Canister Purge – Load Experiment

September 29, 2010

NREL Subcontract JXH-0-40496-01

Environmental Testing Corporation

Aurora, Colorado

Keith Vertin, (303)365-7849, kvertin@etclab.com

Environmental Testing Corporation is an accredited laboratory, in compliance with ISO 

14001:96, and ISO 17025-1999 for performing vehicle and engine emissions tests. 

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation Certificate Number 1975-01.
Canisters Provided by ORNL for Testing

 2007 Honda Accord, canisters from vehicles fueled on 

E0, E15 and E20 fuels

– 2.4L / Inline 4

– Engine Family: 7HNXV02.4KKC

– Evap Family: 7HNXR0140BBA (140g working capacity canister)

 2008 Ford Taurus, canisters from vehicles fueled on 

E0, E15 and E20 fuels

– 3.5L / V6

– Engine Family: 8FMXV03.5VEP

– Evap Family: 8FMXR0145KBK (145g working capacity canister)

 Tests for E0 and E15 canisters performed 

simultaneously, E20 canister tests are pending
Test Procedure Summary (1)

 Canister purge and load station used to perform test 

sequence per 40CFR86.132-96

– Canister purged with temperature and humidity controlled air, 300 

canister bed volume exchanges at 0.8cfm

– Canister weighted after purge and after load sequence completed 

using 0.1g readability scale

– Canister loaded using 50/50 butane/nitrogen at 15 g/hour rate 

(“slow load”)

– Canister butane-loaded until 2g breakthrough measured on slave 

canister

 Purge and load cycle was repeated 14 times for each 

canister
Test Procedure Summary (2)

 Canister purged by applying vacuum to the purge 

port, and capping the fuel tank port

 Canister loaded by introducing 50/50 butane/nitrogen 

in the fuel tank port, with vent port connected to slave 

canister, the purge port capped

ETC 

Purge 

and 

Load 

Station
Canisters As Received, Honda Accord

Jumper hoses and 

white plastic tee missing 

from E20 canister

Only E15 canister has 

vehicle bracket attached
Accord Canister PortsPorts are positively identified with OEM markings

Vent

Purge to 

Engine

To Fuel Tank
Accord Canister Orientation for Loading

Canister was loaded in vehicle orientation as shown

Load Station Upper Hose 

connects to Fuel Tank Port 

Slave Canister Lower Hose 

connects to Vent Port 

Purge Port

Capped 
Honda Accord Canister Capacity, 

From Purge to 2g Breakthrough

E0 Fuel E15 Fuel

ORHA00 ORHA15

Cycle Canister Canister 

Number Capacity Capacity

(g) (g)

1 91.2 82.4

2 89.2 86.6

3 96.0 86.0

4 87.6 76.7

5 86.6 90.4

6 99.6 93.5

7 96.6 93.4

8 101.1 95.6

9 98.9 92.1

10 99.1 98.0

11 97.4 92.8

12 99.9 97.9

13 99.1 95.8

14 98.3 93.2

7 0

8 0

9 0

100

110

120

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Canister Capacity (grams)

Purge-Load Cycle Number 

ORHA00 - Accord E0 Fuel

ORHA15 - Accord E15 Fuel
Canisters As Received, Ford Taurus
Taurus Canister Ports 

Vent

Purge to 

Engine

Fuel Tank
Taurus Canister Orientation for Loading

Canister was loaded in vehicle orientation as shown

Slave Canister Lower Hose 

connects to Vent Port 

Purge Port

Capped 

Load Station 

Upper Hose 

connects to 

Fuel Tank Port 
Ford Taurus Canister Capacity, 

From Purge to 2g Breakthrough

E0 Fuel E15 Fuel

ORFT0 ORFT15

Cycle Canister Canister 

Number Capacity Capacity

(g) (g)

1 95.9 85.5

2 92.6 89.9

3 93.3 88.0

4 94.9 96.2

5 89.2 100.7

6 96.3 93.7

7 90.7 95.8

8 90.4 103.3

9 99.0 93.8

10 95.9 98.6

11 93.4 95.5

12 96.4 97.4

13 97.6 104.3

14 95.8 97.7

7 0

8 0

9 0

100

110

120

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Canister Capacity (grams)

Purge-Load Cycle Number 

ORFT0 - Taurus E0 Fuel

ORFT15 - Taurus E15 Fuel
Summary

 The canister from the E0-fueled Accord had a higher 

load capacity compared to the E15 canister, for 13 of 

the 14 tests performed

– Capacity of E15 canister about 5g less (5% less) 

for last cycle tested 

 There was no clear difference in load capacity for the 

Taurus E0-fueled and E15-fueled canisters