System and method for automatically adjusting an ORVR compatible stage II vapor recovery system to maintain a desired air-to-liquid (A/L) ratio
First Claim
1. A method of adjusting Stage II fuel dispenser equipped with a vapor recovery system in a fuel dispenser having one or more dispensing points adapted to dispense fuel into ORVR and non ORVR-equipped vehicles having vehicle fuel tanks, comprising the steps of:
- providing one or more dispensing points comprised each of a hose and nozzle that receive fuel and dispense the fuel to the vehicle fuel tank;
providing a vapor recovery system adapted to recover vapors expelled from the vehicle fuel tank when fuel is dispensed into the vehicle fuel tank;
providing a fuel meter coupled to the hose and nozzle that determines an amount of fuel dispensed by the one or more dispensing points;
providing an air flow sensor coupled to the vapor recovery system that determines an amount of vapor recovered from the vehicle fuel tank;
and providing a fuel dispenser control system being adapted to control the dispensing of fuel into the vehicle fuel tank and communicate with the fuel meter and the air flow sensor to calculate an A/L ratio for each dispensing point, andthe fuel dispenser control system being adapted to control the vapor recovery system to control the amount of vapor recovered in accordance with a desired A/L ratio based on a A/L calibration value;
providing a second control system;
collecting A/L ratio data for a plurality of fueling transactions carried out at the fuel dispenser for each of the dispensing points using the calculated A/L ratios for each fueling transaction;
excluding ORVR fueling transactions from the collected A/L ratio data to form a non-ORVR A/L ratio data set for each dispensing point;
calculating a desired A/L calibration adjustment value for the vapor recovery system for each dispensing point based on the non-ORVR A/L ratio data set and a permitted A/L ratio range; and
adjusting the vapor recovery system based on the A/L calibration adjustment value for each of the dispensing points.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automatically adjusting an ORVR-compatible Stage II vapor recovery system to maintain the air-to-liquid (A/L) ratio within desired tolerances or limits to meet regulatory and/or other requirements. An air flow sensor (AFS) or vapor flow meter measures the amount of recovered vapor for a dispensing point to calculate the recovery efficiency of the system in the form of the A/L ratio. Volume or flow rate measurements can be used. ORVR fueling transactions are either minimized or excluded from the A/L ratio, so that the A/L ratio is not artificially lowered due to a blocked or altered recovery. The A/L ratio is then compared to a desired or nominal A/L ratio. Adjustments to the recovery system are made within prescribed safety tolerances if the A/L ratio differs from the desired ratio.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting Stage II fuel dispenser equipped with a vapor recovery system in a fuel dispenser having one or more dispensing points adapted to dispense fuel into ORVR and non ORVR-equipped vehicles having vehicle fuel tanks, comprising the steps of:
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providing one or more dispensing points comprised each of a hose and nozzle that receive fuel and dispense the fuel to the vehicle fuel tank; providing a vapor recovery system adapted to recover vapors expelled from the vehicle fuel tank when fuel is dispensed into the vehicle fuel tank; providing a fuel meter coupled to the hose and nozzle that determines an amount of fuel dispensed by the one or more dispensing points; providing an air flow sensor coupled to the vapor recovery system that determines an amount of vapor recovered from the vehicle fuel tank; and providing a fuel dispenser control system being adapted to control the dispensing of fuel into the vehicle fuel tank and communicate with the fuel meter and the air flow sensor to calculate an A/L ratio for each dispensing point, and the fuel dispenser control system being adapted to control the vapor recovery system to control the amount of vapor recovered in accordance with a desired A/L ratio based on a A/L calibration value; providing a second control system; collecting A/L ratio data for a plurality of fueling transactions carried out at the fuel dispenser for each of the dispensing points using the calculated A/L ratios for each fueling transaction; excluding ORVR fueling transactions from the collected A/L ratio data to form a non-ORVR A/L ratio data set for each dispensing point; calculating a desired A/L calibration adjustment value for the vapor recovery system for each dispensing point based on the non-ORVR A/L ratio data set and a permitted A/L ratio range; and adjusting the vapor recovery system based on the A/L calibration adjustment value for each of the dispensing points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification