Fuel Tank Evaporative Emissions Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel tank systems face complexity in managing fuel vapor emissions during refueling, requiring sophisticated vent valve control strategies to comply with environmental and safety regulations, and existing systems often rely on mechanical components that are inefficient and prone to premature shut-offs.
Innovation Solution
An evaporative emissions control system with a controller that uses sensors to determine refueling events by monitoring fuel level, pressure, and vehicle acceleration, and selectively opens or closes vent valves to manage pressure relief and prevent overfilling, incorporating solenoid banks and cam assemblies for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical vent valve control is used during refueling, then the system structure is simple, but premature shut-offs occur and refueling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical vent valve control with an electronic control system that uses sensors (pressure sensor, fuel level sensor, accelerometer) and a controller to detect refueling events and selectively open/close vent valves. This substitution eliminates premature mechanical shut-offs and improves refueling efficiency while maintaining reliable vapor emission control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sophisticated vent valve control strategies are implemented, then compliance with environmental regulations is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vent valve control into distinct operational modes (refueling mode and normal operation mode) detected through sensor inputs. The controller selectively activates appropriate control strategies based on detected conditions, managing fuel vapor emissions compliance while organizing system complexity into manageable segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of refueling events using sensors before implementing specific vent valve control strategies. By detecting fuel level changes, pressure changes, and vehicle acceleration patterns in advance, the controller prepares appropriate control actions to ensure regulatory compliance.
3Reliability
If vent valves are closed to prevent overfilling, then safety is improved, but refueling speed decreases due to premature shut-offs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system using pressure sensors and fuel level sensors that continuously monitor tank conditions during refueling. The controller adjusts vent valve operation based on real-time feedback, preventing overfilling through accurate detection while maintaining optimal refueling speed by avoiding premature shut-offs.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control system replaces mechanical overfill prevention mechanisms that cause premature shut-offs. By using sensor feedback and intelligent control algorithms, the system achieves more accurate overfill prevention that maintains faster refueling speeds.
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporative emissions control system includes a first vent valve configured to selectively open and close a first vent, a second vent valve configured to selectively open and close a second vent, a fuel level sensor configured to sense a fuel level in the fuel tank, a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure in the fuel tank, an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the vehicle, and a controller configured to regulate operation of the first and second vent valves to provide pressure relief for the fuel tank. The controller is programmed to determine if a refueling event is occurring based one signals indicating the fuel level is increasing, the pressure in the fuel tank is increasing, and the vehicle is not moving, and open at least one of the first and second vent valves based on determining the refueling event is occurring.