Method for determining a flow rate through a valve

1. A method for determining a flow rate (Q) through an on-off valve ( 1 ), an on state and an off state of the valve being controlled by means of a pulse width modulated control signal (C) generated by a processing unit in communication with the on-off valve, the control signal (C) operating in accordance with a control cycle (D) and updating at a rate defined by a plurality of update periods (c) occurring over a course of the control cycle (D) said update period (c) being a divisor of said control cycle (D), said method comprising:

carrying out, at the processing unit and at a frequency defined by a determination period (d), a determination of a position (α) of the valve ( 1 ), and a calculation of an estimated flow rate (Q) based on the determined position (α) of the valve ( 1 ),

wherein the determination period (d) is shorter than or equal to the update period (c) of the control signal (C), and the determination period is synchronized with the control signal (C),

said processing unit operating to refresh the estimated flow rate (Q) through said on-off valve ( 1 ) at each determination period (d).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein calculating the estimated flow rate (Q) includes each of:

determining an elementary flow rate (q) through the valve ( 1 ), based on the determined position (α) of the valve ( 1 ); and

integrating the elementary flow rate (q) over the determination period (d) to obtain the estimated flow rate (Q).

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the steps of determining a position (α) and determining an elementary flow rate (q) are executed at a frequency defined by a period (e), where said period (e) is a divisor of the determination period (d).

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 ,

wherein the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is determined as being open (O) when the control signal (C) has been in an active state for a time longer than an opening reaction time (Tro), and

wherein the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is determined as being closed (F) when the control signal (C) has been in an inactive state for a time longer than a closing reaction time (Trf).

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 ,

wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined by the processing unit as being equal to a maximum flow rate (Qmax) when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is open (O), and

wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined by the processing unit as being equal to a zero flow rate when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is closed (F).

6. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined to be equal to a maximum flow rate (Qmax) when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) has been open (O) for more than a starting time (Td), and comprises a first-order starting transient between a zero flow rate, at an opening of the valve ( 1 ), and a maximum flow rate (Qmax), reached after a starting time (Td) following the opening of the valve ( 1 ), the starting time (Td) being a function of a differential pressure (π) between upstream and downstream sides of the valve ( 1 ).

7. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined to be equal to a zero flow rate when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) has been open (F) for more than an ending time (Tf), and comprises a first-order ending transient between a maximum flow rate (Qmax), at a closing of the valve ( 1 ), and the zero flow rate, reached after an ending time (Tf) following a closing of the valve ( 1 ), the ending time (Tf) being a function of a differential pressure (π) between upstream and downstream sides of the valve ( 1 ).

8. The method as claimed in claim 2 ,

wherein the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is determined as being open (O) when the control signal (C) has been in an active state for a time longer than an opening reaction time (Tro), and

wherein the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is determined as being closed (F) when the control signal (C) has been in an inactive state for a time longer than a closing reaction time (Trf).

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the opening reaction time (Tro) and the closing reaction time (Trf) are determined by the processing unit as a function of a temperature (θ) obtained by the processing unit from a temperature sensor, a differential pressure (π) between upstream ( 4 ) and downstream ( 5 ) sides of the valve ( 1 ) obtained by the processing unit from a temperature sensor, and a maximum amplitude (Cmax) of the control signal (C).

10. The method as claimed in claim 8 ,

wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined by the processing unit as being equal to a maximum flow rate (Qmax) when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is open (O), and

wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined by the processing unit as being equal to a zero flow rate when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is closed (F).

11. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined to be equal to a maximum flow rate (Qmax) when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) has been open (O) for more than a starting time (Td), and comprises a first-order starting transient between a zero flow rate, at an opening of the valve ( 1 ), and a maximum flow rate (Qmax), reached after a starting time (Td) following the opening of the valve ( 1 ), the starting time (Td) being a function of a differential pressure (π) between upstream and downstream sides of the valve ( 1 ).

12. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined to be equal to a zero flow rate when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) has been open (F) for more than an ending time (Tf), and comprises a first-order ending transient between a maximum flow rate (Qmax), at a closing of the valve ( 1 ), and the zero flow rate, reached after an ending time (Tf) following a closing of the valve ( 1 ), the ending time (Tf) being a function of a differential pressure (π) between upstream and downstream sides of the valve ( 1 ).

13. The method as claimed in claim 2 ,

wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined by the processing unit as being equal to a maximum flow rate (Qmax) if when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is open (O), and

wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined by the processing unit as being equal to a zero flow rate when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) is closed (F).

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the maximum flow rate (Qmax) is a function of a temperature (θ) and of a differential pressure (π) between upstream and downstream sides of the valve ( 1 ).

15. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined to be equal to a maximum flow rate (Qmax) when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) has been open (O) for more than a starting time (Td), and comprises a first-order starting transient between a zero flow rate, at an opening of the valve ( 1 ), and a maximum flow rate (Qmax), reached after a starting time (Td) following the opening of the valve ( 1 ), the starting time (Td) being a function of a differential pressure (π) between upstream and downstream sides of the valve ( 1 ).

16. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the elementary flow rate (q) is determined to be equal to a zero flow rate when the position (α) of the valve ( 1 ) has been open (F) for more than an ending time (Tf), and comprises a first-order ending transient between a maximum flow rate (Qmax), at a closing of the valve ( 1 ), and the zero flow rate, reached after an ending time (Tf) following a closing of the valve ( 1 ), the ending time (Tf) being a function of a differential pressure (π) between upstream and downstream sides of the valve ( 1 ).

17. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein wherein the determination period (d) is shorter than the update period (c) of the control signal (C).

18. The method as claimed in claim 1 , applied to a purge valve ( 1 ) of a fuel vapor filter ( 11 ).

19. A device implementing the method as claimed in claim 1 .

20. A vehicle comprising a device as claimed in claim 19 .