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Automobile makers have been building
mufflers for more than 100 years, and as the name
muffler implies, the primary purpose of the muffler is
to reduce noise emitted by the internal combustion
engine. Muffler technology hasn't changed very much over
the past 100 years. The exhaust is passed through a
series of various-sized chambers in reactive-type
mufflers, or straight through a perforated pipe wrapped
with sound deadening material in an absorption-type
muffler. Both types of mufflers have strengths and
weaknesses. The reactive-type muffler is usually
restrictive and prevents even the "good" engine sounds
from coming through, but does a good job of reducing
noise. On the other hand, most absorption-type mufflers
are less restrictive, but allow too much engine noise to
come through, especially at cruising speeds. And
regardless of the packing material, absorption-type
mufflers tend to get noisier with age.
More
recently, automotive engineers have been experimenting
with electronic noise suppression mufflers. A sound
pressure wave 180 degrees out-of-phase is generated by
an electronic device to cancel out a similar sound wave
generated by the engine. It is an effective way of
canceling noise without restricting flow. Unfortunately
it is too costly and currently impractical for today's
production vehicles. However, out-of-phase sound wave
cancellation is the best technology to control engine
noise.
CORSA's
patented RSC™ technology reflects sound pressure waves
within the muffler case to produce the same 180 degree
out-of-phase wave cancellation effect, without flow
restriction or electronic devices. It literally took the
proverbial "rocket scientist" to come up with the
design. An aeronautical engineer, with years of fluid
flow, gas dynamics, thermodynamics, and acoustics
experience on NASA and numerous other government
projects, was employed to adapt some of this space-age
noise-suppression technology to automotive mufflers. The
result is the CORSA * Reflective Sound-Cancellation™
Technology.
When you refer to the above illustration, you will
see an elegant design in simplicity, theory, and
operation. Essentially, the RSC™ muffler design includes
a pipe that runs straight through the muffler, almost as
if there was no muffler in the system. However, in this
straight through-pipe, there is a full 360-degree air
gap that allows sound pressure waves to escape and
travel down a channel. These waves are reflected back to
the air gap where they arrive 180 degrees out-of-phase
and cancels that particular sound frequency. Each CORSA
RSC™ muffler cancels up to three primary
resonance-producing sound frequencies. All that remains
is the clean crisp sound of a healthy performance
engine.
This
technology enables CORSA engineers to tune each muffler
to a specific vehicle by adjusting the size of the
360-degree air gap and the length of the pulse channels
within the muffler for the best sound and least interior
resonance. Initially, muffler design can be calculated
using exacting acoustic and thermodynamic formulas. The
final design specs are arrived at by using Real Time
Spectrum Analysis equipment to analyze "real" sound at
idle, acceleration, and cruise.
Once
internal and external dimensions have been established
for a specific vehicle, mufflers and exhaust systems are
fabricated out of 100 percent stainless steel at CORSA's
new 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Berea,
Ohio. The manufacturing process includes
state-of-the-art equipment plasma, TIG welding, and
hydroforming equipment. CORSA's RSC™ exhaust systems
are resistant to corrosion and able to withstand high
temperatures for long periods, enabling CORSA to offer a
limited lifetime warranty - guaranteed to the
original owner, against rust-through and corrosion, for
as long as they own their vehicle.
As
good as this theory sounds, what is really important is
real-world performance. How good is it? It works the
way a high-performance muffler really should...the
amount of sound produced is directly proportional to the
amount of throttle used. CORSA exhaust systems have been
best described as "awesome sound at full-throttle
and whisper-quiet cruise."
It's rare that any company invents a better
"mousetrap" in an industry that has evolved over 100
years. But CORSA Performance is convinced, as are its
satisfied customers, that no other high-performance
muffler can compare to its RSC™ systems. As car
enthusiasts get to hear the unique sound and experience
the performance these mufflers deliver, this technology
will be the standard of quality for performance mufflers
in the future. |