Hydrocarbon retaining system and method

• US 8,333,063 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• 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: Elwart, Shane, Uhrich, Michael James, Kerns, James Michael, Lupescu, Jason Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRADLEY, AUDREY KLASTERKA
• Application Number:
  US12/147,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20090120067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 602/74, 602/78, 602/84, 602/85, 602/87, 602/88, 603/11, 123/481, 123518-520
• US Class Current: 60/287
• 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 for an engine comprising:

during warm-up, serially routing exhaust through two bricks arranged within a hydrocarbon trap to store exhaust hydrocarbons;

after warm-up, drawing air through a vent upstream of both bricks and purging the stored hydrocarbons in parallel, with the air, into a conduit coupled with the trap between the bricks;

after purging, and during select operating conditions when the engine continues to spin, again serially routing exhaust through the two bricks.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the engine carries 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 catalyst over-temperature conditions.

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

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

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

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, during select operating conditions:

routing fuel tank generated vapors to the hydrocarbon trap via the conduit;

depending on an opening state of a valve arranged between the bricks and the vent, storing the vapors in parallel in the bricks or purging the vapors in parallel through the bricks and then directing the vapors through the vent to atmosphere.

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

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cylinder deactivation conditions include fuel deactivation conditions.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the cylinder deactivation conditions include cylinder valve deactivation conditions.

12. A method for an engine comprising:

during warm-up, serially routing exhaust through two bricks arranged within a hydrocarbon trap to store exhaust hydrocarbons;

after warm-up, drawing air through a vent upstream of both bricks and purging the stored hydrocarbons in parallel, with the air, to an engine intake via a conduit coupled with the trap between the bricks, while routing exhaust to bypass the hydrocarbon trap;

after purging, and during select operating conditions when the engine continues to spin, again serially routing exhaust through the two bricks; and

after again serially routing exhaust through the two bricks, again drawing air through the vent and purging the stored hydrocarbons in parallel, with the air, to the engine intake via the conduit while routing exhaust to bypass the hydrocarbon trap.

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

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the select operating conditions include during rich exhaust air-fuel operation.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the select operating conditions include catalyst over-temperature conditions.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the select operating conditions include when temperature of a catalytic emission control device falls below a threshold value.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the select operating conditions include cylinder deactivation conditions.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the cylinder deactivation conditions include fuel deactivation conditions.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the cylinder deactivation conditions include cylinder valve deactivation conditions.

20. A method of operating an engine having a hydrocarbon-retaining system, comprising:

during warm-up, serially routing exhaust through two bricks arranged within a hydrocarbon trap of the hydrocarbon-retaining system to store exhaust hydrocarbons;

after warm-up, drawing air through a vent upstream of both bricks and purging the stored hydrocarbons, in parallel, with the air, to an engine intake via a conduit coupled with the trap between the bricks, while routing exhaust to bypass the hydrocarbon-retaining system;

after purging, and during selected conditions when the engine continues to spin, again serially routing exhaust through the two bricks;

after again serially routing exhaust through the two bricks, again drawing air through the vent and purging the stored hydrocarbons in parallel, with the air, to the engine intake via the conduit while routing exhaust to bypass the hydrocarbon-retaining system; and

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