Fuel Filler System Check Valves - Dynamic Evaluation

The fuel filler tube check valve (FTCV) is an integral part of a vehicle’s refueling system. The primary function of this valve is to control the refueling characteristics in a manner that enables the vehicle to be refueled efficiently and under wide ranging conditions, while limiting the amount of fuel or fuel vapor emissions being released into the environment. These valves accomplish this function by allowing the flow of gasoline to pass through the valve and into the tank during the refueling process with minimal restriction while limiting the reverse flow as the fuel tank approaches full. The location of these valves varies from vehicle to vehicle but are generally located within the fuel filler or fuel tank system. They have been engineered and developed to ensure the vehicle will meet customer and industry refueling requirements as well as refueling emissions mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Several research papers provide incomplete descriptions of the function of these valves and draw certain conclusions that do not fully consider the operation of these valves under dynamic loading conditions. This paper is intended to assess the performance of an FTCV under varying dynamic driving and laboratory loading events and will consider the anticipated function during a crash test event. In doing so, the authors will demonstrate the function of these valves and how they may perform during dynamic driving events, including a vehicle crash.