Unit 10.1.

1 D
ENGINE GOVERNORS
WHAT IS A GOVERNOR?
1. A governor is a device used to regulate the mean speed of an engine, when there
are variations in the load.
As we all know that as the load increases on an engine, its speed reduces.
Therefore, its mandatory to increase the supply of fuel. In other cases, as the load
on the engine decreases its speed increase which in turn requires less supply of fuel.
So, the governor automatically maintains the supply of fuel despite varying load
conditions and this keeps the mean speed constant.
Governors can be used to limit the top speed for vehicles and for some classes of
vehicles, such devices are a legal requirement. They can be more generally used to
limit the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine or protect the engine
from damage due to excessive rotational speed.
TYPES OF GOVERNORS
2. There are two main types of governors which are the centrifugal governors and
the inertia governors.
Centrifugal governors (aka Mechanical Governor) are controlled by gravity, the
centrifugal force created by revolving masses is largely balanced by gravity. The
centrifugal governor can also be spring controlled whereby the centrifugal force is
largely balanced by springs.
Construction of Mechanical Governor:
The Construction of a Centrifugal Governor is simple and easy to understand. To
perform the governor operation, it requires few parts. They are
• Spindle
• Arms
• Supporting Links
• Bell Cranks
• Fly Balls
• Sleeve
These whole parts will be combined in such way that they can work according to the
principle.
• This type of governor contains masses known as Governor Balls that
revolve at a distance from the axis of a shaft and are powered by the engine
crankshaft via adequate gearing, which is Bevel Gearing.
• The Balls are linked to the Arms by two balls of each and equal mass. These
balls are linked by a mix of dead weight and a spring.
• The Spindle Axis is attached to the Sleeve and is powered by a bevel gear
mechanism that is linked to the Crankshaft, due to which the bevel gearing
rotates and further the centrifugal or mechanical governor too.
• The Throttle Valve is connected to the sleeves and is controlled by
the engines speed change. As the load raises, the velocity of the ball and
the governor, which is geared with the crankshaft decreases.
Centrifugal Governor or Mechanical Governor is further subdivided into three
categories.
1. Pendulum Type of Governor
Watt Governor is the one and only one example in the Pendulum type of Mechanical
Governor.
2. Spring Loaded governor/Spring Control Governor
There are four examples of spring-controlled governor. These are:
• Hartnell Governor
• Wilson Hartnell Governor
• Hartung Governor
• Pickering Governor
3. Gravity Loaded Governor
There are two types of gravity loaded governors, they are as follows
• Porter Governor
• Proell Governor
Working of Mechanical Governor:
The governor consists of several components, including a bevel gear arrangement, a
drive shaft, a spindle, a sliding sleeve, weights (fly balls), linkages, and arms. As the
governor spins faster, the fly balls move outward due to centrifugal force, causing
the sliding sleeve to move upward. This movement is connected to a valve system
that controls the flow of fuel to an engine. The governor automatically adjusts the
fuel flow based on the engine's speed, maintaining a desired operating range. As
said, the Centrifugal Governor works by balancing centrifugal force on rotating balls
with an equal and opposing Radial Force.
When the strain on the engine is reduced, the engine speed increases hence the
supply of fuel should be decreased to reach the set speed limit. As a result, the
centrifugal forces acting on the balls rises and the balls move radially in the outward
direction, due to which the throttle valve will partially close.
When the strain on the engine is increased, the engine speed decreases hence the
supply of fuel should be increased to reach the set speed limit. As a result, the
centrifugal forces acting on the balls curves inward and the balls move radially in the
inward direction causing the throttle valve to open fully.
Therefore, the governor automatically controls the supply of working fluid to the
engine with the varying load conditions and keep the mean speed within the set
limits.
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 centre 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 is
known as maximum and minimum equilibrium speeds respectively.
NB: check the animation link on how the mechanical governor works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUVJgUnNb4Y
The most widely used centrifugal governors are:
a. Watt Governor
This type of governor is one of the first to be used by James Watt on some of his
early steam engines. It is used for engines with little velocity which is why it has
become obsolete. Two arms are hinged at the top of the spindle and two revolving
balls are fitted on the other ends of the arms. One end of each of the links are
hinged with the arms, while the other ends is hinged with the sleeve, which may
slide over the spindle. The speed of the crankshaft is transmitted to the spindle
through a pair of bevel gears using suitable arrangement. So, the rotation of the
spindle of the governor causes the weights to move away from the center due to the
centrifugal force. This makes the sleeve move in the upward direction. This
movement of the sleeve is transmitted by the lever to the throttle valve which
partially closes or opens the steam pipe and reduces or increases the supply of
steam to the engine, the engine speed may be adjusted to a normal limit. The watt
governor is still used in ships and train engines it is also used on AC generators to
maintain the electricity supply with the load increase on it.
b. Porter Governor
This type of governor is made up of two or more balls called the governor balls
which rotate about the axis of the governor shaft which is driven through suitable
gearing from the engine crankshaft. The governor balls are attached to the arms.
The lower arms are attached to the sleeve which acts as a central weight. If the
speed of the rotation of the balls increases owing to a decrease of load on the
engine, the governor balls fly outwards and the sleeve moves upwards thus closing
the fuel passage till the engine speed comes back to its designed speed. If the
engine speed decrease owing to an increase of load, the governor balls fly inwards
and the sleeve moves downwards thus opening the fuel passage for more oil till the
engine speed comes back to its designed speed. The engine is said to be running at
its designed speed when the outward inertia or centrifugal force is just balanced by
the inward controlling force. The following general equation can be used for
calculations with the porter governor:
Task: find out the various types of Governors and how they work, how to
calculate their height and speed.