Evaporation generation in the vehicle fuel tank. Canister feed strategy optimization

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). In addition to the toxic substances generated during fuel combustion in the engine, the vehicle generates a significant amount of hydrocarbons in the form of fuel vapors generated as a result of evaporation from the fuel tank and fuel system components. The evaporation process parameters and the amount of fuel evaporations are determined by dynamics of fuel heating in the tank in various vehicle operation modes. Modern requirements for the limit level of emissions caused by evaporation become much stricter. Therefore, the solution of the task of fuel evaporation minimization and prevention of ingress thereof into the atmosphere is relevant and practically significant. The purposes of the studies are to develop a model of the processes of evaporation generation in the vehicle fuel tank based on the analysis of mathematical modeling and experimental research results as well as to develop the optimum strategy and algorithm of the canister feed.

Methodology and research methods. In the study, a combination of analytical methods of the classical thermodynamics with modeling in the Simcenter Amesim integrated program platform environment is used.

Scientific novelty and results. It has been found that transition from feeding the canister with an open vapor space to evaporation in a fixed-volume space allows significant reduction of the amount of hydrocarbons delivered to the canister.

Practical significance. It has been found and proved that accumulation of hydrocarbons in a closed tank with discrete cyclic feed of the canister allows significant reduction of evaporation generation and lowering of the requirements for the canister parameters. An algorithm of optimum canister feed is suggested.

1. Ter-Mkrtich’yan G.G. [Analysis of the vaporization processes in the vehicle fuel tank. New equation for determining the vapor amount]. Trudy NAMI, 2021, no. 2 (285), pp. 74–86. DOI: 10.51187/0135-3152-2021-2-74-86. (In Russian)

2. Reddy S. Understanding and designing automotive evaporative emission control systems. SAE Technical Paper, 2012, no. 2012-01-1700. DOI: 10.4271/2012-01-1700.

3. Ter-Mkrtich’yan G.G. [Fuel evaporation management in gasoline vehicles: a tutorial]. Moscow, FSUE “NAMI”, 2022. 190 p. (In Russian)

4. Zhang X., Su Y., H. Wu Z.Z. Optimization of the activated carbon adsorption process for automotive fuel vapor emissions control. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018, vol. 197, pp. 828–838.

5. Ter-Mkrtich’yan G.G., Mikerin N.A., Glaviznin V.V., Balashov D.Yu., Arabyan M.E. [The thermodynamic system “fuel tank of a vehicle” energy model. Processes of unsteady heat transfer at constant fuel mass]. Trudy NAMI, 2020, no. 4 (283), pp. 82–93. DOI: 10.51187/0135-3152-2020-4-82-93. (In Russian)

6. Ter-Mkrtich’yan G.G., Glaviznin V.V., Mikerin N.A., Arabyan M.E., Tseytlin A.A. [Generalized energy model of the open thermodynamic system “vehicle fuel tank”. Processes of non-stationary heat transfer with a variable fuel mass]. Trudy NAMI, 2022, no. 1 (288), pp. 6–16. DOI: 10.51187/0135-3152-2022-1-6-16. (In Russian)

7. Reddy S. Mathematical models for predicting vehicle refueling vapor generation. SAE Technical Paper, 2010, no. 2010-01-1279. https://doi.org/10.4271/2010-01-1279.

8. Gureev A.A., Kamfer G.M. [Volatility of fuels for automobile engines]. Moscow, Khimiya Publ., 1982. 264 p. (In Russian)

9. Liu H., Man H.Y., Tschantz M., Wu Y., He K.B., Hao J.M. VOC from vehicular evaporation emissions: status and control strategy. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2015, no. 49, pp. 14424–14431.

10. Kolesnikov I.M., Vinokurov V.A. [Thermodynamics of physical and chemical processes: proc. allowance]. Moscow, RGU Publ., 2005. 480 p. (In Russian)

11. Ruthven D.M., Faroog S., Knaebal K. Pressure swing adsorption. N.Y., VCH, 1994. 387 p.

12. Regmi S.O., Botte G.G. Modeling of the adsorption behavior of gasoline vapor on activated carbon for automotive emission control. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2011, vol. 363, no. 2, pp. 469–475.