Hybrid Vehicle Tank Ventilation Hydrocarbon Flushing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid vehicles with internal-combustion engines and electric motors face challenges in pollutant emission reduction due to saturated filtering devices, as the internal-combustion engine is often switched off during electromotive drives, preventing the burning of hydrocarbons flushed from the filtering material.

Innovation Solution

A control device is implemented to start the internal-combustion engine when the filtering device is saturated, allowing hydrocarbons to be fed back to the engine for combustion, and a vacuum accumulator enables flushing even when the engine is off, along with a valve system to manage hydrocarbon flow and a sensor for leak detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the internal-combustion engine is switched off during electromotive drive, then energy consumption is reduced, but hydrocarbon emissions increase due to inability to burn flushed hydrocarbons

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidhydrocarbon emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device monitors the saturation state of the filtering material in advance and triggers engine startup before hydrocarbon emissions become problematic. The system detects when the filtering material is saturated and proactively starts the internal-combustion engine to burn off accumulated hydrocarbons, preventing emission spikes while maintaining energy efficiency during electromotive drive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the internal-combustion engine is started to burn hydrocarbons, then pollutant emissions are reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepollutant emissionsVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors the saturation state of the filtering material and implements feedback control. When the filtering material reaches a predetermined saturation level, the system automatically starts the internal-combustion engine to burn hydrocarbons. After the burning process completes and the filtering material is regenerated, the engine is switched off again. This feedback mechanism ensures the engine operates only when necessary, minimizing energy consumption while effectively controlling pollutant emissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the filtering device operates continuously, then hydrocarbon absorption is maintained, but filtering material saturation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrocarbon absorptionVSAvoidfiltering material service life

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a regeneration process where saturated filtering material is recovered and revitalized by burning off accumulated hydrocarbons using the internal-combustion engine. The control device manages the flushing process by controlling valve positions and engine operation, converting the discarded saturated state back into a functional filtering state. This recovery process extends the service life of the filtering material while maintaining continuous hydrocarbon absorption capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 reduces pollutant emissions by ensuring hydrocarbons are burned when the engine is operational, maintaining filtering device effectiveness and preventing environmental hydrocarbon release in hybrid vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

This filtering device, which preferably has activated carbon as the filtering material, filters hydrocarbons out of a tank ventilation current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the hydrocarbons flushed out of the filtering device into the intake path can be burnt in the internal-combustion engine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

a vacuum accumulator is provided in the intake path of the internal combustion engine. When the valve devices are open, the vacuum accumulator permits flushing of the filtering device, even when the internal-combustion engine is switched off

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS7866424B2Hybrid vehicle

Publication Date: 2011.01.11 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A hybrid vehicle with an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor has a tank ventilation system that includes a fuel tank and a suction pipe leading from a filtering device, which can be regenerated, to the intake path of the internal-combustion engine. A control device is configured to actuate different valve devices for flushing the filtering device, so that ambient air can be fed to the internal-combustion engine through the filtering device and the suction pipe. In addition, the control device is configured such that, during purely electric operation of the hybrid vehicle, it connects the internal-combustion engine as a function of the loading condition of the filtering device or of the flushing gas concentration.