1

Electric Governors

Electric governors have become in favour due to

their compact size, rapid response and high reliability allied
to low maintenance costs.
The main part of the governor is the controller and
signal amplifier. This receives a D.C. signal proportional to
the engine speed and compares it to a speed set signal. The
difference between the measured value (engine speed) and
the set value is the offset, this offset value is passed to the
output circuit which produces an appropriate output signal .
In this case, a signal which raises or lowers the fuel rack by
an amount dependent on the degree of offset. This system is
inherently stable due to the feedback layout.
For this system the engine speed is measured using
an alternator driven off the camshaft- this is a common
arrangement. The speed set signal is typically supplied by the
bridge control arrangement via the engine management
system.
 2

An arrangement for a generator set might replace

the camshaft driven alternator with a tapping off the
alternator output. The frequency of the alternator output is
now the measured value. In addition a load sensing element
can be introduced detecting changes in current flow. For
increased current, that is an increased electrical load, the
governor can act to supply increased fuel before the engine
has began to slow.