Methods and systems for an evaporative emission system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460608-B2
Application number	US-202318454279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2023
Priority date	Aug 23, 2023
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a fuel system. In one example, a method may include adjusting operation of a fuel-operated heater (FOH) in response to a condition of a canister. The FOH is activated and configured to flow heated air to the canister to promote desorption of fuel vapors stored therein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
heating air using a fuel-operated heater (FOH); routing heated air from the FOH to a canister in an evaporative emissions control system; and routing vapors from the canister to the FOH, wherein the FOH combusts the vapors.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the FOH further comprises deactivating an engine.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising routing heated air from the FOH to a vehicle cabin interior.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising routing vapors from the canister to an engine, wherein intake valves of the engine are open and exhaust valves of the engine are closed.

5 . A system, comprising:
an engine; an evaporative emissions control system comprising a canister; a fuel tank; and a fuel-operated heater (FOH) fluidly coupled to the canister, wherein the FOH is fluidly coupled to the canister via a first passage coupled to a purge line of the canister and a second passage coupled to a vent line of the canister, and wherein the first passage comprises a first valve configured to control an amount of vapor flowing to the FOH.

6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a controller with computer-readable instructions stored in non-transitory memory thereof that when executed enable the controller to flow heated air from the FOH to the canister during a purge event.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to close the first valve in the first passage and open a canister purge valve to flow vapors from the canister only to the engine.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to adjust fueling of the engine upon an engine restart following the purge event based on one or more of a fueling of the FOH and a cabin heating request during the purge event.

9 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a controller with computer-readable instructions stored in non-transitory memory thereof that when executed enable the controller to flow heated air from the FOH to the canister in response to an ambient temperature being greater than a threshold temperature.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to adjust a position of the first valve in the first passage to flow vapors from the canister to the FOH, and wherein the instructions further cause the controller to adjust a position of a second valve in a second passage to flow heated air from the FOH to the canister.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to adjust a fueling of the FOH based on one or more of an engine stop duration, a canister load, the ambient temperature, and a desorption rate of the canister.

12 . A method, comprising:
fueling a fuel-operated heater (FOH); routing heated air from the FOH to a canister arranged in an evaporative emission control system; and flowing vapors from the canister to the FOH via a purge line and a first passage, wherein fueling the FOH is adjusted based on a desorption rate of the canister.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising flowing vapors from the canister to an engine via a purge line, further comprising adjusting a fueling of the engine upon an engine restart based on one or more of the FOH fueling and a desorption rate of the canister.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the canister and the FOH is fluidly coupled to a fuel tank.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein fueling the FOH is adjusted based on a cabin heating request.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dudar Aed

Classifications

• F02D41/0032 Primary

  Controlling the purging of the canister as a function of the engine operating conditions · CPC title

• B60H1/2206

  controlling the operation of burners · CPC title

• F02M25/0836 Primary

  Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold · CPC title

• F02M2025/0881

  with means to heat or cool the canister · CPC title

• F02D41/021

  Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine (conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18) · CPC title