JP2011111919A - Evaporated fuel treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an evaporated fuel treatment device efficiently separating gas containing evaporated fuel into high concentration gas and low concentration gas by less energy. <P>SOLUTION: A medium concentration gas pipe 66 is extended from a communication pipe 52 sending gas from a first separation membrane unit 18 to a second separation membrane unit 20 and is merged into a circulation pipe 60. By opening a solenoid shut-off valve 70 and driving a purge pump 40, liquefaction recovery of evaporated fuel into a fuel tank 14 can be performed by using only the first separation membrane unit 18. There is no necessity to generate pressure in the purge pump 40 for introducing gas into the second separation membrane unit 20 and wasteful consumption of electric power can be suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an evaporated fuel processing apparatus for processing evaporated fuel.

  As an evaporative fuel processing apparatus for processing evaporative fuel generated in a fuel tank provided in a vehicle such as an automobile, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that gas discharged from a canister is passed through two separation units in order. A structure is described in which the concentration gas is returned to the fuel tank and the low concentration gas is returned to the canister.

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, since two separation units (separation members) are always operated, it is necessary to increase the pressure of the evaporated fuel in order to allow the evaporated fuel to permeate through these separation units. Consumption was growing.

JP 2004-353600 A

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide an evaporative fuel processing apparatus that can efficiently separate a gas containing evaporative fuel into a high concentration gas and a low concentration gas with less energy.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, a fuel tank capable of storing fuel, and a gas containing evaporated fuel generated in the fuel tank is compared with a high-concentration component gas having a relatively high fuel concentration and a relative fuel concentration. A first separation means for separating into a low-concentration component gas; a tank return passage for returning the high-concentration component gas produced by the first separation means into the fuel tank; and the first separation. A communication channel for discharging the low-concentration component gas generated by the means to the outside of the first separation unit, and the low-concentration component gas introduced from the communication channel is further relatively fuel concentration The second separation means for separating the high concentration component gas having a high concentration and the low concentration component gas having a relatively low fuel concentration, and the low concentration component gas generated by the first separation means to the first separation means An intermediate gas return passage for returning, and the intermediate gas return channel It has an opening and closing valve for opening and closing the intermediate gas return flow path provided in the flow path, and a pump for returning sends the pressurizing said first separating means the gas flowing through the intermediate gas return flow path.

  In this fuel vapor processing apparatus, the gas containing the fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank is converted into a high-concentration component gas (hereinafter referred to as “high-concentration gas”) having a relatively high fuel concentration by the first separation means. A low concentration component gas with a relatively low fuel concentration (this component gas has a higher concentration than a low concentration gas with a relatively low fuel concentration produced by the second separation means, as will be described later. It is separated into “concentration gas”. The high-concentration gas can be liquefied and collected in the fuel tank through the tank return flow path, for example, by performing a process such as concentration. In addition, the medium concentration gas is introduced into the second separation means through the communication channel, and the high concentration component gas having a relatively high fuel concentration (this component gas is also referred to as “medium concentration gas” for convenience) and relative In particular, it is separated into a low concentration component gas having a low fuel concentration (hereinafter referred to as “low concentration gas”).

  Here, in the present invention, there is provided an intermediate gas return flow path for returning the medium concentration gas generated by the first separation means to the first separation means. Then, by opening the on-off valve provided in the intermediate gas return flow path and driving the return pump, the intermediate concentration gas generated by the first separation means is again sent to the second separation means without being sent to the second separation means. It can introduce | transduce into 1 separation means and can perform separation or liquefaction collection. Since the medium concentration gas is not sent to the second separation means, the pressure of the evaporated fuel can be lowered by that amount, and the energy (electric power) required for driving the return pump can be reduced to increase the evaporated fuel efficiently. It can be separated into a concentration gas and a low concentration gas.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a tank discharge passage for discharging gas containing the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank and sending it to the first separation means. And a feed pump that pressurizes the gas flowing through the tank discharge flow path and sends it to the first separation means, and the intermediate gas return flow path is upstream of the feed pump in the tank discharge flow path The feed pump also serves as the return pump.

  Thereby, the gas containing the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank can be discharged to the outside of the fuel tank through the tank discharge flow path and sent to the first separation means. At this time, the gas flowing through the tank discharge channel can be pressurized by the feed pump and sent to the first separation means.

  The intermediate gas return flow path is joined to the tank discharge flow path on the upstream side of the feed pump, and the feed pump also serves as the return pump. Further, a part of the tank discharge channel also serves as a part of the intermediate gas return channel. As a result, the structure of the fuel vapor processing apparatus can be simplified.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the canister for adsorbing and desorbing the evaporated fuel with an adsorbent and the low-concentration component gas generated by the second separation means are And a desorption channel for sending to the canister as desorption gas.

  Since this evaporative fuel processing apparatus is provided with a canister, the evaporative fuel in the fuel tank can be introduced into the canister through the vapor pipe and the evaporative fuel can be adsorbed. Moreover, the low concentration gas produced | generated by the 2nd separation means can be sent to a canister through the flow path for desorption. The low concentration gas can be used as a desorption gas to desorb the evaporated fuel adsorbed in the canister.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a gas that is branched from the desorption flow path by a branching portion and contains evaporated fuel in the desorption flow path is supplied to the first separation means. An evaporative fuel return flow path, and a switching valve that switches a gas flow path downstream from the branching section to a desorption flow path and an evaporative fuel return flow path, wherein the evaporative fuel return flow path is the tank. The discharge channel is joined upstream of the feed pump.

  Therefore, by switching the switching valve to the evaporated fuel return channel side, the evaporated fuel existing in the desorption channel can be returned to the first separation means through the evaporated fuel return channel. For example, even when a low concentration gas is retained in the desorption flow path, resulting in a high concentration gas, the first separation means (and the second separation means) is used. This can be a low concentration gas. The low-concentration gas generated in this way is switched to the desorption channel side and sent to the canister, so that the evaporated fuel adsorbed in the canister is desorbed using the low-concentration gas. Is possible. Gas with a high concentration is not sent to the canister, and canister contamination can be suppressed.

  In addition, since the evaporated fuel return flow path is joined to the tank discharge flow path on the upstream side of the feed pump, the feed pump is driven to first separate the gas retained in the desorption flow path. Can be returned to the means.

  Since the present invention has the above configuration, the gas containing the evaporated fuel can be efficiently separated into the high concentration gas and the low concentration gas with less energy.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the evaporative fuel processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram with the flow of the gas in the processing state of evaporative fuel of the evaporative fuel processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram with the flow of the gas in the processing state of evaporative fuel of the evaporative fuel processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the evaporative fuel processing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram with the flow of the gas in the processing state of evaporative fuel about the evaporative fuel processing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a fuel vapor processing apparatus 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The fuel vapor processing apparatus 12 includes a fuel tank 14, a canister 16, a first separation membrane unit 18, and a second separation membrane unit 20. The fuel tank 14 is provided with a fuel pump 22, and the fuel stored in the fuel tank 14 can be supplied to an engine (not shown) by being driven by an ECU (not shown). .

  The canister 16 contains activated carbon as an adsorbent therein. The evaporated fuel generated in the fuel tank 14 can be adsorbed by the activated carbon of the canister 16, and the adsorbed evaporated fuel can be desorbed (purged).

  One end of an air release pipe 24 is connected to the canister 16, and the other end of the air release pipe 24 is open to the atmosphere. The air release pipe 24 is provided with an electromagnetic release valve 26 that is opened and closed by an ECU (not shown).

  From the fuel tank 14, a discharge pipe 28 for discharging the evaporated fuel inside to the outside of the fuel tank 14 is extended and connected to the low concentration chamber 46 of the first separation membrane unit 18. The discharge pipe 28 is provided with a tank check valve 30 that allows gas movement from the fuel tank 14 toward the first separation membrane unit 18 and prevents movement in the opposite direction. The evaporated fuel in 14 can be sent to the low concentration chamber 46 of the first separation membrane unit 18.

  A purge pipe 32 is extended from the canister 16 and joined to the discharge pipe 28 at the junction 34. A portion from the merging portion 34 to the first separation membrane unit 18 substantially serves as the discharge pipe 28 and the purge pipe 32. In addition, the purge pipe 32 is provided with a check valve 36A that allows only gas movement from the junction 34 toward the canister 16 and a check valve 36B that allows only gas movement in the opposite direction. A stop valve pair 36 is provided. Thereby, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank 14 exceeds the valve opening pressure of the check valve 36 </ b> A, the evaporated fuel can be sent from the fuel tank 14 to the canister 16. Further, a gas EG containing evaporated fuel can be sent from the canister 16 to the first separation membrane unit 18 by driving a purge pump 40 described later.

  A concentration detector 38 capable of detecting the concentration of the evaporated fuel in the gas EG discharged from the canister 16 is provided at a portion where the canister 16 is connected to the purge pipe 32. The concentration detector 38 sends detected concentration data to an ECU (not shown).

  A purge pump 40 that is controlled by an ECU (not shown) is provided between the merging portion 34 and the first separation membrane unit 18. The purge pump 40 constitutes the “feeding pump” in the present invention, and by driving the purge pump 40, the gas EG containing the evaporated fuel can be actively sent to the first separation membrane unit 18. .

  The inside of the first separation membrane unit 18 is partitioned by a first separation membrane 42, and a high concentration chamber 44 and a low concentration chamber 46 are provided. The first separation membrane 42 is a thin-film member formed of a polymer material (for example, polyimide). When the gas containing air and evaporated fuel comes into contact with the first separation membrane 42, the solubility of air in the first separation membrane 42 and the evaporated fuel. These can be separated from the difference in solubility. In the example shown in FIG. 1, when the gas containing the evaporated fuel is introduced into the low concentration chamber 46 in a high pressure state of a predetermined value or more, a differential pressure is generated on both sides of the first separation membrane 42, and the low pressure side (high concentration chamber) 44), a relatively high concentration component (hereinafter, this relatively high concentration component is referred to as "high concentration gas HG") is passed, and on the high pressure side (low concentration chamber 46), Thus, the evaporated fuel is separated so as to become a low concentration component (hereinafter, this relatively low concentration component is referred to as “medium concentration gas MG”).

  A return pipe 48 including a high concentration gas check valve 50 is connected between the high concentration chamber 44 of the first separation membrane unit 18 and the fuel tank 14. The high-concentration gas HG generated in the first separation membrane unit 18 is condensed and liquefied by, for example, a condensing mechanism (not shown) provided further on the fuel tank 14 side than the high-concentration gas check valve 50 and is returned to the fuel tank 14. Liquefied and recovered.

  A communication pipe 52 is further extended from the first separation membrane unit 18 and connected to the second separation membrane unit 20. The medium concentration gas MG generated in the first separation membrane unit 18 can be sent to the low concentration chamber 58 of the second separation membrane unit 20.

  Similar to the first separation membrane unit 18, the inside of the second separation membrane unit 20 is partitioned by the second separation membrane 54, and a high concentration chamber 56 and a low concentration chamber 58 are provided. Similar to the first separation membrane 42, the second separation membrane 54 is a thin film member formed of a polymer material (for example, polyimide). When the gas containing air and evaporated fuel comes into contact with the second separation membrane 54, the solubility of the air is increased. These can be separated from the difference in solubility of the evaporated fuel. In the example shown in FIG. 1, when a gas containing evaporated fuel is introduced into the low concentration chamber 58 in a high pressure state equal to or higher than a predetermined value, a differential pressure is generated on both sides of the second separation membrane 54, and the low pressure side (high concentration chamber) 44), a relatively high concentration component (hereinafter, this relatively high concentration component has a higher concentration than the above-described medium concentration gas MG, but a concentration higher than that of the high concentration gas HG). Since it is low, “medium concentration gas MG” is passed for convenience, and on the high pressure side (low concentration chamber 46), a relatively low concentration component (hereinafter, this relatively low concentration component is referred to as “ The evaporated fuel is separated so as to be “low concentration gas LG”.

  A low concentration gas pipe 72 is connected to the canister 16 from the low concentration chamber 58 of the second separation membrane unit 20. The low concentration gas pipe 72 is provided with a low concentration gas check valve 80 that allows only gas movement from the second separation membrane unit 20 to the canister 16 and blocks gas movement in the opposite direction. LG is sent to the canister 16.

  A circulation pipe 60 extends from the high concentration chamber 56 of the second separation membrane unit 20 and is connected to the junction 34. A circulation check valve 62 is provided in the circulation pipe 60. The medium concentration gas MG generated in the second separation membrane unit 20 can be sent to the first separation membrane unit 18 through the circulation pipe 60, the junction 34 and the discharge pipe 28, but the flow in the opposite direction is blocked. .

  A branch portion 64 is set at an intermediate portion of the communication pipe 52. An intermediate concentration gas pipe 66 extends from the branch part 64, and is joined to the circulation pipe 60 at the joining part 68. That is, the intermediate concentration gas pipe 66 is connected to the discharge pipe 28 (purge pipe 32) on the upstream side of the purge pump 40 via the circulation pipe 60, and the portion from the merging portion 68 to the merging portion 34 is The circulation pipe 60 and the medium concentration gas pipe 66 are also used. The purge pump 40 also serves as the “return pump” in the present invention.

  The medium concentration gas pipe 66 is provided with an electromagnetic on-off valve 70 that is controlled to open and close by an ECU (not shown). Therefore, by opening the electromagnetic on-off valve 70 and driving the purge pump 40, the intermediate concentration gas MG generated in the first separation membrane unit 18 is combined with the communication pipe 52, the branch portion 64, the intermediate concentration gas pipe 66, and the junction. It can be sent to the low concentration chamber 46 of the first separation membrane unit 18 through the section 68, the circulation pipe 60 and the discharge pipe 28. When the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 70 is closed, the medium concentration gas MG generated in the first separation membrane unit 18 can be sent only to the low concentration chamber 58 of the second separation membrane unit 20 through the communication pipe 52.

  A temperature sensor 78 is also provided inside the fuel tank 14. The temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 78 is sent to an ECU (not shown). The ECU detects the running state of the vehicle, the driving time of the purge pump when the canister 16 is desorbed (purged), and the concentration detection. The concentration of the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank 14 can be estimated from the concentration detected by the container 38.

  Next, the operation and action of the evaporated fuel processing apparatus 12 of this embodiment will be described.

  When refueling the fuel tank 14, it is necessary to discharge a gas corresponding to the volume of the refueled fuel to the outside of the fuel tank 14. Here, an ECU (not shown) stops driving the purge pump 40, closes the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 70, and opens the electromagnetic opening valve 26. Therefore, the gas in the fuel tank 14 (air and vaporized fuel are mixed) is discharged from the discharge pipe 28 and flows into the canister 16 through the purge pipe 32. Thereby, the fuel supply to the fuel tank 14 can be continued. Further, the evaporated fuel in the gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the canister 16 and the remaining gas (air that substantially contains no evaporated fuel) is discharged into the atmosphere, so the evaporated fuel is not prepared. Is prevented from being released to the atmosphere.

  When the ECU drives the purge pump 40, as shown by a solid arrow F1 in FIG. 2, the gas EG containing the evaporated fuel adsorbed by the adsorbent of the canister 16 is purged from the purge pipe 32 and the discharge pipe 28 (from the junction 34). The first separation membrane unit 18 is sent to the low concentration chamber 46 of the first separation membrane unit 18 through a portion substantially serving as the purge pipe 32). In the first separation membrane unit 18, this gas is separated into a high concentration gas HG and a medium concentration gas MG, and the high concentration gas HG is returned to the fuel tank 14 by a return pipe 48 as indicated by a one-dot chain line arrow F 2. It is.

  Here, when the ECU closes the electromagnetic on-off valve 70, the medium-concentration gas MG generated in the first separation membrane unit 18 passes through the communication pipe 52 as shown by a two-dot chain line arrow F3. , And sent to the low concentration chamber 58 of the second separation membrane unit 20.

  In the second separation membrane unit 20, the gas is further separated and separated into the low concentration gas LG and the medium concentration gas MG. Since the low-concentration gas LG is sent to the canister 16 as indicated by the broken arrow F4, the evaporated fuel adsorbed on the adsorbent in the canister 16 is desorbed (purged) by the low-concentration gas LG. Further, as shown by a two-dot chain line arrow F5, the medium concentration gas MG passes through the junction pipe 34 and the discharge pipe 28 (portion that also serves as the purge pipe 32) from the circulation pipe 60, and the low concentration of the first separation membrane unit 18. It is sent to the concentration chamber 46.

  In the evaporated fuel processing apparatus 12 of this embodiment, the concentration detector 38 detects the evaporated fuel concentration of the gas discharged from the canister 16. Then, the ECU stops driving the purge pump 40 when it is determined that the evaporated fuel concentration has decreased and the desorption (purge) of the canister 16 has been substantially completed. As a result, the purge pump 40 is not driven for a longer time than necessary, and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

  In this way, the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank 14 is in a state in which the canister 16 is desorbed (purged) or in a state in which the canister 16 is substantially desorbed, for example, due to a temperature rise or the like. May increase in quantity. When the ECU determines that the concentration of the evaporated fuel has increased in the fuel tank 14, the ECU opens the electromagnetic on-off valve 70 and drives the purge pump 40. As a result, the gas in the fuel tank 14 is sent to the first separation membrane unit 18 as shown by the solid arrow F6 in FIG. 3, so that this gas is separated into the high concentration gas HG and the medium concentration gas MG, The high concentration gas HG is returned to the fuel tank 14 after being liquefied.

  At this time, since the electromagnetic on-off valve 70 is opened, when the purge pump 40 is driven, the medium concentration gas MG generated in the low concentration chamber 46 of the first separation membrane unit 18 is indicated by a two-dot chain line arrow F7. As described above, the gas is fed from the branching portion 64 to the low concentration chamber 46 of the first separation membrane unit 18 through the medium concentration gas pipe 66, the joining portion 68, the circulation pipe 60, and the discharge pipe 28. The liquefied recovery of the evaporated fuel to the fuel tank 14 can be performed using only the first separation membrane unit 18 (without using the second separation membrane unit 20). There is substantially no need to generate a pressure for introducing the gas into the second separation membrane unit 20 by the purge pump 40. That is, the power consumption of the purge pump 40 can be reduced and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

  FIG. 4 shows an evaporated fuel processing device 92 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the same components and members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the evaporated fuel processing apparatus 92 of the second embodiment, an electromagnetic switching valve 74 is provided in the middle portion of the low-concentration gas pipe 72, and the merging portion 82 and the electromagnetic switching valve 74 set in the middle portion of the circulation pipe 60. Are connected by a reflux pipe 76. Substantially, the reflux pipe 76 further extends from the junction 82 to the junction 34 via the circulation pipe 60, and is connected to the discharge pipe 28 (purge pipe 32) upstream of the purge pump 40. Become.

  The electromagnetic switching valve 74 is a three-way valve controlled by an ECU (not shown), and the gas containing the evaporated fuel sent from the low concentration chamber 58 of the second separation membrane unit 20 is sent to either the canister 16 side or the merging portion 82 side. They are sent selectively to either. When switched to the canister 16 side, the gas containing the evaporated fuel generated in the low concentration chamber 58 is sent to the canister as it is. When switched to the merging portion 34 side, the gas containing the evaporated fuel generated in the low concentration chamber 58 is sent from the circulation pipe 60 to the first separation membrane unit 18 via the discharge pipe 28.

  In the evaporated fuel processing apparatus 92 of the second embodiment configured as described above, the ECU performs electromagnetic switching while the gas is separated and separated into the low concentration gas LG and the medium concentration gas MG by the second separation membrane unit 20. Since the low concentration gas LG is sent to the canister 16 when the valve 74 is switched to the canister 16 side, the evaporated fuel adsorbed by the adsorbent in the canister 16 is desorbed (purged) by the low concentration gas LG. Is done.

  When the purge pump 40 is driven to purge the canister 16 and then the purge pump 40 is temporarily stopped, the first separation membrane 42 and the second separation membrane 54 have both sides (high concentration chambers) of these separation membranes. Since there is no thrust to permeate the gas on the side and the low concentration chamber side), the concentration gradient (concentration difference) on both sides of the separation membrane gradually decreases. As a result, with respect to the second separation membrane unit 20, the evaporated fuel concentration in the low concentration chamber 46 increases and the evaporated fuel concentration in the low concentration gas pipe 72 also increases.

  In this state, when the purge pump 40 is driven again and the canister 16 is desorbed (purged), the ECU closes the electromagnetic switching valve 70 and then connects the electromagnetic switching valve 74 for a certain period of time after closing the electromagnetic switching valve 70. Switch to side 34. As a result, as indicated by the broken line arrow F8 in FIG. 5, the gas whose concentration has increased in the low-concentration gas pipe 72 passes from the electromagnetic switching valve 74 through the return pipe 76, the junction 82, the circulation pipe 60, and the discharge pipe 28. It is sent to the first separation membrane unit 18 and separated into the high concentration gas HG and the low concentration gas LG by the first separation membrane unit 18 and the second separation membrane unit 20. Thus, even if a gas whose concentration is higher than that of the original low concentration gas LG is present in the low concentration gas pipe 72, this gas is used by using the first separation membrane unit 18 and the second separation membrane unit 20. Again, it can be separated into the high-concentration gas HG and the low-concentration gas LG. After a certain period of time, the evaporated fuel concentration of the gas in the low-concentration gas pipe 72 is sufficiently reduced to become the original low-concentration gas LG, so the ECU switches the electromagnetic switching valve 74 to the canister. Switch to the 16 side and send the low concentration gas LG to the canister 16. Thereby, it can suppress that the gas whose density | concentration raises in the low concentration gas piping 72 is sent to the canister 16, and the canister 16 is contaminated.

  4 to 5, the position of the portion where the reflux pipe 76 branches from the low-concentration gas pipe 72 (substantially the electromagnetic switching valve 74) is an intermediate part of the low-concentration gas pipe 72. In order to reduce the concentration of the gas whose concentration has increased in the pipe 72 more reliably, it is preferable that the branch portion is located close to the canister 16.

  Further, in place of the electromagnetic switching valve 74 that is a three-way valve, an open / close valve may be provided in each of the low-concentration gas pipe 72 and the reflux pipe 76 downstream from the branch part, but a three-way valve is provided in the branch part. In the above embodiment, the structure can be simplified.

  In the above description, the configuration provided with the concentration detector 38 for detecting the evaporated fuel concentration of the gas discharged from the canister 16 is described. However, the configuration for detecting the evaporated fuel concentration of the gas is a concentration detector. It is not limited to 38. For example, instead of the concentration detector 38, a flow meter for detecting the flow rate of the gas discharged from the canister 16 to the purge pipe 32 may be provided. In this configuration, when the detected flow rate reaches a predetermined value, it is considered that the purge of the canister 16 is substantially completed and the drive of the purge pump 40 is stopped.

  In the above description, the example in which the medium concentration gas pipe 66 is branched from the branch portion 64 of the communication pipe 52 and joined to the circulation pipe 60 at the merge portion 68 has been described. The flow path for sending the medium concentration gas MG generated in the first separation membrane unit 18 to the upstream side of the purge pump may be configured. Accordingly, the medium concentration gas pipe 66 may be directly connected from the low concentration chamber 46 of the first separation membrane unit 18 or may be joined to the upstream portion of the purge pump 40 in the discharge pipe 28. Further, the downstream side of the intermediate concentration gas pipe 66 is directly connected to the low concentration chamber 46 of the first separation membrane unit 18 and a pump for sending the intermediate concentration gas MG to the intermediate concentration gas pipe 66 is newly provided. It may be provided. However, in these configurations, the medium concentration gas pipe 66 becomes long or a new pump is required, which may increase the weight and cost. In the configuration of the above embodiment, a part of the medium concentration gas pipe 66 can be shared with the communication pipe 52 and the discharge pipe 28, and there is no need to provide a new pump (using the purge pump 40). It becomes possible to plan.

12 evaporative fuel processing device 14 fuel tank 16 canister 18 first separation membrane unit (first separation means)
20 Second separation membrane unit (second separation means)
26 Electromagnetic release valve 28 Discharge piping 32 Purge piping 34 Junction section 38 Concentration detector 40 Purge pump (feed pump, return pump)
42 First separation membrane 44 High concentration chamber 46 Low concentration chamber 48 Return pipe 52 Communication pipe (communication flow path)
54 Second separation membrane 56 High-concentration chamber 58 Low-concentration chamber 60 Circulation piping 64 Branching portion 66 Medium-concentration gas piping (intermediate gas return channel)
68 Junction 70 Electromagnetic on-off valve 72 Low-concentration gas piping (flow path for desorption)
74 Electromagnetic switching valve 76 Reflux piping (evaporated fuel return flow path)
78 Temperature sensor 92 Evaporated fuel processing device

Claims (4)

A fuel tank capable of containing fuel;
First separation means for separating a gas containing evaporated fuel generated in the fuel tank into a high concentration component gas having a relatively high fuel concentration and a low concentration component gas having a relatively low fuel concentration;
A tank return flow path for returning the high-concentration component gas generated by the first separation means into the fuel tank;
A communication channel for discharging the low-concentration component gas generated by the first separation means to the outside of the first separation means;
Second separation means for separating the low concentration component gas introduced from the communication channel into a high concentration component gas having a relatively high fuel concentration and a low concentration component gas having a relatively low fuel concentration; ,
An intermediate gas return channel for returning the low-concentration component gas generated by the first separation means to the first separation means;
An on-off valve provided in the intermediate gas return channel to open and close the intermediate gas return channel;
A return pump that pressurizes the gas flowing through the intermediate gas return flow path and sends it to the first separation means;
An evaporative fuel processing apparatus. A tank discharge flow path for discharging gas containing evaporated fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank and sending it to the first separation means;
A feed pump that pressurizes the gas flowing through the tank discharge flow path and sends it to the first separation means;
With
The evaporated fuel processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate gas return flow path is joined to the tank discharge flow path on the upstream side of the feed pump, and the feed pump also serves as the return pump. A canister for adsorbing and desorbing fuel vapor with an adsorbent;
A desorption channel for sending the low-concentration component gas generated by the second separation means to the canister as a desorption gas;
The evaporative fuel processing apparatus of Claim 2 which has these. An evaporative fuel return flow path branched from the desorption flow path by a branch portion and returning a gas containing the evaporated fuel in the desorption flow path to the first separation means;
A switching valve for switching the gas flow path downstream from the branching section to the desorption flow path and the evaporated fuel return flow path;
With
The evaporated fuel processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the evaporated fuel return flow path is joined to the tank discharge flow path on the upstream side of the feed pump.

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