This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-21045 filed on Jan. 30, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a fuel vapor treatment system for an internal combustion engine.
A fuel vapor treatment system is used for preventing fuel vapor produced in a fuel tank from being dissipated into the atmosphere and introduces the fuel vapor in the fuel tank into a canister accommodating an adsorbent to adsorb the fuel vapor temporarily by the adsorbent. The fuel vapor adsorbed by the adsorbent is desorbed by negative pressure produced in an intake pike when an internal combustion engine is operated and is purged into the intake pipe of the internal combustion engine through a purge passage. When the fuel vapor is desorbed from the adsorbent in this manner, the adsorbing capacity of the adsorbent is recovered.
When the fuel vapor is purged, the flow rate of an air-fuel mixture containing the fuel vapor is adjusted by a purge control valve provided in the purge passage. However, to adjust the amount of fuel vapor actually purged into the intake pipe to a suitable air-fuel ratio by the purge control valve, it is important to measure the concentration of the fuel vapor in the air-fuel mixture flowing through the purge passage with high accuracy.
JP-2004-116303A shows a fuel vapor treatment apparatus having a throttle in a purge passage to calculate the fuel vapor concentration based on a differential pressure between upstream and downstream of the throttle. In this apparatus, the fuel vapor concentration is calculated based on a basic differential pressure in which the fuel vapor concentration is 0%. Since it is hard to practically create the condition in which the fuel vapor concentration is 0%, the basic differential pressure is pre-calculated and is stored in an ECU. However, the pre-calculated basic differential pressure may have errors in a case that the pressure sensor is deteriorated or a pressure loss in the treatment system is varied with age. The differential pressure in the throttle depends on density of fluid flowing through the throttle. When the ambient pressure or ambient temperature is varied, the density is also varied, which may cause errors.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points. The object of the invention is to provide a fuel vapor treatment system of an internal combustion engine in which the fuel vapor concentration can be measured with high accuracy.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a fuel vapor treatment system includes following structure. That is, the system includes a canister that is connected to a fuel tank through a vapor introduction passage. The canister has an adsorbent for temporarily adsorbing fuel vapor. The fuel vapor produced in the fuel tank is introduced into the canister through the fuel vapor introduction passage. The system further includes a purge passage introducing a desorbed fuel vapor from the adsorbent into an intake pipe of the engine, and a purge valve provided in the purge passage. The purge valve controls a flow rate of fuel vapor flowing through the purge passage. The system further includes a first throttle provided in the purge passage, a first pressure detecting means for detecting a variation in pressure of a purge gas passing through the first throttle. The system further includes a second throttle provided in a gas passage of a positive crankcase ventilation apparatus that recirculates a blow-by gas into the intake pipe, and a second pressure detecting means for detecting a variation in pressure of a gas passing through the second throttle. A concentration calculation means for calculating a concentration of fuel vapor in an air-fuel mixture introduced into the intake pipe from the canister based on the variation in pressure detected by the first pressure detecting means and the variation in pressure detected by the second pressure detecting means.
Other objects, feature and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in which:
Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the invention will be described.
A fuel injector 3, a throttle valve 4 and an airflow sensor 5 are provided in an intake pipe 2 of an engine 1. An air-fuel ratio sensor 7 is provided in an exhaust pipe 6.
An ECU 8 receives signals from the airflow sensor 5, the air-fuel ratio sensor 7, a crank angle sensor (not shown), and a vehicle speed sensor (not shown) to control the throttle valve 4, an injector 3, and an ignition plug 9.
A fuel tank 11 communicates with a canister 13 via a fuel vapor introduction passage 12. Fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank 11 flows into the canister 13 through the fuel vapor introduction passage 12. The canister 13 accommodates adsorbent 14. The fuel vapor is adsorbed by the adsorbent 14. The canister 13 communicates with the intake pipe 2 via a purge passage 15.
A purge valve 16 is provided in the purge passage 15. The purge valve 16 controls quantity of fuel vapor which is purged into the intake pipe 2 so that air-fuel ratio is brought to be stoichiometric ratio.
The canister 13 communicates with atmosphere through an atmosphere passage 17. The atmosphere passage 17 is provided with a close valve 18.
A positive crankcase ventilation apparatus 20 recirculates blow-by gas into the intake pipe 2. The apparatus 20 includes an introduce passage 21 and a discharge passage 23. One end of the introduce passage 21 is connected to the intake pipe 2 upstream of the throttle valve 4, and the other end is connected to a head cover 22 of the engine 1. Fresh air flows through the introduce passage 21. One end of the discharge passage 23 is connected to the head cover 22, and the other end is connected to the intake pipe 2 downstream of the throttle valve 4 via a fuel vapor concentration detector 30 and a passage 31. An interior of the head cover 22 communicates with an interior of a crankcase. Blow-by gas flows through the discharge passage 23 and is discharged into the intake pipe 2. The passages 21, 23 may be connected to the crankcase instead of the head cover 22.
The discharge passage 23 is provided with a blow-by gas control valve 24. The opening degree of the valve 24 is controlled by the ECU 8.
The fuel vapor concentration detector 30 is connected to the purge passage 15 and the discharge passage 23. The purge gas is introduced into the detector 30 through the purge passage 15, and the blow-by gas is introduced into the detector 30 through the discharge passage 23. The purged gas and the blow-by gas in the detector 30 are introduced into the intake pipe 2 through a passage 31.
A partition 33 is provided in the concentration detector 30 to prevent a mixture of the purge gas and the blow-by gas. The partition 33 defines a first chamber 34 and a second chamber 35 with the case 32. The partition 33 is arranged in such a manner that flow passage areas of the chambers 34, 35 are substantially identical to each other. The first chamber 34 and the second chamber 35 are defined in parallel to each other.
A butterfly valve 36 is provided in the center of the case 32. The rotational position of the butterfly valve 36 is controlled by the ECU 8. When the butterfly valve 36 varies its rotational position, the first chamber 34 and the second chamber 35 are identically restricted to define the same flow passage area. The butterfly valve 36 corresponds to a first and a second throttle. The flow passage areas are identical between the chambers 34, 35 irrespective of the butterfly valve position.
A first pressure sensor 37 is provided outside of the first chamber 34. The sensor 37 communicates to the interior of the first chamber 34 through passages 371, 372. The first pressure sensor 37 measures a differential pressure between upstream and downstream of the butterfly valve 36. This differential pressure represents variation in pressure of the purge gas flowing through the first chamber 34. In this situation, the butterfly valve 36 functions as the first throttle.
A second pressure sensor 38 is provided outside of the second chamber 35. The sensor 38 communicates to the interior of the second chamber 35 through passages 381, 382. The second pressure sensor 38 measures a differential pressure between upstream and downstream of the butterfly valve 36. This differential pressure represents variation in pressure of the blow-by gas flowing through the second chamber 35. In this situation, the butterfly valve 36 functions as the second throttle. These measured differential pressures are electrically sent to the ECU 8.
When the answer is Yes in step S101, the procedure proceeds to step S102 in which a purge-executing routine is executed. After the purge-executing routine is executed, the procedure goes back to step S101. When the answer is No in step S101, the procedure proceeds to step S103 in which the computer determined whether the engine is turned off.
As the ODTV is increased, the amount of blow-by gas increases. Even if the ODTV is increased to reduce the negative pressure downstream of the throttle valve, the blow-by gas does not flow upstream. That is, the blow-by gas is introduced into the intake pipe 2 without fail.
In step S201, the purge valve 16 is opened by a predetermined degree “x”. This degree “x” is determined based on the engine-driving condition, the differential pressure detected by the second pressure sensor 38, and the like.
In step S202, the first pressure sensor 37 detects the purge gas differential pressure ΔPevp, and the second pressure sensor 38 detects the blow-by gas differential pressure ΔPpcv.
In step S203, a fuel vapor concentration D in the purged gas is calculated based on the pressure ΔPevp and the pressure ΔPpcv.
The method of calculating the fuel vapor concentration D will be described hereinafter. The flow rate of fluid passing through a throttle, which corresponds to the butterfly valve 36, is expressed by the following equation (1) according to Bernoulli's theorem.
Q=K(ΔP/ρ)1/2 (1)
wherein ρ represents a density of fluid passing through the throttle, ΔP represents the differential pressure of fluid passing through the throttle, and K is a constant number. In a case that the opening area of the throttle is represented by S, it is derived that K=α×S×21/2. A flow rate coefficient of the throttle is denoted by α.
The quantity of purge gas flowing through the first chamber 34 is expressed by the following equation (2), and the quantity of blow-by gas flowing through the second chamber 35 is expressed by the following equation (3).
Qevp2=K1×ΔPevp/ρevp (2)
Qpcv2=K2×ΔPpcv/ρpcv (3)
In the above equations (2), (3), the suffix “evp” represents the purge gas and the suffix “pcv” represents the blow-by gas. Furthermore, K1=αevp2×Sevo2×2, and K2=αpcv2×Spcv2×2.
Here, the fuel vapor concentration in the blow-by gas is very low, comparing with the fuel vapor concentration in the purge gas. Hence, it can be assumed that the fuel vapor concentration in blow-by gas is 0%. That is, the blow-by gas is almost the same as the air with respect to the fuel vapor concentration. Thus, the equation (3) can be rewritten into the following equation (4). The suffix “air” represents atmosphere.
Qpcv2=K2×ΔPpcv/ρair (4)
In a case that the purge gas is air of which flow rate is expressed by Qair, the relationship between Qair and Qpcv is varied according to the pressure loss in each passage and the purge valve opening degree “x”. As shown in
Qair=K3×Qpcv (5)
K3 is an inclination of line in
In practice, the purge gas contains fuel vapor. The flow rate of the purge gas decreases according to the fuel vapor concentration D even in the same intake pressure, as shown in
Qevp/Qair=K4×D (6)
K4 is an inclination of line in
ρevp=K/D2×ΔPevp/ΔPpcv×ρair (7)
wherein K=K1/(K2×K32×K42)
K1 contains the opening area Sevp of the throttle, and K2 contains the opening area Spcv of the throttle. In this embodiment, Sevp is equal to Spcv irrespective of the butterfly valve position. Thus, these terms cancels to each other, so that K is simplified to reduce calculation time period.
In a case that air density is denoted by ρair and density of fuel vapor 100% is denoted by ρhc, the fuel vapor concentration D(%) is expressed by the following equation (8).
D=100×(ρevp−ρair)/(ρhc−ρair) (8)
Based on the equations (7), (8), the following equation (9) can be derived.
(ρhc−ρair)×ΔPpcv×D3+100×ΔPpcv×ρair×D2−100×K×ΔPevp×ρair=0 (9)
In this equation (9), since ρair and ρhc are physical values, the fuel vapor concentration D can be obtained from ΔPpcv and ΔPevp.
In step S204, the computer calculates the purge gas flow rate Qevp. The purge gas flow rate Qevp can be obtained from the fuel vapor concentration D which is calculated according to the equation (6).
Since the air-fuel ratio is controlled based on a mass flow rate thereof, a purged fuel vapor mass flow rate Mhc and a purged air mass flow rate Mair are obtained in step S205. These mass flow rate can be obtained according to following equations (10), (11).
Mhc=Qevp×D/100×ρhc (10)
Mair=Qevp×(1−D/100)×ρair (11)
In step S206, the purged fuel vapor mass flow rate Mhc and the purged air mass flow rate Mair are stored in RAM. An air-fuel ratio controller controls the fuel injection quantity and the air-fuel ratio based on these values.
In step S207, permissible maximum value Mmax of the purged fuel vapor quantity is calculated. The value Mmax is determined based on the engine driving condition and a controllable range of the injector.
In step S208, a required purge valve opening degree Xreq is calculated. The required opening degree Xreq(%) is derived from a following equation (12) in a case where the present purge valve opening degree is X(%).
Xreq=Mmax/Mhc×X (12)
In step S209, the computer determines whether the required opening degree Xreq is equal to or larger than 100%. When the answer is Yes, the procedure proceeds to step S210 in which the opening degree of the purge valve 16 is set to 100%. When the answer is No, the procedure proceeds to step S211 in which the opening degree of the purge valve 16 is set to Xreq(%).
In step S212, the computer determines whether a purge-stop condition is established. The purge-stop condition is determined based on the engine condition such as the engine coolant temperature, the engine oil temperature, and the engine speed. When the purge-stop condition is established, the procedure proceeds to step S213 in which the purge valve 16 is closed to end the routine. When the purge-stop condition is not established, the procedure goes back to step S202.
As described above, according to the embodiment, the butterfly valve 36 restricts the flow area of the purge gas and blow-by gas. The fuel vapor concentration D, the purged fuel vapor mass flow rate Mhc, and the purged air mass flow rate Mair are obtained based on the purge gas differential pressure ΔPevp and the blow-by gas differential pressure ΔPpcv. Hence, the concentration D, the mass flow rate Mhc, Mair can be calculated in real time.
Since the measuring points of the differential pressures ΔPevp, ΔPpcv are adjacent to each other and the differential pressures ΔPevp, ΔPpcv are measured in real time, there differential pressures can be detected with high accuracy without receiving influence from the ambient condition.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
When the opening areas of the throttles are different from each other, a correction procedure is needed to correct a difference in flow rate.
In the first embodiment, the ODBV can be determined based on an intake air pressure Pin as shown in
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