Vent-on-Demand Fuel Sump for Vapor Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Closed fuel systems lack effective mechanisms to remove internally generated fuel vapor and air, which can lead to engine seizure due to their reliance on vacuum integrity and lack of controlled venting, while open systems are not electronically controlled and prone to leaks.
Innovation Solution
A pressurized fuel sump with sensors and a programmable electronic controller that modulates a valve to release air and fuel vapor only when the fuel level drops below a predetermined level, ensuring controlled venting and maintaining system integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closed fuel system is used to maintain vacuum integrity, then system sealing is improved, but the ability to remove fuel vapor and air deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the venting function from the traditional open fuel system design and integrates it into a controlled electronic system. The electronic control unit monitors fuel vapor pressure and selectively opens the vent valve only when necessary, separating the sealing function (maintained by the closed system) from the vapor removal function (activated on-demand), thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining vacuum integrity and removing harmful vapors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the electronic control unit continuously monitors system conditions (fuel level, pressure) and adjusts the vent valve operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain closed-seal integrity while automatically activating vapor removal only when sensors detect conditions requiring venting, eliminating the need for constant open-venting.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If an open vented system is used to remove fuel vapor, then vapor removal capability is improved, but system leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static open-venting system into a dynamic controlled system. The vent valve transitions between closed and open states based on real-time sensor inputs and controller logic, allowing the system to maintain sealing integrity during normal operation and only open when vapor removal is necessary, thus eliminating continuous leakage while preserving vapor removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-regulation through integrated sensors and electronic control. The controller automatically determines when venting is required based on monitored parameters, eliminating the need for manual intervention or continuous open-venting, and maintains system integrity by closing the valve when conditions normalize.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If continuous venting is implemented to remove air and vapor, then harmful factor removal is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces continuous venting with periodic, on-demand venting triggered by sensor detection. The electronic control unit activates the vent valve only when fuel level drops below a threshold or pressure differential indicates vapor accumulation, maintaining harmful factor removal effectiveness while minimizing energy loss by keeping the valve closed during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of venting from continuous to conditional based on monitored parameters (fuel level, pressure). This parameter-based control allows the system to maintain effective vapor removal when needed while minimizing pressure and energy loss by maintaining a closed state during normal fuel delivery operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A vent-on-demand fuel sump and vehicle fuel system having such a fuel sump are provided. The fuel sump may include a pressurized vessel and at least two sensors configured to detect a level of fuel within the vessel. A valve coupled to the vessel may be configured to release air and/or fuel vapor to the atmosphere. The fuel sump may also include a programmable electronic controller configured to modulate the valve between a closed position and an open position based on signals received from the sensors corresponding to the fuel level. The valve may be configured to remain in the closed position until the fuel level drops below a predetermined level and the controller sends a signal to open the valve to release air and/or fuel vapor from the vessel into the atmosphere. The vehicle fuel system having such a fuel sump may include a fuel container and an engine having an intake. The pressurized vessel of the fuel sump may include a fuel inlet coupled to the fuel container and a fuel outlet coupled to the engine intake.