9.

Governors

9.1 Introduction

The function of the governor, as applied to engines, is to adjust the supply of fuel according to
the load requirements so as to keep the speeds at various loads as close to the mean speed as
possible, over long range of working of the engine. Its function is distinct from that of a
flywheel, which acts as a reservoir and keeps the speed within certain limits of the mean speed
during the thermodynamic cycles. The function of a flywheel is continuous from cycle to cycle,
nut that of governor it is more or less intermittent i.e. it reacts only whenever there is variation
of load.

In brief governor takes care of the change of speed due to load variation over periods of the
engine’s running and tends to keep it as close to the mean speed as possible, where as the
flywheel is responsible only in keeping the speed fluctuations, during each cycle within certain
permissible limits of the mean speed. As such, one cannot be replaced by the other.

The table below summarizes the comparison between the functions of flywheel and governor.

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9.2 Principle of Operation and Terminologies

When the load on an engine increases or decreases its speed will obviously decrease or
increase respectively (to the extent of variation of load). This variation of speed has to be
controlled by the governor, within small limits of the mean speed. This necessitates that when
the load increases and consequently the speed decreases, the supply of fuel to one engine has
to be increased accordingly, to compensate for the loss of the speed, so as to bring back the
speed close to the mean speed. Conversely when the load decreases, and the speed increases,
the supply of fuel has to be reduced. This implies that the governor should have its mechanism
working in such a way, that the supply of fuel is automatically regulated according to the load
requirement for maintaining approximately a constant speed.

There are some general terms used in governors that describe the qualities of governor. These
terms are as:

1. Height of governor: It is the vertical distance between the centers of the governor balls
and the point of intersection between the upper arms on the axis of spindle is known as
governor height, h.
2. Equilibrium speeds: The speeds at which the governor balls, the arms, etc. are in
complete equilibrium and the sleeve does not tend to move upward or downward are
called the equilibrium speeds. The speed at the mean position of the balls or sleeve is
the mean equilibrium speed and at the minimum and maximum radius of rotation of the
balls without tending to move either way are termed as maximum and minimum
equilibrium speeds respectively. There can be many equilibrium speeds between the
mean and maximum and the mean and minimum equilibrium speeds.
3. Sleeve lift: The vertical distance the sleeve travels due to change in the equilibrium
speed is called the sleeve lift. The vertical downward travel may be termed as negative
lift.
4. Effort of governor: A governor running at a constant speed is in equilibrium and the
resultant force acting on the sleeve is zero. If the speed of the governor increases there
is a force on the sleeve which tends to lift it. This force will gradually go on decreasing
till the governor starts rotating in equilibrium at the new position of rotation. The mean
force acting on the sleeve for a given change of speed or lift of the sleeve is known as
the governor effort.
5. Controlling force: The force radially acting upon the rotating balls to counteract its
centrifugal force is called the controlling force. It is provided by weight of the sleeve,
central load on the sleeve, compressed spring and the weight of the balls.
6. Isochronism: This is an extreme case of sensitiveness. When the equilibrium speed is
constant for all radii of rotation of the balls within the working range, the governor is
said to be in isochronisms. This means that the difference between the maximum and
minimum equilibrium speeds is zero and the sensitiveness shall be infinite.
7. Hunting: The phenomenon of continuous fluctuation of the engine speed above and
below the mean speed is termed as hunting. This occurs in over-sensitive or isochronous
governors.

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 Suppose an isochronous governor is fitted to an engine running at a steady load. With a
slight increase of load, the speed will fall and the sleeve will immediately fall to its
lowest position. Thus shall open the control valve wide and excess supply of energy will
be given, with the result that the speed will rapidly increase and the sleeve will rise to its
higher position. As a result of this movement of the sleeve, the control valve will be cut
off; the supply to the engine and the speed will again fall, the cycle being repeated
indefinitely. Such a governor would admit either more or less amount of the fuel and so
effect would be that the engine would hunt.

8. Sensitiveness: Sensitivity of governors is defined as the change in level of the revolving

balls corresponding to a change of speed. Sensitivity depends upon the lift of the sleeve:
the greater the lift of the sleeve corresponding to a given fractional change in speed, the
greater the sensitivity.

9.3 Classification of Governors

Governors are classified based upon two different principles. These are:

1. Centrifugal governors
2. Inertial governors

9.3.1 Centrifugal governors

General Working Principle

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. It consists of two balls of
equal mass attached to arms. These balls are known as governor balls or fly balls. The balls
revolve with a spindle, which is driven by the engine through gear drives.

The working principles of four types of centrifugal governors are given below.

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9.3.1.1 The Watt type governor

Probably the most widely used governor in the

early days, it is named the Watt governor because
James Watt applied it to his early steam engines.
He did not however invent it as it had been in use
on wind and water mills many years before this.

A belt or gearing from the engine crankshaft drives

the input shaft 'm' causing the bevel gears 'l' to
revolve and in turn rotate the vertical shaft 'a'. The
bracket 'b' at the top of 'a' supports two arms 'c'
which are pivoted at the top, at the end of the
arms are two very heavy metal weights 'B'
partway along the arms 'c' are fixed two pivoted
link arms ‘d’ which link to a collar 'c' which rotates
with them but is able to slide up and down shaft
'a'.

The up and down motion of this collar is followed

by a pair of pins 'f' which move a bell crank 'g'
which is in turn linked to a throttle actuating rod 'i'
linked to a throttle or butterfly valve in the supply
of steam to the engines cylinder which can allow
more or less steam through.

At rest, the governor weights are held in the lowest position by gravity, the throttle will be in its
most open position. As the engine speed increases these weights rotate faster until centrifugal
force exceeds that of gravity and they fly further outwards and as a result of the linkages,
upwards, this movement is transmitted to the throttle valve which begins to close. The faster
the governor is driven the further out the weights move and the more the throttle is closed,
until the amount of steam it lets through balances the demand and the engine speed stabilizes.

If the load the engine drives is reduced it will increase speed, the governor restricts steam flow
more until the speed stabilizes, if load is added to the engine the speed drops, the throttle is
opened more and more steam allowed in to compensate for the demand.

The Watt governor is a simple governor but is not accurate where very fine control of speeds is
needed and so was superseded in many applications by more specialized and accurate
governors, however for many agricultural and pumping engines where absolute speed was not
essential it survived and can still be seen on numerous preserved engines.

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9.3.1.2 The Porter Governor

The Porter Governor was the first effective High

Speed engine governor, Designed by the American
engineer George Porter. The governor is driven via
a pulley (k) through a set of bevel gears (not
shown) a vertical shaft (d) is rotated, this in turn
drives from above the governor balls (a), through
linkages (c) the large and heavy governor
deadweight (b) is also rotated, this is free to slide
up and down the shaft (d) but rotates at the same
speed as the balls.

As rotational speed increases centrifugal force acts

on the balls and they try to fly outwards, they are
restricted by the linkages (c) held by the weight of
the dead-weight (b), however, when a speed is
reached at which this force exceeds the resistance
imposed by the dead-weight they will lift the
weight up and be allowed move outwards.

This action lifts the collar at the base of the dead-

weight at point (f) this lifts the lever (g) which is
pivoted at point (e) the lever has a counterbalance
weight (h) and a dashpot or oil damper (i) which
prevents rapid movements of the governor
mechanism which can lead to the engine 'hunting'
which is unwanted speed fluctuations due to the sensitivity of the governor.

Linkage (l) moves up or down and is connected to the engine this controls the steam allowed
into the cylinder either by the amount allowed through a valve or the amount of time a valve is
open for, if the engine runs too fast either the quantity of steam allowed in will be reduced or it
will be let in for a shorter time, if the engine runs slower then either more steam is let in or it is
let in for a longer time.

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9.3.1.3 The Hartnell Governor

This design consists of a spring loaded

rotating sleeve which alters the position of a
bell crank and valve rod connected directly to
a control valve fitted into the steam inlet
pipe. The control valve either reduces or
increases steam admission to the engine as
required. When the steam engine increased
in speed, possibly due to reduced loading of
the engine, the fly balls would be forced out
by centrifugal force thus moving the sleeve
against, as in this case, spring tension. As the
fly balls moved out, the central sleeve would
be forced upwards which in turn moved the
bell crank, valve rod and control valve in the
correct direction to minimize steam flow and
therefore decrease the speed, of the slightly
over revving engine, back to its normal
operating speed.

The Hartnell Governor has better stability

against its strong spring, increased sensitivity
due to its high speed, much less hunting
(trying to maintain the engine at its correct
speed without overshooting) and the fly balls
moved roughly in a straight line parallel to
the ground.
.

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9.3.1.4 Proell Governor

The Proell Governor was used either on its

own controlling a throttle valve or other
valvegear, or as part of the Patented Proell
Governor and Valvegear.

This shows the 'stand alone' Proell

governor minus drive pulley or sprocket on
the input shaft, the lever to the left
transmits governor movement to whatever
speed control mechanism is fitted to the
engine, the handwheel on the right varies
the governor setting to alter the governed
speed.

9.3.2 Inertial governors

Principle of Working

The inertia type governors are fitted to the crankshaft or flywheel of an engine and so radically
in appearance from the centrifugal governors. The balls are so arranged that the inertia forces
caused by an angular acceleration or retardation of the shaft tend to alter their positions. The
amount of displacement of governor balls is controlled by the suitable springs and through the
governor mechanism, alters the fuel supply to the engine. This governor is more sensitive than
the centrifugal, but it becomes difficult to completely balance the revolving parts. For this
reasons centrifugal governors are more frequently used.