Hydrocarbon Retaining System and Method

• US 20090120067A1
• 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 8,333,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/285
• 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 method of operating an engine having an intake, an exhaust, and a hydrocarbon-retaining system, the method comprising:

during warm-up conditions, routing exhaust gases of the engine to the hydrocarbon retaining system to store exhaust hydrocarbons;

after warm-up conditions, purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-retaining system;

after purging, and during select operating conditions when the engine continues to spin, again routing exhaust gases of the engine to the hydrocarbon-retaining system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the engine carried out combustion while it continues to spin.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the select operating conditions include during rich exhaust air-fuel operation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the select operating conditions include cylinder valve deactivation conditions.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the select operating condition include fuel deactivation conditions.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the select operating conditions include catalyst over-temperature conditions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the select operating conditions include when temperature of a catalytic emission control device falls below a threshold value.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein during warm-up conditions, the engine carries out combustion with MBT ignition timing, even when temperature of an emission control device is less than a light-off temperature.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbons are purged into an intake of the engine.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising routine fuel tank generated vapors to the hydrocarbon retaining system.

11. A method of operating an engine having an intake, an exhaust, and a hydrocarbon-retaining system, the method comprising:

during warm-up conditions, routing exhaust gases of the engine to the hydrocarbon retaining system to store exhaust hydrocarbons;

after warm-up conditions, purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon retaining system to an engine intake while routing exhaust gases to bypass the hydrocarbon retaining system;

after purging, and during selected conditions when the engine continues to spin, again routing exhaust gases of the engine to the hydrocarbon-retaining system; and

after again routing exhaust gases to the hydrocarbon-retaining system, again purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon retaining system to an engine intake while routing exhaust gases to bypass the hydrocarbon retaining system.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the engine carried out combustion while it continues to spin.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the select operating conditions include during rich exhaust air-fuel operation.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the select operating conditions include cylinder valve deactivation conditions.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the select operating condition include fuel deactivation conditions.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the select operating conditions include catalyst over-temperature conditions.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the select operating conditions include when temperature of a catalytic emission control device fall below a threshold value.

18. A method of operating an engine having an intake, an exhaust, and a hydrocarbon-retaining system, the method comprising:

during warm-up conditions, routing exhaust gases of the engine to the hydrocarbon retaining system to store exhaust hydrocarbons;

after warm-up conditions, purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon retaining system to an engine intake while routing exhaust gases to bypass the hydrocarbon retaining system;

after purging, and during selected conditions when the engine continues to spin, again routing exhaust gases of the engine to the hydrocarbon-retaining system;

after again routing exhaust gases to the hydrocarbon-retaining system, again purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon retaining system to an engine intake while routing exhaust gases to bypass the hydrocarbon retaining system; and

identifying degradation of the hydrocarbon retaining system based on an exhaust air-fuel ratio during purging operation.