Governors Flashcards
True or false: Governors are mechanisms used to control and maintain the speed of a prime mover.
True
With governors, it is very important to verify that the overspeed trip functions correctly and that the fuel or steam supply does not pass by the trip valve. How is this done on small steam turbines?
By manually tripping the overspeed system and partially opening the supply valve.
If any steam or air passes by the trip valve, the overspeed trip may need adjustments or the trip valve and seat may need repair.
How would a governor shut off an engine in an overspeed situation?
By shutting the air inlet to the intake manifold.
True or false: Do not attempt to run up a prime mover without having a functional emergency trip system.
True
When placing a new governor into service, typically the only requirement for the millwright is to fill the governor reservoir with the proper oil and adjust the speed at initial start up. What is the recommendation for the speed setting at start up?
Set the speed lower than required, and increase as needed.
True or false: Typically, governors can be serviced in-house.
False
Some less complex mechanical governors can be serviced in-house, but most require being sent back to the OEM for servicing.
How can the operating speed be adjusted on simple mechanical governors?
By adjusting spring tension
The speed setting can be adjusted by varying the compressive force on the spring.
What are three things that should be checked on mechanical governors during a prime mover overhaul?
- Knife edges and pivot points are in good condition
- Sliding parts are not binding or sticking when moving
- Anti-friction bearings have no wear
This is for a prime mover overhaul ⟶ a governor overhaul should be completed by the OEM.
What does dirt or sludge in the housing of a governor usually indicate?
That it is time to dismantle and governor and perform a thorough cleaning and inspection.
In mechanical-hydraulic governors, large quantities of oil are continually circulated through the hydraulic side of the governor system. What issues can be caused by dirt and grit in the system?
Sticky relays, valves, or servo rams.
When should governors be overhauled (2 things)?
- During an engine or turbine overhaul
- Anytime there is contaimination in the hydraulic system
What are four things that should be done/checked when dismantling a governor and inspecting it for wear or damage?
- Replace all gaskets and seals
- Check linkages for smooth operation
- Clean and check all lines and passageways for blockages
- Flush all parts with the correct hydraulic oil
Some of the seals may break down in the presence of wrong oils.
What are six items that should be completed during routine preventative maintenance of a governor?
- Lubricate all linkages
- Replace worn parts
- Check all clearances
- Inspect the throttle valve
- Clean and inspect the trip valve
- Replace valve stem packing as needed
________ automatically control the speed of a prime mover under varying load conditions
Governors
What are three functions that a governor performs when automatically controlling the speed of a primer mover?
- Maintain the selected speed
- Limit the slow and fast speeds
- Shut down the prime mover if it over speeds
Identify the detection, transmission, and correction of this basic law mower governor:
Detection → vane
Transmission → the linkage
Correction → throttle valve
At start up, what would be the position of the fuel admission valve (steam admission valve, throttle valve, etc.) when controlled by a governor?
Fully open
The valve would be fully open
True or false: Governors operate on the principle of two opposing forces acting against each other.
True
These forces could be springs vs. airflow, etc.
True or false: Governors are fully open at start.
True
What three components are common to all types of automatic governor control?
- Detection
- Transmission
- Correction
All governors must include these three components.
True or false: Most governors on spark ignition engines allow an engine to fire steadily regardless of load, while varying the fuel to air ratio, either by speeding up or slowing down the engine.
True
What valve does the governor in a spark ignition engine actuate to control the speed?
The throttle valve
This valve is located in the intake passage between the carburetor and the manifold and controls the air-fuel mixture entering the engine.
What causes the diaphragm of a governor in a spark ignition engine to move?
Vacuum
Airflow into the engine ↑ = Vacuum ↑
When it comes to governors, what is the detection component of the governor?
This is what detects a change in the operating conditions of the prime mover
It is not the change itself (RPM, vacuum, airflow, etc.) rather what detects this change (diaphragm, flyweights, spring, etc.).
Is Brett gay?
a) He’s too grabby to be otherwise
b) It seems likely
b) It seems likely
This is to see if anyone is even doing these cards.
What are the two most common types of throttle valve governors?
- Vacuum (automatic)
- Flyweights (centrifugal)
These most commonly find use in engines.
Identify the detection, transmission, and correction of the following vacuum governor:
Detection → diaphragm
Transmission → linkage
Correction → Throttle valve
The diaphragm detects the change in vacuum due to an increase air flow into the engine.
What does a governor on a diesel engine change to regulate the speed of the engine?
The amount of fuel injected into the cylinders.
This usually adjusts the fuel rail, which rotates the plunger in the pumps.
Identify the sensing component of the following centrifugal mechanical governor:
Sensing → spring and flyweights
Sensing = detection
What would happen in a mechanical centrifugal governor if the spring were to break?
The governor would close, resulting in a slowing of the prime mover
What are the two independent speed control functions provided by governors on steam turbines?
- Operating the SAV (speed control)
- Over speed control
True or false: With a governor, a hydraulic cylinder controlling fuel flow belongs to the correction component of the governor.
False
This would be in the transmission component section.
The only things that will be found in the correction component section are things like throttle valves, SAVs, etc.
True or false: The overspeed trip mechanism must be verified as working before setting a new governors speed setting.
True
What are the two opposing forces that sense speed in a mechanical-hydraulic governor?
Spring pressure and centrifugal force
What is the angle formed between the flyweights and toes in a flyweight governor?
90º
What causes the spring to compress on the overspeed trip pin assembly?
Centrifugal force
What are the two opposing forces that sense speed in a diaphragm type governor?
Spring force and air (vacuum) pressure
What is the correction component of a governor on a steam turbine?
The SAV
Identify the detection, transmission, and correction components of the following mechanical-hydraulic governor:
Detection ⟶ the ballhead
Transmission ⟶ pilot valve/hydraulic fluid/spring
Correction ⟶ SAV
With gas turbines, the governors must control both the fuel flow as well as the acceleration and deceleration rates. Why is this?
Gas turbines do not respond well to quick changes in throttle position due to the inertia of the rotor.
If the governor controlled just fuel flow, if fuel flow was decreased too rapidly, it would result in a a too lean air-fuel mixture, and if increased too rapidly, would result in a too rich air-fuel mixture.
What are four parameters that must be monitored by a gas turbine governor?
- actuator position
- turbine rpm
- compressor air inlet temperature and pressure
- combustor or compressor discharge pressure
What is an isochronous governor?
A governor that maintains an exact, constant speed without any fluctuation.
Which type of governor would be selected if an exact, constant speed without any fluctuation was required?
An isochronous governor
This type of governor controls driver speed at any settings between a minimum and maximum speed, while still holding the driver at a steady speed.
A variable speed governor
What is the main difference between an isochronous governor and a variable speed governor?
The speed setting on a variable speed governor can be adjusted.
Once adjusted, a variable speed governor will hold the driver at a steady speed.
With a variable speed governor using flyweights to sense the speed, how is the speed selection adjusted?
By changing the force on the spring that opposes the centrifugal force on the flyweights.
This is usually done with a screw or lever that either reduces or increases the spring tension.
This type of governor is used to prevent overspeeding of the driver.
A speed-limiting control governor
These are common on diesel tractor-trailer units.
True or false: A speed-limiting governor will shut down the unit if it overspeeds.
False
A speed limiting governor does not shut down the unit if it overspeed, instead only limits the speed to a miximum.
What is the main use of pressure regulating governors?
To ensure constant pumping pressure on pipelines
When the pump runs faster, the pipeline pressure increases.
What are three ways that a pressure regulating control governor can sense pressure from the process?
- piston
- diaphragm
- bellows
How would the speed be adjusted on the following pressure regulating governor?
By varying the orifice size of the needle valve
This would allow more pressure to be bled off, resulting in less reaching the the fuel control device.
What are the two opposing forces in a pressure regulating governor?
Spring tension vs. process pressure
What would be the detection, transmission, and correction component in the following pressure regulating governor?
Detection ⟶ bellows
Transmission ⟶ rod between bellows and valve
Correction ⟶ fuel control device