Lecture five:

Governors

Eng. Mohamed Elabbas Douka DAEE214

 Contents
• Introduction
• Type of governors
• Centrifugal governors
• Terms used in governors
• Watt governors
• Porter governors
• Proell governors

• DAEE214
 Introduction
• The function of a governor is to regulate the
mean speed of an engine, when there are
variations in the load e.g. when the load on an
engine increases, its speed decreases, therefore it
becomes necessary to increase the supply of
working fluid.
• On the other hand, when the load on the engine
decreases, its speed increases and thus less
working fluid is required.
• The governor automatically controls the supply
of working fluid to the engine with the varying
load conditions and keeps the mean speed
within certain limits.
 Types of governors
• Generally governors are classified into

1. Centrifugal Governors
2. Inertia governors
 Centrifugal governors
• The centrifugal governors are based on the balancing of centrifugal force on the rotating
balls by an equal and opposite radial force, known as the controlling force (The controlling
force is provided either by the action of gravity as in Watt governor or by a spring as in case
of Hartnell governor).
• It consists of two balls of equal mass, which are attached to the arms as shown in the figure.
These balls are known as governor balls or fly balls. The balls revolve with a spindle, which
is driven by the engine through bevel gears.
• The upper ends of the arms are pivoted to the spindle, so that the balls may rise up or fall
down as they revolve about the vertical axis. The arms are connected by the links to a sleeve,
which is keyed to the spindle. This sleeve revolves with the spindle ; but can slide up and
down. The balls and the sleeve rises when the spindle speed increases, and falls when the
speed decreases. In order to limit the travel of the sleeve in upward and downward
directions, two stops S, S are provided on the spindle.
• The sleeve is connected by a bell crank lever to a throttle valve. The supply of the working
fluid decreases when the sleeve rises and increases when it falls
Centrifugal governors
Centrifugal governors
Centrifugal governors
 Terms used in governors
The following terms used in governors are important from the subject point of view ;
• 1. Height of a governor. It is the vertical distance from the center of the ball to a
point where the axes of the arms (or arms produced) intersect on the spindle axis.
It is usually denoted by h.
• 2. Equilibrium speed. It is the speed at which the governor balls, arms etc., are in
complete equilibrium and the sleeve does not tend to move upwards or
downwards.
• 3. Mean equilibrium speed. It is the speed at the mean position of the balls or the
sleeve.
• 4. Maximum and minimum equilibrium speeds. The speeds at the maximum and
minimum radius of rotation of the balls, without tending to move either way are
known as maximum and minimum equilibrium speeds respectively.
• 5. Sleeve lift. It is the vertical distance which the sleeve travels due to change in
equilibrium speed.
 Watt governor
• The simplest form of a centrifugal governor is a Watt governor, basically a
conical pendulum with links attached to a sleeve of negligible mass. The
arms of the governor may be connected to the spindle in the following three
ways :
1. The pivot P, may be on the spindle axis as shown in Figure (a).
2. The pivot P, may be offset from the spindle axis and the arms when produced
intersect at O, as shown in Figure (b).
3. The pivot P, may be offset,
but the arms cross the axis
at O, as shown in Fig. 18.2 (c).
 Watt governor
Let m = Mass of the ball in kg,
w = Weight of the ball in newtons = m.g,
T = Tension in the arm in newtons,
ω = Angular velocity of the arm and ball about the spindle axis in rad/s,
r = Radius of the path of rotation of the ball i.e. horizontal distance from the
center of the ball to the spindle axis in meters,
FC = Centrifugal force acting on the ball in newtons = m.ω2.r, and
h = Height of the governor in meters.
 Watt governor
• It is assumed that the weight of the arms, links and the sleeve are negligible as
compared to the weight of the balls. Now, the ball is in equilibrium under the action
of
• 1. the centrifugal force (FC) acting on the ball,
• 2. the tension (T) in the arm, and
• 3. the weight (w) of the ball.
• Taking moments about point O, we have
FC × h = w × r = m.g.r
or m.ω2.r.h = m.g.r or h = g /ω2 . . .
When g is expressed in m/s2 and ω in rad/s, then h is in metres. If N is the speed in
r.p.m., then
ω = 2π N/60

9.81 895
∴ h= = 2 (∵ g = 9.81 m/s2)
2π N/60 𝑁
 Watt governor
• Example Calculate the vertical height of a Watt governor when it rotates at 60 r.p.m. Also
find the change in vertical height when its speed increases to 61 r.p.m.
• Solution. Given : N1 = 60 r.p.m. ; N2 = 61 r.p.m.
Initial height
We know that initial height
895 895
h= = = 0.248 m
𝑁2 602
Change in vertical height
We know that final height
895 895
h= = = 0.24 m
𝑁2 612
• Change in vertical height
= h1 – h2 = 0.248 – 0.24 = 0.008 m = 8 mm Ans
Porter governor
 Porter governors
Let m = Mass of each ball in kg,
w = Weight of each ball in newtons = m.g,
M = Mass of the central load in kg,
W = Weight of the central load in newtons = M.g,
r = Radius of rotation in metres,
h = Height of governor in metres ,
N = Speed of the balls in r.p.m .,
ω = Angular speed of the balls in rad/s = 2 πN/60 rad/s,
FC = Centrifugal force acting on the ball in newtons = m.ω2.r,
T1 = Force in the arm in newtons,
T2 = Force in the link in newtons,
α = Angle of inclination of the arm (or upper link) to the vertical, and
β = Angle of inclination of the link (or lower link) to the vertical.
 𝑀
Porter governors
𝑚+ (1+𝑞) 895 tan 𝛽
2
N2 = x ∵ (g = 9.81 m/s2) ( =q )
𝑚 ℎ 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛼

• When the length of arms are equal to the length of links and the points P and D lie
on the same vertical line, then
tan α = tan β or q = tan α / tan β = 1
Therefore, the equation becomes
2 (𝑚+𝑀) 895
N = x
𝑚 ℎ

(𝑚+𝑀) 𝑔
h= x 2
𝑚 𝜔
 Porter governors
• Example A Porter governor has equal arms
each 250 mm long and pivoted on the axis of
rotation. Each ball has a mass of 5 kg and
the mass of the central load on the sleeve is
25 kg. The radius of rotation of the ball is
150 mm when the governor begins to lift
and 200 mm when the governor is at
maximum speed. Find the minimum and
maximum speeds and range of speed of the
governor.
 Porter governors
• Minimum speed when r1 = BG = 0.15 m
• Let N1 = Minimum speed.
we find that height of the governor,
h 1= PG = 𝑃𝐵 2 − 𝐵𝐺 2 = 0.25 2 − 0.15 2 = 0.2 m
(𝑚+𝑀) 895 (5+15) 895
N12 = x = x = 17900
𝑚 ℎ 5 0.2
N1 = 133.8 RPM
Maximum speed when r2 = BG = 0.2 m
h 1= PG = 𝑃𝐵 2 − 𝐵𝐺 2 = 0.25 2 − 0.2 2 = 0.15 m
(𝑚+𝑀) 895 (5+15) 895
N22 = x = x = 23867
𝑚 ℎ 5 0.15
N2 = 154.5 RPM
• We know that range of speed
• = N2 – N1 = 154.4 – 133.8 = 20.7 RPM
Proell governors
 Proell governors
𝑀
2
𝐹𝑀 𝑚+ 2 (1+𝑞) 895 tan 𝛽
N = ∵ (g = 9.81 m/s2) ( =q )
𝐵𝑀 𝑚 ℎ 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛼

When α = β, then q = 1. Therefore the equation may be written as

𝐹𝑀 𝑚+𝑀 895
• N2 =
𝐵𝑀 𝑚 ℎ
 Proell governors
• Example A Proell governor has equal
arms of length 300 mm. The upper and
lower ends of the arms are pivoted on the
axis of the governor. The extension arms of
the lower links are each 80 mm long and
parallel to the axis when the radii of
rotation of the balls are 150 mm and 200
mm. The mass of each ball is 10 kg and the
mass of the central load is 100 kg.
Determine the range of speed of the
governor.
 Proell governors
𝑀
2
𝐹𝑀 𝑚+ 2 (1+𝑞) 895 tan 𝛽
N = ∵ (g = 9.81 m/s2) ( =q )
𝐵𝑀 𝑚 ℎ 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛼

When α = β, then q = 1. Therefore the equation may be written as

𝐹𝑀 𝑚+𝑀 895
N2 =
𝐵𝑀 𝑚 ℎ
 Proell governors
• Given : PF = DF = 300 mm ; BF = 80 mm ; m = 10 kg ; M = 100 kg ; r1 = 150
mm; r2 = 200 mm
• First of all, let us find the minimum and maximum speed of the governor.
The minimum and maximum position of the governor is shown in the
Figure
Let N1 = Minimum speed when radius of rotation, r1 = FG = 150 mm ; and
N2 = Maximum speed when radius of rotation , r2 = FG = 200 mm.
we find that height of the governor, in the first case
h 1= PG = 𝑃𝐹 2 − 𝐹𝐺 2 = (300)2 − 150 2 = 260 mm = 0.26 m

FM = GD = PG = 260 mm = 0.26 m
BM = BF + FM = 80 + 260 = 340 mm = 0.34 m
 Proell governors
𝐹𝑀 𝑚+𝑀 895
We know that (N1 = )2
𝐵𝑀 𝑚 ℎ
0.26 10+100 895
2
(N1) = = 28596 = N1 = 170 r.p.m.
0.34 10 0.26
We find the height of the governer , in teh second case
h 1= PG = 𝑃𝐹 2 − 𝐹𝐺 2 = (300)2 − 200 2 = 224 mm= 0.224 m
FM = GD = PG = 224 mm = 0.224 m
∴ BM = BF + FM = 80 + 224 = 304 mm = 0.304 m
𝐹𝑀 𝑚+𝑀 895
We know that (N2)2 =
𝐵𝑀 𝑚 ℎ
0.224 10+100 895
(N2)2 = = 32385 = N2 = 180 r.p.m.
0.304 10 0.224
We know that range of speed
= N2 – N1 = 180 – 170 = 10 r.p.m.
Thank you

• DAEE214