Delphi Details Evaporative Emissions Control Strategies For Hybrid Powertrains At Tank Tech Congress

A comprehensive set of solutions compliant with today and future evaporative emission standards
Minimized fuel system complexity and easier vehicle assembly help reduce costs for vehicle manufacturers

Germany — Increasing market demand for green transportation technology requires CO2 emissions reductions and improved fuel economy. This challenge can be met as more efficient engine technologies, like turbo charging, direct injection and, especially, hybrid architectures become more practical and affordable. Delphi is leading the development of such powertrains, while at the same time, achieving sophisticated technical requirements on evaporative emissions control systems.

Delphi is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of evaporative emission control systems including canisters, producing millions annually and providing customers with products that offer world class quality and performance. “With more than 35 years’ experience, Delphi has the expertise and in-depth knowledge of evaporative emissions canister design and market requirements that will help manufacturers meet evolving evaporative emissions criteria and changing platform designs,” says Delphi’s global sales director for fuel handling and evaporative systems, Jose Morente.

Delphi presenting paper on evaporative emission control in hybrid powertrains
On Wednesday, November 11th, 2009, during the seventh edition of the Tank Tech Congress, Delphi’s Dr. Andrzej Kalina, engineering manager, evaporative emission control products, will present a technical paper co-authored by Jan Jasinski — group engineering leader, evaporative emission control products and titled, “Evaporative Emissions Control Strategies for Hybrid Powertrains.” Delphi will detail the aspects of evaporative emission control in hybrids with open and sealed fuel systems. The technical paper will address the emission control strategies, the application requirements, the system mechanization as well as safety and durability aspects.

The solutions presented by Delphi include advanced integrated evaporative emissions systems for hybrids and partial zero-emissions (PZEV) vehicle hybrids: carbon canisters, canister modules and electrically heated hydrocarbon scrubbers for integrated and non-integrated fuel systems. These new technologies and technical solutions become enablers for future gasoline powered hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains in terms of compliance with evaporative emission standards. The standards require control of volatile hydrocarbons (fuel vapour) being released from gasoline fuel systems at any vehicle condition: driving, refuelling or parking. In order to protect the environment and air quality, vapours are temporarily stored in evaporative emissions canisters and introduced as fuel in the engine during vehicle operation. Aiming at reduction of CO2 emissions and improvement of fuel economy, hybrids limit the combustion engine operation imposing new and challenging technical requirements on evaporative emissions control systems and driving implementation of new technical solutions and technologies.

Delphi hybrid evaporative emissions canister modules have been specially designed to help vehicle manufacturers meet the world’s most stringent evaporative emissions requirements (LEV II and LEV III; PZEV and various hybrid vehicle systems) while optimizing a vehicle’s fuel economy. The modules include a highly efficient carbon canister, a robust electrically heated hydrocarbon scrubber and an advanced electronic controller. While conventional evaporative emissions canisters are designed to operate with regular purge cycles, Delphi’s hybrid canister modules provide increased canister regeneration efficiency that enables optimal evaporative emissions control in low purge engine operation. Delphi’s innovative solution helps vehicle manufacturers minimize fuel system complexity and vehicle assembly costs. This technology eliminates the need for pressurized steel systems in PZEV full hybrid vehicle systems, thus enabling the use of a plastic fuel tank which contributes to an overall vehicle program cost reduction. And, the heated scrubber allows the use of low cost carbon for further cost savings. Additionally, the “plug and play” module capability enables ease of assembly for integrated and non-integrated applications and easy upgrade of existing system architecture. Other benefits include increased durability, safety and reliability.
Delphi offers a comprehensive set of solutions, which can meet customer and application requirements for various, full, mild and micro hybrid powertrains, complying with today and future (Euro 6 and US LEV III) evaporative emission standards.