather than a high speed gasoline engine with hot
exhaust valves. One of the breakthroughs to make it work is go
to a higher voltages than 12 volts. Something like 48 volts
would make it easier. The speed of build up of the magnetic flux
in the valve actuating solenoid is the limiting factor.
It take a lot of force to jerk a valve open and then close it.

Paul Lamar

When they worked right the valves would change state in 0.4 ms.  At higher
voltage they did a little better and were more stable meaning they would
successfully switch (mechanically) during the high speed electronic event.
The real future in these systems is solid state piezo but right now they
are limited on power.  Sturman's technology is not the greatest in this
area, its just the state of the art.

Jeff Spitzer

 
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