Article
Article
Governor
Article By:
Oldenburger, Rufus Automatic Control Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Davies, Donald Western Electricity Coordinating Council, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Last reviewed:November 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.296100
A device used to control the speed of a prime mover. A governor protects the prime mover from overspeeding and keeps the prime mover speed at or near the desired revolutions per minute. When a prime mover drives an alternator supplying electrical power at a given frequency, such as 60 Hz, a governor must be used to hold the prime mover at a speed that will yield this frequency. An unloaded engine will fly to pieces unless its speed is under governor control. See also: Prime mover
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