Method and system for controlling a flow of vapor in an evaporative system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPatrick Joseph Curran, Robert Joseph Pace, Edward George Rychlick, David Chester Waskiewicz
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Abstract
A method and system for determining a level of vapor generated by an evaporative system. The evaporative system is closed to atmosphere. An initial pressure in a fluid-filled tank is sensed and, after a predetermined amount of time, a second pressure in the tank is sensed. A pressure difference is determined based on the sensed initial pressure and the sensed second pressure. The level of vapor generated by the evaporative system is determined based on the pressure difference.
Claims20
For use with an evaporative system including a fluid filled tank and a vapor management valve in fluid communication with the tank, the vapor management valve having an operating range and a ramp rate, a method for controlling a flow of vapor in the evaporative system, the method comprising:
- (a) closing the evaporative system to atmosphere;
- (b) sensing an initial pressure in the tank and generating a corresponding signal;
- (c) after a predetermined amount of time, sensing a second pressure in the tank and generating a corresponding signal;
- (d) determining a pressure difference based on the sensed initial pressure and the sensed second pressure;
- (e) determining a level of vapor generated by the evaporative system based on the pressure difference;
- and
- (f) controlling the operating range and the ramp rate of the vapor management valve based on the level of vapor generated by the evaporative system so as to control the flow of vapor.
For use with an evaporative system including a fluid-filled tank and a vapor management valve in fluid communication with the tank, the vapor management valve having an operating range and a ramp rate, a system for controlling a flow of vapor in the evaporative system, the system comprising:
- means for closing the evaporative system to atmosphere;
- a sensor sensing an initial pressure in the tank and a second pressure in the tank and generating corresponding signals;
- means for determining a pressure difference based on the sensed initial pressure and the sensed second pressure;
- means for determining a level of vapor generated by the evaporative system based on the pressure difference;
- and
- means for controlling the operating range and the ramp rate of the vapor management valve based on the level of vapor generated by the evaporative system so as to control the flow of vapor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.