How Does a Car's Charcoal Canister Work?
1 Answers
The fuel tank of a car works in conjunction with the charcoal canister to form a fully sealed fuel system. When the vehicle is stationary, the fuel in the tank evaporates due to its volatile nature. The resulting vapors travel through pipes into the evaporation zone of the charcoal canister, where they are immediately adsorbed by activated carbon, condensed, and converted back into liquid fuel. Any excess gases are then released through the vent. Below is relevant information about the charcoal canister: 1. The charcoal canister is a container filled with activated carbon, serving as a device to collect and reuse gasoline vapors. Gasoline is highly volatile, and the pressure inside the fuel tank increases as it evaporates. To prevent potential hazards, early designs incorporated the fuel tank cap as a pressure relief valve. When the internal pressure exceeded a certain threshold, the valve would open, directly releasing gasoline vapors into the atmosphere. Nowadays, with gasoline being as precious as gold, this is considered wasteful and environmentally harmful. Hence, the Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP) was developed, with the charcoal canister being a crucial component of this system. 2. The gasoline vehicle fuel vapor adsorption and desorption device, commonly known as the "charcoal canister," is an apparatus designed to reduce emissions of gasoline vapors from the fuel tank and carburetor. Typically located between the gasoline tank and the engine, the charcoal canister plays a vital role. Given that gasoline is a highly volatile liquid, the fuel tank often contains gasoline vapors at room temperature. The Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System functions to direct these vapors into the combustion process, preventing their release into the atmosphere.