Method and system for fuel vapor control

• US 8,056,540 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kluzner, Michael Igor, Bohr, Scott, Kerns, James Michael, Jentz, Robert Roy, Gabor, Daniel, Sullivan, Patrick, Ferguson, Russ William, Euliss, William, Pearce, Russell Randall, Kragh, Christopher, DeBastos, Timothy, Dudar, Aed
• Primary Examiner(s): Gimie; Mahmoud
• Application Number:
  US12/790,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20110168140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 137/587, 137/588, 137/589, 137/43, 137/493, 70/29, 123/521, 123/520, 123/519, 123/518, 123/516, 123/198.D
• US Class Current: 123/521
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0818 having means for pressurising the evaporative emission space

Abstract

A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a fuel system including a canister, a fuel tank, a vacuum accumulator, and a venturi, comprising,

during an engine-on condition, storing vacuum in the accumulator via flow through the venturi;

and

during a subsequent engine-off condition and while the canister is isolated from the fuel tank;

applying the stored vacuum on the canister, and indicating degradation based on a fuel system pressure change following vacuum application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying vacuum on the fuel tank during the engine-off condition after applying the stored vacuum on the canister.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a brake pump exhaust flows through the venturi to generate the vacuum.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein applying the stored vacuum includes opening a vacuum accumulator valve coupling the vacuum accumulator to the canister, and closing a canister purge valve coupling the canister to an engine intake.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein indicating degradation includes indicating fuel tank isolation valve degradation in response to, following vacuum application, a change in canister pressure over time being greater than a threshold, and indicating purge valve degradation in response to a change in canister pressure over time being greater than a threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein vacuum application is delayed based on an amount of vacuum in the vacuum accumulator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the delay includes continuing engine operation until the amount of vacuum in the vacuum accumulator exceeds a threshold, and discontinuing engine operation when the amount of vacuum exceeds the threshold.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising, during a purging condition, purging a first amount of fuel vapors from the canister to the engine intake, and after purging the first amount, purging a second amount of fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the canister, the second amount of fuel vapors adjusted based on the first amount.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising,

during a first engine-off condition, when a fuel tank absolute pressure is greater than a threshold, applying the stored vacuum on the fuel tank before applying the stored vacuum on the canister;

and

during a second engine-off condition, when a fuel tank absolute pressure is lower than the threshold, applying the stored vacuum on the canister before applying the stored vacuum on the fuel tank.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein indicating degradation includes, during the first or second engine-off condition, indicating degradation based on a change in fuel tank pressure over time or a change in canister pressure, upon vacuum application.

11. A method of monitoring a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system including a fuel tank, a canister, and a vacuum accumulator, the vacuum accumulator including a venturi, the method comprising,

during a first engine-on condition, flowing exhaust through the venturi to generate a vacuum, and storing the vacuum in the vacuum accumulator;

and

during a subsequent engine-off condition, applying a vacuum from the vacuum accumulator on the fuel tank or the canister, and indicating fuel vapor recovery system degradation based on a change in fuel vapor recovery system pressure following the vacuum application wherein the venturi is coupled to a brake pump, and wherein flowing exhaust through the venturi includes flowing brake pump exhaust through the venturi during brake pump operation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vacuum application is delayed and an engine operation is continued at least until a vacuum in the vacuum accumulator is above a threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the vacuum from the vacuum accumulator includes opening a vacuum accumulator valve coupling the vacuum accumulator to the canister, and opening a fuel tank isolation valve coupling the fuel tank to the canister.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein indicating degradation includes indicating fuel tank isolation valve degradation in response to, following vacuum application, a change in a fuel tank pressure over time being greater than a threshold or a change in a canister pressure over time being greater than a threshold, and indicating canister purge valve degradation in response to a change in the canister pressure over time being greater than a threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fuel tank pressure is estimated by a first pressure sensor coupled to the fuel tank, and the canister pressure is estimated by a second pressure sensor coupled to the canister.

16. A method of monitoring a fuel system including a canister, a fuel tank, a vacuum accumulator, and a venturi, comprising,

during an engine-on condition, storing vacuum in the accumulator via flow through the venturi;

during a subsequent engine-off condition, applying the stored vacuum on the fuel tank before the canister during higher fuel tank pressures, and applying the stored vacuum on the canister before the tank during lower fuel tank pressures; and

indicating degradation based on a fuel system pressure response to the vacuum applications.