Hydrocarbon retaining system for flex-fuel combustion engine
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a fuel-combusting engine having an intake, an exhaust, and a hydrocarbon-retaining system, comprising:
- selectively routing engine exhaust gases to the hydrocarbon-retaining system to store exhaust hydrocarbons;
selectively purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-retaining system; and
varying an ending of the selective routing to store exhaust hydrocarbons responsive to fuel alcohol content by ending routing at a higher exhaust emission device temperature as the fuel alcohol content is increased.
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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.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a fuel-combusting engine having an intake, an exhaust, and a hydrocarbon-retaining system, comprising:
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selectively routing engine exhaust gases to the hydrocarbon-retaining system to store exhaust hydrocarbons; selectively purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-retaining system; and varying an ending of the selective routing to store exhaust hydrocarbons responsive to fuel alcohol content by ending routing at a higher exhaust emission device temperature as the fuel alcohol content is increased. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for a vehicle including an engine having an intake and an exhaust, the system comprising:
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a fuel system of the vehicle; a hydrocarbon-retaining system selectively coupled to the engine intake, engine exhaust, and fuel system; and a controller for selectively routing exhaust gases of the engine to the hydrocarbon-retaining system to store exhaust hydrocarbons;
selectively routing fuel vapors from the fuel system to the hydrocarbon-retaining system, selectively purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-retaining system to the engine intake; and
delaying an ending of the routing to store exhaust hydrocarbons responsive to at least an increased alcohol content of fuel combusted in the engine.
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17. A system for a vehicle including an engine having an intake and an exhaust, the system comprising:
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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 having a vent positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the exhaust of the engine; and a controller for selectively routing exhaust gases of the engine to the hydrocarbon-retaining system to store exhaust hydrocarbons;
selectively routing fuel vapors from the fuel system to the hydrocarbon-retaining system, selectively purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-retaining system to the engine intake by inducting fresh air into the vent; and
delaying an ending of the routing to store exhaust hydrocarbons responsive to at least an increased alcohol content of fuel combusted in the engine.
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18. A system for a vehicle including an engine having an intake and an exhaust, the system comprising:
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a fuel system of the vehicle including a fuel tank; a hydrocarbon-retaining system selectively coupled to the engine intake, engine exhaust, and fuel system, the hydrocarbon-retaining system having a hydrocarbon retaining device configured to store hydrocarbons from engine exhaust and from the fuel tank; and a controller for selectively routing exhaust gases of the engine to the hydrocarbon retaining device to store exhaust hydrocarbons;
selectively routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the hydrocarbon retaining device, selectively purging stored hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon retaining device to the engine intake; and
delaying an ending of the routing to store exhaust hydrocarbons or an initiating of the purging responsive to at least an increased alcohol content of fuel combusted in the engine.
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Specification