I've always liked the efficiency of centrifugal blowers. But hated how they have no off-idle power. Love the off-idle power of a roots-type, but hate the inefficiency. I tried for ages to think up a way to make a relatively compact three-speed transmission for a centrifugal blower, but anything reliable was too bulky.
Then I thought: how about an electric drive for a centrifugal blower? Build in a variable-frequency motor controller capable of handling 19.2KW continuously, and a 90-second limit 60KW, and bingo: variable speed drive for a centrifugal blower accomplished!
Best of all, I can tell any enviro-whackos I encounter that my Cobra is a hybrid! Might even be able to get a federal subsidy for it!
Then I thought: how about an electric drive for a centrifugal blower? Build in a variable-frequency motor controller capable of handling 19.2KW continuously, and a 90-second limit 60KW, and bingo: variable speed drive for a centrifugal blower accomplished!
Best of all, I can tell any enviro-whackos I encounter that my Cobra is a hybrid! Might even be able to get a federal subsidy for it!