2.10. What are the benefits of active control?
Description
This article is from the Active Noise Control FAQ, by Dr. Chris Ruckman
2.10. What are the benefits of active control?
The many practical benefits of active control technology are not all obvious at first glance. The main payoff, of course, is low- frequency quieting that would be too expensive, inconvenient, impractical, or heavy by passive methods alone. For example, the lead-impregnated sheets used to reduce aircraft cabin propeller noise impose a severe weight penalty, but active control might perform as well with a much smaller weight penalty.
Other possible benefits reflect the wide range of problems on which active control can be applied. For instance, with conventional car mufflers the engine spends extra energy to push exhaust gasses through the restrictive muffler passages. On the other hand, an active control muffler can perform as well with less severe flow restrictions, thus improving performance and/or efficiency. Additional benefits include:
* increased material durability and fatigue life
* lower operating costs due to reduced facility down-time for installation and maintenance
* reduced operator fatigue and improved ergonomics
Of these, the potential for reduced maintenance and increased material fatigue life have received new emphasis in the last few years. In the long-term, however, benefits may extend far beyond those mentioned above. The compact size and modularity of active systems can provide additional flexibility in product design, even to the point of a complete product redesign.
Continue to:
My Books
