Air Control Module for Evaporative Emissions Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional evaporative emissions control systems face challenges in effectively managing fuel vapors during refueling and elevated temperatures, as they struggle to prevent vapor emissions into the atmosphere while ensuring efficient vapor consumption by the engine.
Innovation Solution
An air control module with a canister purge valve, vapor blocking valve, and canister vent valve is integrated within a housing, coupled to the evaporative emissions canister and engine, allowing controlled flow of fuel vapors and air to manage emissions and maintain engine operation efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional evaporative emissions control systems are used, then fuel vapors can be captured during refueling, but the system struggles to prevent vapor emissions into the atmosphere during elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The air control module is divided into multiple independent valves (purge valve, vent valve, blocking valve) that can operate independently to control different vapor flow paths. This segmentation allows the system to selectively manage vapor flow under different temperature conditions, preventing harmful emissions while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamically controllable valves that can change their state (open/close) based on real-time operating conditions including temperature. This dynamic control enables the system to adapt to elevated temperature conditions by adjusting vapor flow paths, thereby preventing emissions while maintaining effective vapor management.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple valves are used to control vapor flow, then emissions can be managed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valves (purge valve, vent valve, blocking valve) are integrated into a single air control module housing, forming a unified control unit. This merging approach maintains the functional benefits of multiple valves for emissions control while reducing overall system complexity by consolidating components into one modular unit that can be installed as a single assembly.
3Productivity
If fresh air is drawn through the canister during engine operation, then fuel vapors can be purged efficiently, but the system must prevent contamination during non-operation
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking valve acts as an intermediary that controls the connection between the canister and the fuel tank. During engine operation, the valve opens to allow efficient vapor purge. During non-operation, the valve closes to prevent atmospheric contaminants from entering the canister, thus protecting the canister medium while maintaining purge efficiency when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively captures and releases fuel vapors, reducing atmospheric emissions during refueling and elevated temperatures, while ensuring efficient engine operation by using a controlled air flow mechanism to manage pressure and contamination.
Implementation Method 1
A fuel vapor absorbent, typically activated charcoal, located in the vapor canister retains the fuel vapor when the vapors are displaced from the fuel tank during refilling
Data Source
AI summary
An air control module comprises a canister purge valve, a vapor blocking valve, a canister vent valve and a housing, wherein at least a portion of the canister purge valve, the vapor blocking valve, and the canister vent valve are disposed within the housing. The housing may optionally include three ports fluidly coupled to the canister purge valve, the vapor blocking valve, and the canister vent valve respectively. The canister purge valve may be fluidly coupled to an atmospheric vent and an evaporation canister (which may be mechanically coupled to the housing of the air control module) for controlling the passage of fuel vapor from the evaporator canister to an engine. The vapor blocking valve may be fluidly coupled to a fuel tank and the evaporation canister, while the canister vent valve may be fluidly coupled to an engine and the evaporation canister. The housing may optionally include an air filter fluidly coupled to the canister vent valve.