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An integrated fuel management system and method for controlling the fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle. The fuel management system includes a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle, a vapor collection canister located within the fuel storage tank, a vent actuator coupled to the vapor co

An integrated fuel management system and method for controlling the fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle. The fuel management system includes a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle, a vapor collection canister located within the fuel storage tank, a vent actuator coupled to the vapor collection canister for venting gas from the canister during a vent operation, and a purge actuator coupled to the canister for purging fuel vapor from the canister during a purge operation. A variable speed fuel pump is disposed within the fuel storage tank for delivering fuel to a fuel delivery line for an engine. The fuel management system has a controller provided in a module disposed in communication with the fuel for controlling the amount of fuel pumped with the variable speed fuel pump to deliver fuel to the fuel delivery line and further control the purge and vent actuators.

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1. A fuel management system for managing fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle, said fuel management system comprising:a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle; a vapor collection canister coupled to the fuel storage tank for collecting evaporated fuel vapor; a purge actuator coupled to th

1. A fuel management system for managing fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle, said fuel management system comprising:a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle; a vapor collection canister coupled to the fuel storage tank for collecting evaporated fuel vapor; a purge actuator coupled to the vapor collection canister for purging fuel vapor from the vapor collection canister during a purge operation; a vent actuator coupled to the fuel storage tank for venting gas from the fuel storage tank during a vent operation; a fuel pump disposed within the fuel storage tank for delivering fuel to a fuel delivery line for an engine; a controller provided in a module disposed in fluid communication with the fuel, said controller controlling the fuel pump to deliver fuel to the fuel delivery line, said controller further controlling the purge and vent actuators to perform the purge and vent operations; and an electrically operated valve disposed in a fuel fill opening in communication with the fuel storage tank, wherein the valve is controlled by the controller. 2. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1, wherein the fuel pump comprises a variable speed fuel pump.3. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a fill neck sensor for sensing the presence of a fuel fill dispenser in the fuel fill tube, wherein the electrically operated valve is controlled to open and allow fuel fill into the fuel storage tank based on an output from the fill neck sensor.4. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller controls a fuel fill operation by controlling the vent actuator.5. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller determines the amount of gas vented from the fuel storage tank during a vent gas operation.6. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is provided in a module disposed in fluid communication with the fuel.7. The fuel management system as defined in claim 6, wherein the module is located within the fuel storage tank.8. A fuel management system for managing fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle, said fuel management system comprising:a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle; fuel injectors for injecting fuel into an engine; an engine control module for controlling operation of the engine including controlling the fuel injectors to inject fuel into the engine; a fuel delivery line supplying fuel to the fuel injectors; a fuel pump disposed within the fuel storage tank for delivering fuel to the fuel delivery line; a local controller located in close proximity to the fuel storage tank, said local controller controlling the fuel pump to deliver fuel to the fuel delivery line, wherein the local controller controls a fuel fill operation by controlling a vent actuator coupled to the fuel storage tank for venting gas from the fuel storage tank; and an electrically operated valve disposed in a fuel fill opening in communication with the fuel storage tank, wherein the valve is controlled by the local controller. 9. The fuel management system as defined in claim 8, wherein the fuel pump comprises a variable speed fuel pump.10. The fuel management system as defined in claim 8, wherein the controller is provided in a module disposed in fluid communication with the fuel.11. The fuel management system as defined in claim 10, wherein the module is located within the fuel storage tank.12. The fuel management system as defined in claim 8, wherein the local controller determines an amount of gas to be vented from the fuel storage tank during a venting operation.13. A fuel delivery system for delivering fuel from a storage tank to a fuel delivery line for an engine in a vehicle, said fuel delivery system comprising:a variable speed fuel pump for pumping fuel from a storage tank to a fuel delivery line, said fuel pump comprising a variable speed electric motor operable at multiple speeds; a sensor for monitoring a load demand characteristic of the vehicle; and a controller for controlling the speed of the electric motor as a function of the monitored load demand characteristic, said controller commanding a first motor speed during a sensed high load demand characteristic and further commanding a second lower motor speed during a sensed low load demand characteristic, wherein the controller is provided in a control module disposed in fluid communication with the fuel, wherein said sensor is disposed internal to said control module. 14. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 13, wherein the fuel delivery system further comprises a fuel return line coupled between the fuel delivery line and the fuel storage tank, wherein pumped fuel circulates through the return line to the fuel storage tank, and wherein said controller controls the pump to achieve a desired fuel flow rate in the return line.15. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a flow sensor for sensing flow of fuel within the return line, and said controller controls the pump as a function of the sensed fuel flow.16. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 15, wherein the flow sensor comprises a moveable valve assembly disposed within a passage, wherein the flow sensor senses flow as a function of movement of the valve assembly.17. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 16, wherein the flow sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor further comprising a spring for biasing the valve assembly.18. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 15, wherein the flow sensor is in heat transfer relationship with the fuel so as to cool electronics associated with the flow sensor.19. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 13 further comprising a regulator coupled between the fuel pump and the fuel delivery line, wherein the regulator regulates the amount of fuel pressure at the fuel delivery line and returns fuel to the fuel storage tank.20. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 13, wherein the module is located in the fuel storage tank.21. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 13, wherein the module comprises a fluid flow passage, wherein pumped fluid flows through the fluid flow passage to cool the module.22. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor for sensing pressure of fuel supplied to the fuel rail.23. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 13 further comprising a non-contacting fuel level sensor located within the fuel storage tank and communicating with the controller.24. A vapor fuel management system for managing fuel vapor in a fuel storage tank of a vehicle, said fuel management system comprising:a vapor collection canister located within the fuel storage tank for collecting evaporated fuel vapor; a vent actuator coupled to the fuel storage tank for venting gas from the fuel storage tank during a vent operation; a purge actuator coupled to the vapor collection canister for purging fuel vapor from the vapor collection canister during a purge operation; and a fuel control module separate from a vehicle engine control module with which the fuel control module communicates for controlling the vent actuator and purge actuator, said fuel control module further controlling the vent actuator during a fuel fill operation to control the dispensing of fuel into the fuel storage tank. 25. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 13 further comprising a fuel composition sensor located within the fuel storage tank and communicating with the controller.26. A fuel delivery system for delivering fuel from a storage tank to a fuel delivery line for an engine in a vehicle, said fuel delivery system comprising:a variable speed fuel pump for pumping fuel from a storage tank to a fuel delivery line, said fuel pump comprising a variable speed electric motor operable at multiple speeds; a sensor for monitoring a load demand characteristic of the vehicle; and a controller that directly monitors an output from said sensor and controls the speed of the electric motor as a function of the monitored load demand characteristic, said controller commanding a first motor speed during a sensed high load demand characteristic and further commanding a second lower motor speed during a sensed low load demand characteristic, wherein the controller is provided in a module disposed in the storage tank.