Method and device for controlling a valve for recycling gases burned during an engine starting phase

A device for controlling at least one exhaust gas recirculation EGR valve during a start-up phase of a diesel engine of type including an external combustion control system using EGR, the device comprising:

• a processing unit;
• memory storage means for storing at least one item of information representative of an end-of-start threshold speed;
• means for detecting a start-up phase;
• actuator means for keeping the EGR valve wide open for a short time measured from a moment starting of the engine is initiated;
• means for estimating an engine speed;
• means for estimating an ambient temperature;
• means for gathering data representative of the estimated ambient temperature and of the estimated engine speed;
• and
• pairing means for pairing an EGR valve openness setpoint with the data supplied by the data gathering means and for using a setpoint to control the actuator means to control partial closure of the EGR valve during the start-up phase.

A computer readable medium including computer executable instructions that can be loaded into the memory of a computer to execute a method for controlling at least one exhaust gas recirculation EGR valve for an engine when the computer executable instructions are executed on the computer, said computer readable medium including:

• first computer executable instruction for opening the EGR valve to a wide open position, for a short time measured from a moment starting of the engine is initiated and at least for a period over which the engine is started so that engine speed can be increased to an end-of-starting threshold speed;
• second computer executable instruction for gathering data representative of the engine speed and an ambient temperature;
• third computer executable instruction for dynamic calibration to determine an EGR valve openness setpoint as a function of the data supplied during the data gathering;
• and
• fourth computer executable instruction for partially closing the EGR valve in accordance with the openness setpoint determined during the dynamic calibration.