Electrically activated valve actuator for an internal combustion engine

A method for electrically controlling a valve actuator in a combustion engine, wherein the valve actuator comprises a solenoid, a plunger and a plunger spring, wherein the plunger spring keeps the plunger in a home position when the solenoid is not activated, wherein the engine has at least one cylinder head with at least one engine valve comprising a valve disc, a valve stem, and a valve spring, wherein a distance is provided between a lower end of the plunger and an upper end of the valve stem, and wherein air is supplied to, or exhaust gases are evacuated from, a combustion chamber past a lower part of the valve stem and the valve disc via at least one channel in the at least one cylinder head, wherein the valve actuator is configured to open the at least one engine valve, the method comprising:

• activating the solenoid such that the lower end of the plunger strikes the upper end of the valve stem so as to initiate an opening movement of the at least one engine valve, wherein:
• movement of the plunger continues until the plunger reaches a stop in the solenoid, and
• the opening movement of the at least one engine valve continues while the upper end of the valve stem is separated from the lower end of the plunger and until a force from the valve spring stops the opening movement of the at least one engine valve and starts a closing movement of the at least one engine valve towards a valve seat.