Hydrocarbon Retaining and Purging System

• US 20090120061A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Uhrich, Michael James, Lupescu, Jason Aaron, Kerns, James Michael, Elwart, Shane
• Granted Patent: US 7,913,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/274
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 23/104 the injector being placed on a side position of the cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0207 changing valve lift or valve lift and timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0219 by shifting the phase, i.e. the opening periods of the valves are constant
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/084 Blends of gasoline and alcohols, e.g. E85
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0854 Details of the absorption canister
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle including an engine having an intake and an exhaust, the system comprising:

a fuel system of the vehicle;

a hydrocarbon retaining system selectively coupled to the engine intake, engine exhaust, and fuel system;

the hydrocarbon retaining system including a first and second hydrocarbon retaining device, the second hydrocarbon retaining device having a smaller porosity than the first hydrocarbon retaining device; and

a controller for selectively routing exhaust gases of the engine to the first hydrocarbon retaining device and then to the second hydrocarbon retaining device to store exhaust hydrocarbons;

selectively routing fuel vapors from the fuel system to the hydrocarbon retaining system; and

selectively purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon retaining system to the engine intake.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller further operates the hydrocarbon retaining system to selectively draw fresh air through the first and second hydrocarbon retaining devices in parallel to purge stored hydrocarbons to the engine intake.

3. The system of claim 1, where the controller further determines degradation of the hydrocarbon retaining system based on exhaust air-fuel ratio during purging operation.

4. A system for managing emissions of an engine of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first exhaust passage including an emission control device, the first passage including a downstream section, the downstream section downstream of the emission control device and including a tailpipe of the vehicle;

a second exhaust passage coupled to the first exhaust passage downstream of the emission control device, the second exhaust passage including a hydrocarbon retaining system having a first and second hydrocarbon retaining device, the second hydrocarbon retaining device having a smaller porosity than the first hydrocarbon retaining device, the hydrocarbon retaining system further including a vent passage, where at least a portion of the vent passage is positioned adjacent and thermally coupled to at least a portion of the downstream section of the first exhaust passage.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a purging passage coupled between an engine intake and the hydrocarbon retaining system.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a control system configured to route exhaust gases to the second exhaust passage during a first condition to store exhaust hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon retaining system, and during a second condition, purging the hydrocarbon retaining system to an engine intake.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the control system, during purging, operates the hydrocarbon retaining system to draw fresh air into the vent passage to purge hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon retaining system to the engine intake.

8. The system of claim 7, where the control system adjusts initiation of the purging responsive to exhaust temperature.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of valves to selectively route exhaust gas to the first and second passages.

10. The system of claim 4 further comprising a control system to operate the hydrocarbon retaining system to selectively draw fresh air through the first and second hydrocarbon retaining devices via the vent passage and in parallel to purge stored hydrocarbons to an engine intake.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the control system further operates the hydrocarbon retaining system to purge at least one of the first and second hydrocarbon retaining devices in a direction opposite of storing.

12. The system of claim 4 further comprising a control system for selectively routing exhaust gases of the engine to the first hydrocarbon retaining device and then to the second hydrocarbon retaining device to store exhaust hydrocarbons;

selectively routing fuel vapors from a fuel system to the hydrocarbon retaining system; and

selectively purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon retaining system to an engine intake.

13. The system of claim 12, where the control system, during selective routing, exhaust gases enter at least one of the hydrocarbon retaining devices in a first direction, and during selective purging, purge gas exits the at least one device with stored hydrocarbons in a second direction opposite the first direction.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising a pressure sensor coupled in the second exhaust passage, where the control system determines degradation of at least one of the first and second hydrocarbon retaining devices based on the pressure sensor.

15. A system for a vehicle including an engine having an intake and an exhaust, the system comprising:

a fuel system of the vehicle;

a hydrocarbon retaining system selectively coupled to the engine intake, engine exhaust, and fuel system;

the hydrocarbon retaining system including a first and second hydrocarbon retaining device, the second hydrocarbon retaining device having a smaller porosity than the first hydrocarbon retaining device; and

a controller for selectively routing exhaust gases of the engine to the first hydrocarbon retaining device and then to the second hydrocarbon retaining device to store exhaust hydrocarbons;

ending the routine of the exhaust gases based at least on an alcohol amount of fuel in the fuel system;

selectively routing fuel vapors from the fuel system to the hydrocarbon retaining system; and

selectively purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon retaining system to the engine intake.