Combustion Air Blower Hydrocarbon Storage for Vehicle Heater Emissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel-operated vehicle heaters face challenges in preventing the discharge of gaseous hydrocarbon into the environment when the vehicle is stopped, as residual liquid fuel in the evaporator medium continues to evaporate and can be released through the combustion air blower, exceeding regulatory limits.
Innovation Solution
A combustion air blower with integrated hydrocarbon storage elements within its air flow space, such as activated carbon, that adsorbs gaseous hydrocarbons when the vehicle is deactivated, ensuring they are not discharged externally and can be reintroduced into the combustion process when the heater is reactivated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a combustion air blower is used to feed air into the combustion chamber, then combustion air supply is improved, but gaseous hydrocarbon is discharged into the environment when the vehicle heater is deactivated
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrocarbon storage element is introduced as an intermediary component within the air flow space of the combustion air blower. This storage element temporarily holds gaseous hydrocarbons that enter the air flow space when the vehicle heater is deactivated, preventing their direct discharge into the environment. When the heater is reactivated, the stored hydrocarbons are released into the combustion chamber for efficient combustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The state of hydrocarbons in the air flow space is changed from a discharged gaseous state to a stored state within the hydrocarbon storage element. This parameter change in the physical state and location of hydrocarbons allows them to be retained during vehicle shutdown and subsequently reintroduced into the combustion process.
2Loss of energy
If the vehicle heater is deactivated, then fuel consumption is reduced, but residual liquid fuel in the evaporator medium continues to evaporate and discharge hydrocarbons
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful effect of residual fuel evaporation during vehicle shutdown is converted into a beneficial effect. Instead of allowing evaporated hydrocarbons to be discharged into the environment, they are captured by the hydrocarbon storage element and subsequently utilized as useful fuel when the vehicle heater is reactivated, improving overall fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than allowing hydrocarbons to be discarded into the environment during vehicle shutdown, the system recovers these hydrocarbons through the storage element. The recovered hydrocarbons are then reintroduced into the combustion chamber during normal operation, maximizing fuel utilization.
3Productivity
If a porous evaporator medium is used to release liquid fuel in gaseous state, then combustion efficiency is improved, but gaseous hydrocarbon accumulates in the air flow space and can be discharged externally
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrocarbon storage element acts as an intermediary between the evaporator medium and the external environment. It captures gaseous hydrocarbons that accumulate in the air flow space from the porous evaporator medium, preventing their external discharge while maintaining the efficiency benefits of the evaporator medium during normal operation.
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
This solution effectively prevents hydrocarbon emission from fuel-operated vehicle heaters, ensuring compliance with regulatory limits and optimizing fuel usage by reintroducing stored hydrocarbons into the combustion process.
Implementation Method 1
at least one hydrocarbon storage element is arranged in the air flow space for storing gaseous hydrocarbon present in the air flow space
Data Source
AI summary
A combustion air blower, especially side channel blower, for a fuel-operated vehicle heater, includes a blower housing (38). An air flow space (44), through which combustion air being fed can flow, is formed in the blower housing (38). Air flowing over an inlet area (55) into the air flow space (44) flows to a feed area enclosing a feed wheel (48). At least one hydrocarbon storage element (70, 88) is formed in the air flow space (44), for storing gaseous hydrocarbon present in the air flow space (44).