Governor

Globbet, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Introduction To Governors
A governor is a mechanical device that regulates the speed of a machine. It does this by automatically adjusting the amount of fuel or power that is being supplied to the machine. Governors are used in a wide variety of machines, including internal combustion engines, steam engines, wind turbines, and electric motors. There are two main types of governors: centrifugal governors and inertia governors. Centrifugal governors use the centrifugal force of rotating masses to control the speed of a machine. The faster the machine rotates, the greater the centrifugal force, which causes the rotating masses to move outward. This movement is used to control the machine's speed by adjusting the amount of fuel or power that is being supplied to it. Inertia governors use the inertia of rotating masses to control the speed of a machine. The faster the machine rotates, the greater the inertia of the rotating masses, which resists any changes in speed. This resistance is used to control the machine's speed by adjusting the amount of fuel or power that is being supplied to it. Governors are an important component of many machines. They are used to control the speed of machines, which is essential for ensuring that they operate safely and efficiently.
Function Of Governor
The function of the governor is to increase the supply of working fluid going to the prime mover when the load on the prime-mover increases and to decrease the supply when the load decreases so as to keep the speed of the prime-mover almost constant at different loads. The Governor mechanism is used to regulate the mean speed of an engine when there are variations in the load. For example, 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.
Classification of Governors
1. Centrifugal governors: - Pendulum type: Watt governor - Loaded type:     - Dead weight type:         (i) Porter governor         (ii) Proell governor     - Spring-loaded type:         (i) Hartnell governor         (ii) Hartung governor         (iii) Wilson–Hartnell governor         (iv) Pickering governor 2. Inertia governors: - These governors utilize the inertia forces caused by the angular acceleration of the engine shaft or flywheel for the movement of the balls. The movement of the balls is due to the rate of change of speed instead of the change in speed itself as in the case of centrifugal governors. Thus, these governors are more sensitive than centrifugal governors.
Construction of Governors
Governors are typically made up of the following components: - Rotating Masses: The rotating masses are the heart of the governor. They are typically made of heavy metal, such as lead or steel, and they are mounted on a spindle that rotates with the machine. - Bearings: The bearings support the rotating masses and allow them to rotate smoothly. - Links: The links connect the rotating masses to the governor's control mechanism. - Control Mechanism: The control mechanism is responsible for adjusting the amount of fuel or power that is being supplied to the machine.
Working of Governors
The working of a governor can be summarized as follows: 1. The rotating masses rotate with the machine. 2. The centrifugal force of the rotating masses increases as the machine's speed increases. 3. The increased centrifugal force causes the rotating masses to move outward. 4. The movement of the rotating masses is used to control the machine's speed by adjusting the amount of fuel or power that is being supplied to it.
Advantages of Governors
Governors have a number of advantages, including: - They can be used to control the speed of a wide variety of machines. - They are relatively simple and reliable. - They are relatively inexpensive.
Disadvantages of Governors
Governors also have a number of disadvantages, including: - They can be sensitive to changes in load. - They can be affected by vibration. - They can be difficult to adjust.
Applications of Governors
Governors are used in a wide variety of applications, including: - Internal combustion engines - Steam engines - Wind turbines - Electric motors - Pumps - Conveyor belts - Textile machines - Paper machines - Food processing machines
Conclusion
Governors are an important component of many machines. They are used to control the speed of machines, which is essential for ensuring that they operate safely and efficiently.