Systems and methods for controlling vehicle refueling

• US 10,301,166 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dudar, Aed M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stclair, Andrew D
• Application Number:
  US15/288,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20180099856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03514 with vapor recovery means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03557 comprising elements of the venting device integrated in the fuel tank, e.g. vapor recovery means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03576 Venting during filling the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/048 Vapour flow control means, e.g. valves, pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/049 Vapour recovery methods, e.g. condensing the vapour
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0492 Vapour storing means, e.g. dedicated ullage spaces, separate tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/54 with means for preventing escape of liquid or vapour or for recovering escaped liquid or vapour B67D7/44 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for refueling a vehicle configured with an onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) system, such that a loading of a fuel vapor canister configured to capture and store fuel vapors, is reduced. In one example, during the refueling, a rate at which fuel vapors are routed to the fuel vapor canister is adjusted responsive to an indication that the vehicle is refueling at a gas station equipped with offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure. In this way, loading of the fuel vapor canister may be reduced which may prevent undesired bleedthrough emissions resulting from a canister loaded with fuel vapors, particularly in examples where the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle and where engine runtime is limited, thus limiting potential opportunities for purging of the fuel vapor canister.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

via a controller with instructions therein,

during refueling a fuel tank of a vehicle at a gas station storage tank, routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to a fuel vapor storage canister positioned in an onboard evaporative emissions system that is coupled to the fuel tank;

during the refueling, adjusting a rate of the routing fuel vapors to the fuel vapor storage canister by controlling a duty cycle of a valve that selectively couples the fuel tank to atmosphere responsive to an indication of a vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure at a gas station;

adjusting a fuel vapor storage canister load threshold as a function of an expected loading of the fuel vapor storage canister during the refueling;

monitoring a fuel vapor storage canister load during the refueling; and

comparing the fuel vapor storage canister load to the fuel vapor storage canister load threshold to indicate whether the valve is functioning as desired.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the rate of routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister includes decreasing the rate of routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister responsive to the indication of the vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure, as compared to a condition where the vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure is not indicated.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a pressure in the fuel tank during refueling the fuel tank; and

wherein adjusting the rate of routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister includes adjusting the rate of routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister to prevent an automatic shutoff of a refueling dispenser providing fuel to the fuel tank.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises:

a fuel tank isolation valve positioned in a conduit coupling the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises:

a canister vent valve positioned in a fresh air line coupling the fuel vapor storage canister to atmosphere.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

recirculating at least a portion of fuel vapors from the fuel tank into a recirculation line during the refueling, the recirculation line coupling the fuel tank to a fuel filler neck of the fuel tank; and

wherein adjusting the rate of routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister further comprises increasing a rate at which fuel vapors are routed through the recirculation line and to the fuel filler neck, as compared to a condition where the vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure is not indicated.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein increasing the rate at which fuel vapors are routed through the recirculation line and to the fuel filler neck includes commanding open a variable orifice valve positioned in the recirculation line.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, responsive to adjusting the rate of routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister, a greater portion of refueling vapors are directed to the vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure than to the fuel vapor storage canister.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a wireless request for information as to whether the gas station where the refueling is occurring is equipped with the vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure;

receiving a wireless response; and

indicating whether the gas station is equipped with the vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure based on the receiving of the wireless response.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the fuel vapor storage canister load during the refueling is via one or more temperature sensors coupled to the fuel vapor canister.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an amount of fuel added to the fuel tank during the refueling; and

wherein the expected loading of the fuel vapor storage canister is related to the amount of fuel added to the fuel tank during the refueling.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the expected loading of the fuel vapor storage canister is related to the pressure in the fuel tank during refueling the fuel tank.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating that the valve is not functioning as desired in response to the fuel vapor storage canister load being greater than the fuel vapor storage canister load threshold during the refueling.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

in response to the indication that the valve is not functioning as desired, illuminating a malfunction indicator light indicative of a need to service the vehicle.