Systems and methods for targeted heating in an evaporative fuel vapor canister purge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9970367-B2
Application number	US-201615190068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2016
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for an ultrasonic wave generator within a vehicle emissions control system. In one example, a frequency of ultrasonic waves may be applied to a fuel vapor canister, the frequency adjusted in response to an estimate of hydrocarbon distribution within a vapor canister received from temperature and hydrocarbon sensor outputs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A downloadable software code that operates on a vehicle computer with the method comprising:
reading an operating condition of the vehicle,
adjusting a frequency and/or amplitude of ultrasonic waves applied to a fuel vapor canister of the vehicle from an ultrasonic wave generator coupled to the canister based on the vehicle operating condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is adjusted responsive to an estimate of hydrocarbon storage distribution along a length of the canister.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is adjusted responsive to an estimated total loading state of the canister determined prior to commencement of the purging.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is adjusted responsive to a plurality of temperature sensors positioned in the canister.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the frequency is adjusted responsive to differences between the temperature sensor readings and differences in the profile of the temperature sensors over time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is first increased during the purging and then decreased during the same purge cycle.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is further adjusted responsive to ambient temperature and/or a temperature profile of components adjacent the canister.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting fuel injection based on the adjusted frequency.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deactivating the ultrasound generator responsive to ambient conditions.

10. A downloadable software code that operates on a vehicle computer with the method comprising:
reading an operating condition of the vehicle to determine relative canister loading in different regions of the canister,
adjusting a frequency and/or amplitude of ultrasonic waves applied to a fuel vapor canister of the vehicle from an ultrasonic wave generator coupled to the canister based on the relative canister loading in different regions of the canister.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said adjusting includes, during a single continuous purge duration and responsive to a canister having a first region with a first loading higher than a second region, generating a first, lower frequency to purge the first region and then generating a second, higher frequency to purge the second region; and during another single continuous purge duration and responsive to the canister having the first region with a third loading lower than the second region, generating a third, higher frequency to purge the second region and then generating a fourth, lower frequency to purge the first region.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the frequency is adjusted responsive to ambient temperature.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the waves are discontinued during the purging responsive to a battery state of charge.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the frequency is adjusted responsive to a fuel refilling operating condition.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fuel refilling condition is an amount of fuel added during an immediately preceding refilling before the purge duration.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the frequency is adjusted responsive to temperature sensor profiles in the canister during the purging.

17. A system, comprising:
a controller;
a fuel system having a canister for collecting fuel vapors and an ultrasonic wave generator coupled to the canister;
the controller coupled to the wave generator with memory having instructions stored therein for during a first purging event of the canister, generating a first frequency and then a second, higher frequency; and during a second purging event of the canister, generating a third frequency and then a fourth frequency, lower than the third frequency.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a purge valve coupled to the canister and an engine intake, the controller further including instructions to adjust the purge valve responsive to the first, second, third, and fourth frequencies.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an exhaust of the engine, and a fuel injector coupled to the engine, the controller further including instructions to adjust the fuel injection during purging responsive to the exhaust gas sensor and further responsive to the first, second, third, and fourth frequencies.

20. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a temperature sensor coupled in a ventilation path of the canister, the controller further including instructions to adjust and/or deactivate the generated waves of the ultrasonic wave generator responsive the temperature sensor.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dudar Aed M
• Jentz Robert Roy
• Martin Douglas Raymond

Classifications

• F02M2025/0881

  with means to heat or cool the canister · CPC title

• F02D41/3005

  Details not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F02D41/1439

  characterised by the position of the sensor · CPC title

• F02M25/0854

  Details of the absorption canister · CPC title

• F02D41/0032 Primary

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