SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE REFUELING

• US 20180099856A1
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Published: 04/12/2018
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 10,301,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 evaporative emissions system that is removably coupled to the fuel tank; and

during the refueling, adjusting a rate of the routing fuel vapors to the canister responsive to an indication of a vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure at a gas station.

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 vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure is not indicated.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring pressure in the fuel tank during refueling the fuel tank,

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, further comprising:

controlling flow of air and fuel vapor from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister by regulating a fuel tank isolation valve positioned in a conduit coupling the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister,

wherein adjusting the rate of routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister is accomplished at least in part by duty cycling the fuel tank isolation valve.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling flow of air and fuel vapor from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister, and from the fuel vapor storage canister to atmosphere, by regulating a canister vent valve positioned in a fresh air line coupling the fuel vapor storage canister to atmosphere,

wherein adjusting the rate of routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister is accomplished at least in part by duty cycling the canister vent valve.

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 refueling, the recirculation line coupling the fuel tank to a fuel filler neck of the fuel tank,

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

7. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the rate of routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor storage canister is accomplished at least in part by 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 storage 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 vehicle offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure;

receiving a wireless response; and

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

10. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

a fuel tank positioned in a fuel system, configured to provide fuel to an engine;

a fuel filler neck on the fuel tank, configured to receive fuel from a refueling dispenser for adding fuel to the fuel tank;

an evaporative emissions system;

a fuel vapor canister positioned in the evaporative emissions system;

a fuel tank isolation valve, positioned in a conduit between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor canister;

a fuel vapor recirculation line, coupling the fuel tank to the fuel filler neck;

a variable orifice valve, positioned in the fuel vapor recirculation line, where an orifice size of the variable orifice valve is adjustable; and

a controller, storing instructions in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to;

in a first condition, route fuel vapors generated during refueling primarily to the fuel vapor canister; and

in a second condition, route fuel vapors generated during refueling primarily to an offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller further stores instructions in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:

send a wireless request for information pertaining to whether a refueling station is equipped with offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure;

receive a wireless response; and

indicate a presence or an absence of offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure responsive to the received wireless response.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller further stores instructions in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:

route fuel vapors generated during refueling primarily to the fuel vapor canister, according to the first condition, responsive to the indicated absence of offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure; and

route fuel vapors generated during refueling primarily to the offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure, according to the second condition, responsive to the indicated presence of offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller further stores instructions in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:

in the first condition, command or maintain the variable orifice valve to a predetermined orifice size, where the predetermined orifice size is based at least partially on a size and a loading capacity of the fuel vapor canister; and

in the second condition, command the variable orifice valve to a fully open position.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller further stores instructions in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:

in the first condition, command open or maintain open the fuel tank isolation valve, without duty cycling the fuel tank isolation valve; and

in the second condition, duty cycle the fuel tank isolation valve at a predetermined rate.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a canister vent valve, positioned in a vent line between the fuel vapor canister and atmosphere,

wherein the controller further stores instructions in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to;

responsive to an indication that the vehicle does not include a fuel tank isolation valve;

in the first condition, command open or maintain open the canister vent valve, without duty cycling the canister vent valve; and

in the second condition, duty cycle the canister vent valve at a predetermined rate.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a fuel tank pressure transducer, positioned in the fuel system,

wherein the controller further stores instructions in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to;

in the second condition, monitor pressure in the fuel system via the fuel tank pressure transducer; and

control the duty cycle of the fuel tank isolation valve to prevent undesired automatic shutoff of the refueling dispenser.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined rate for duty cycling the fuel tank isolation valve includes a rate that directs fuel vapors generated during refueling primarily to the offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure, rather than to the fuel vapor canister.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

one or more temperature sensors coupled to and/or within the fuel vapor canister; and

a canister purge valve positioned in a purge conduit between the fuel vapor canister and the engine,

wherein the controller further stores instructions in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to;

monitor a loading state of the fuel vapor canister in both the first condition and the second condition; and

responsive to a vehicle-on and engine-off condition, subsequent to completion of refueling, and an indicated canister loading state below a predetermined purge threshold, maintain the engine off and maintain the canister purge valve in a closed conformation.

19. A method comprising:

during refueling of a vehicle equipped with onboard refueling vapor recovery, where the onboard refueling vapor recovery includes a fuel vapor canister positioned in an evaporative emissions system, the fuel vapor canister removably coupled to a fuel tank positioned in a fuel system and configured to capture and store fuel vapors generated during refueling of the tank;

actively routing fuel vapors generated during refueling primarily to an offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure and not to the fuel vapor canister responsive to an indication that a gas station where the vehicle is attempting to refuel is equipped with offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure; and

actively routing fuel vapors generated during refueling primarily to the fuel vapor canister, responsive to an indication that the gas station where the vehicle is attempting to refuel is not equipped with offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising;

controlling a flow of air and fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the fuel vapor canister by controlling a fuel tank isolation valve positioned between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor canister; and

controlling a flow of air and fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure via a variable orifice valve positioned in a fuel vapor recirculation line, the fuel vapor recirculation line connecting the fuel tank to a fuel filler neck of the fuel tank,

wherein actively routing fuel vapors generated during refueling primarily to the fuel vapor canister includes commanding open the fuel tank isolation valve and commanding the variable orifice valve to restrict an orifice size of the variable orifice valve to a predetermined orifice size; and

wherein actively routing fuel vapors generated during refueling primarily to the offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure includes duty cycling the fuel tank isolation valve at a predetermined duty cycle rate, and commanding open the variable orifice valve.