Fuel tank pressure sensor rationality for a hybrid vehicle during refueling

• US 9,751,396 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2015
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOYER, DALE S
• Application Number:
  US14/630,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20160243931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 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 2015/0321 characterised by special sensors, the mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03302 Electromagnetic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03514 with vapor recovery means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03576 Venting during filling the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/16 for reducing engine exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/00 Input parameters relating to vehicle conditions or values, not covered by groups B60W2510/00 or B60W2520/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/223 Diagnosis of fuel pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0602 Fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/003 Adding fuel vapours, e.g. drawn from engine fuel reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/222 relating to the failure of sensors or parameter detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 Combustion engine

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for performing fuel tank pressure sensor rationality for a hybrid electric vehicle during refueling. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of the fuel tank pressure sensor based on the pressure detected in the canister vent line when the canister vent line is restricted.

Claims

1. A method for a fuel emissions system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

during a refueling event when a fuel tank is being refueled and while a fuel tank level is increasing,

maintaining a fuel vapor canister vent line restriction; and

indicating degradation of a fuel tank pressure sensor based on a pressure in a canister vent line.

2. The method for a fuel emissions system of a hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising adjusting one or more engine operating parameters based on the indicated degradation.

3. The method for a fuel emissions system of a hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein maintaining the fuel vapor canister vent line restriction during refueling further comprises placing a change-over valve positioned in the canister vent line in a first position.

4. The method for a fuel emissions system of a hybrid vehicle of claim 3, wherein when the change-over valve is in the first position, the canister vent line is coupled to atmosphere via a first flow path and a second flow path, the second flow path introducing the restriction via a deactivated vacuum pump.

5. The method for a fuel emissions system of a hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein indicating degradation of a fuel tank pressure sensor based on a pressure in the canister vent line comprises correlating the pressure in the canister vent line to fuel tank pressure sensor output, the pressure in the canister vent line determined by a canister vent line pressure sensor.

6. The method for a fuel emissions system of a hybrid vehicle of claim 5, wherein correlating pressure in the canister vent line and the fuel tank pressure sensor output comprises:

comparing the fuel tank pressure sensor output with canister vent line pressure sensor output; and

indicating fuel tank isolation valve degradation when the canister vent line pressure sensor output changes by less than a threshold amount during the refueling event, even as the fuel tank pressure sensor output changes.

7. The method for a fuel emissions system of a hybrid vehicle of claim 5, wherein correlating the canister vent line pressure and the fuel tank pressure sensor signal further comprises:

comparing a rate of change of fuel tank pressure sensor output with a rate of change of canister vent line pressure sensor output; and

indicating fuel tank pressure sensor degradation when the rate of change of fuel tank pressure sensor output is lower than the rate of change of the canister vent line pressure sensor output by at least a threshold amount.

8. The method for a fuel emissions system of a hybrid vehicle of claim 5, wherein correlating the canister vent line pressure and the fuel tank pressure sensor signal further comprises:

comparing a rate of change of fuel tank pressure sensor output with a rate of change of canister vent line pressure sensor output; and

indicating canister vent line pressure sensor degradation when the rate of change of the canister vent line pressure sensor is lower than the rate of change of the fuel tank pressure sensor output by at least a threshold amount.

9. A system for a hybrid-electric vehicle, comprising:

a fuel tank isolation valve coupled in a conduit between a fuel tank and a fuel vapor canister;

a fuel tank pressure sensor;

an evaporative leak check module (ELCM) coupled in a conduit between the fuel vapor canister and atmosphere, the ELCM comprising a vacuum pump, an ELCM pressure sensor, and a change-over valve operable between a first position and a second position; and

a controller configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory that when executed cause the controller to;

during refueling of the fuel tank, perform an evaporative leak check routine by;

adjusting the change-over valve to the first position; and

comparing fuel tank pressure sensor output and ELCM pressure sensor output and indicating degradation of the fuel tank pressure sensor when a rate of change of the fuel tank pressure sensor output is lower than a rate of change of the ELCM pressure sensor output by at least a threshold amount.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the change-over valve is configured to couple the fuel vapor canister to atmosphere via a first, unrestricted flow path and a second, restricted flow path when in the first position.

11. The system of claim 10, where the change-over valve is further configured to couple the fuel vapor canister to atmosphere via the vacuum pump when in the second position.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the change-over valve comprises a solenoid that places the change-over valve into the first position when de-energized and into the second position when energized.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the evaporative leak check routine is performed only when fuel tank pressure is within a threshold range of atmospheric pressure.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein during the evaporative leak check routine, the fuel tank isolation valve is open.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the evaporative leak check routine is further performed by monitoring the ELCM pressure sensor output during the refueling and indicating degradation of the fuel tank isolation valve when the ELCM pressure sensor output changes by less than a threshold amount.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the evaporative leak check routine is further performed by comparing fuel tank pressure sensor output and ELCM pressure sensor output and indicating degradation of the ELCM pressure sensor when the rate of change of the ELCM pressure sensor output is lower than the rate of change of the fuel tank pressure sensor output by at least a threshold amount.

17. A method, comprising:

responsive to a request to perform a fuel tank refuel, comparing fuel tank pressure to atmospheric pressure;

when fuel tank pressure is not equal to atmospheric pressure, indicating degradation of a fuel tank pressure sensor based on a correlation between fuel tank pressure sensor output and canister vent line pressure during fuel tank depressurization prior to the fuel tank refuel; and

when fuel tank pressure is substantially equal to atmospheric pressure, indicating degradation of the fuel tank pressure sensor based on a correlation between fuel tank pressure sensor output and canister vent line pressure during the fuel tank refuel and while a fuel tank level is increasing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein when fuel tank pressure is not equal to atmospheric pressure, indicating degradation of the fuel tank pressure sensor comprises:

placing a change-over valve positioned in a canister vent line into a second position;

opening a fuel tank isolation valve coupled in a conduit between the fuel tank and a fuel vapor canister; and

indicating degradation of the fuel tank pressure sensor when a rate of change of fuel tank pressure sensor output is less than a rate of change of canister vent line pressure during the fuel tank depressurization.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein when fuel tank pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure, indicating degradation of the fuel tank pressure sensor comprises:

placing a change-over valve positioned in a canister vent line into a first position;

opening a fuel tank isolation valve coupled in a conduit between the fuel tank and a fuel vapor canister; and

indicating degradation of the fuel tank pressure sensor when a rate of change of fuel tank pressure sensor output is less than a rate of change of canister vent line pressure during the fuel tank refuel.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein placing the change-over valve into the first position creates a restriction in a flow path between the canister vent line and atmosphere, and wherein canister vent line pressure is determined via a pressure sensor positioned in the flow path.