Interactive design and development of micro VT-SHED facility to determine refueling losses from two-wheeler fuel tanks

With rapid rise in vehicular population, evaporative emissions are becoming major contributor to air pollution. Refuelling losses are part of evaporative emissions which are prone to higher ambient and fuel temperatures. Countries like India, having hotter climate with high percentage of gasoline vehicles need to seek indigenous control solutions for refuelling losses on priority. This paper focuses on development of a facility to study the evaporative emissions. A micro sized Variable Temperature—Sealed Housing Evaporative Determination chamber is equipped with Fuel conditioning and dispensing facility. Wherein, temperature inside the SHED chamber, tank fuel temperature and dispense fuel temperatures are maintained through controller. The impact of these temperatures on refuelling losses is studied using the facility. Puff losses or refuelling losses are quantified under different temperature conditions by capturing the vapours generated during refuelling into charcoal canister. Temperature has significant impact on vapor generation and puff losses. A fuel tank of motorcycle having 11 L capacity was taken with 2.2 L prefill for conducting refuelling tests against different temperatures and quantity of refuelling. Maximum vapors were found generated with dispense of 4.4 L of fuel. However, maximum vapor loss per litre is recorded during minimum quantity (2.2 L) refuelling test. This indicates the impact of high vapor volume inside the fuel tank.