Method and system for determining the volatility of a fuel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9841412-B2
Application number	US-201514824573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Sep 3, 2014
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A method for determining the volatility of fuel in a fuel storage system which entails: determining that a refueling event has occurred ( 210 ) and that the fuel storage system has subsequently been sealed ( 220 ); performing a first pressure measurement ( 230 ) at a first time after the determining; performing a second pressure measurement ( 240 ) at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time; determining a pressure evolution rate ( 250 ) from the first pressure measurement at the first time and the second pressure measurement at the second time; and deriving an estimation ( 260 ) of the volatility of the fuel from the pressure evolution rate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for determining the volatility of fuel in a fuel storage system, the method comprising:
determining that a refueling event has occurred and that the fuel storage system has subsequently been sealed;
performing, by means of a pressure sensor in the fuel storage system, a first pressure measurement in the fuel storage system at a first time after the determining;
performing, by means of the pressure sensor, a second pressure measurement in the fuel storage system at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time;
determining, by means of a controller, a pressure evolution rate from the first pressure measurement at the first time and the second pressure measurement at the second time; and
deriving an estimation of the volatility of the fuel from said pressure evolution rate.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first time is less than 1 minute after said determining that a refueling event has occurred.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said deriving further takes into account one or more of an ambient temperature, a fuel temperature, a vapor dome temperature, a fuel level, a refueling rate, a canister load, fuel system design parameters, an ambient pressure, and an altitude of the fuel storage system.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first pressure measurement and said second pressure measurement are carried out at a vapor dome inside a fuel tank comprised in said fuel storage system.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first pressure measurement and said second pressure measurement are carried out outside a fuel tank comprised in said fuel storage system, in a cavity located outside the fuel tank and that is in fluid communication with a vapor dome inside said fuel tank.

6. A fuel storage system comprising:
a fuel tank;
means for detecting a refueling event of said fuel tank;
means for detecting sealing of said fuel storage system;
a pressure sensor; and
a controller operatively connected to said means for detecting a refueling event, said means for detecting sealing of said fuel storage system, and said pressure sensor; wherein said controller is configured to carry out the method according to claim 1 .

7. The fuel storage system according to claim 6 , wherein said pressure sensor is arranged in a vapor dome inside said fuel tank.

8. The fuel storage system according to claim 6 , wherein said pressure sensor is arranged in a cavity that is in fluid communication with a vapor dome inside said fuel tank.

9. A motor vehicle comprising the fuel storage system according to claim 6 .

10. A method for determining the volatility of fuel in a fuel storage system, the method comprising:
determining, by means of a sensor of a level of fuel in the fuel storage system, that a refueling event has occurred and determining that the fuel storage system has subsequently been sealed;
performing, by means of a pressure sensor in the fuel storage system, a first pressure measurement in the fuel storage system at a first time after the determining;
performing, by means of the pressure sensor, a second pressure measurement in the fuel storage system at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time;
determining, by means of a controller, a pressure evolution rate from the first pressure measurement at the first time and the second pressure measurement at the second time; and
deriving a reid vapor pressure of the fuel from said pressure evolution rate.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said first time is less than 1 minute after said determining that a refueling event has occurred.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said deriving further takes into account one or more of an ambient temperature, a fuel temperature, a vapor dome temperature, a fuel level, a refueling rate, a canister load, fuel system design parameters, an ambient pressure, and an altitude of the fuel storage system.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said first pressure measurement and said second pressure measurement are carried out at a vapor dome inside a fuel tank comprised in said fuel storage system.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said first pressure measurement and said second pressure measurement are carried out outside a fuel tank comprised in said fuel storage system, in a cavity that is in fluid communication with a vapor dome inside said fuel tank.

15. A fuel storage system comprising:
a fuel tank;
means for detecting a refueling event of said fuel tank;
means for detecting sealing of said fuel storage system;
a pressure sensor; and
a controller operatively connected to said means for detecting a refueling event, said means for detecting sealing of said fuel storage system, and said pressure sensor; wherein said controller is configured to carry out the method according to claim 10 .

16. The fuel storage system according to claim 15 , wherein said pressure sensor is arranged in a vapor dome inside said fuel tank.

17. The fuel storage system according to claim 15 , wherein said pressure sensor is arranged in a cavity that is in fluid communication with a vapor dome inside said fuel tank.

18. A motor vehicle comprising the fuel storage system according to claim 15 .

Assignees

• Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation & Res

Inventors

• Criel Bjorn
• Hill David
• Chaussinand Antoine

Classifications

• G01L7/00

  Measuring the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by mechanical or fluid pressure-sensitive elements ({G01L11/004 takes precedence;} transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements by electric {, e.g., photoelectric} or magnetic means G01L9/00; measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00) · CPC title

• F02D41/0025

  Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures · CPC title

• G01M3/00

  Investigating fluid-tightness of structures · CPC title

• G01N33/22 Primary

  Fuels; Explosives · CPC title

• B60K2015/0321

  characterised by special sensors, the mounting thereof · CPC title