Difference between A Flywheel And A Governor

Sr.
No
.

Flywheel

Governor

1.

Maintains constant speed but

the means is different from
that of Governor.
Stores excess of rotational
energy from the power stroke
and supply back during nonpower strokes of the cycle

Maintains constant speed but the

means is different from that of
Flywheel.
Controls mean speed of the engine
under full/half/varying load conditions
by regulating the supply of working
fluid to the engine

2.

In this, there are energy

variations but runs the
crankshaft at constant speed
in each stroke of the cycle

When load on the engine increases,

speed decreases. It increases the flow
of fuel to keep the constant mean
speed

3.

Flywheel controls the speed

for one cycle only

Governor maintains constant mean

speed over a period of time.

4.

Flywheel is not required in all

the prime movers (engines)

Governor is required in all the prime

movers (engines)

5.

It is a heavy machine part

It is a relatively light machine part

6.

Has large moment of inertia

Relatively small moment of inertia

7.

Rotating part

8.

Running charges are less

9.
10.

Angular speed increases

while storing energy and
decreases during supply back
of energy
Crankshaft runs at constant
speed

Non- Rotating part

Running charges are high

Runs at mean speed under all loads

on the engine
Load increases speed decreases and
vice -varsa. But it controls the MEAN
speed by controlling the flow of fuel in

the engine

11.

There are no valves attached

with the flywheel

Valves are there and there opening is

controlled by the centrifugal force on
the balls attached

12
.

Flywheel does not need any

extra mechanism to supply
back energy

Governor needs a piston /plunger

mechanism

13
.

It absorbs energy from the

high momentum generated in
power stroke and engine
running smooth in non power
strokes

It controls the air supply to the

carburetor and fuel supply to the
engine

14
.

It is connected to the crank

shaft and runs it at a constant
speed

15
.

It is an energy storing device

and prevents the fluctuations
of energy during each cycle of
operation of the engine.

16
.

It is a wheel and only its size

may differ from one machine
to another

There is a large variety of governors

used in different prime movers

17
.

Flywheel is a fairly rigid

structure and undergoes no
changes while in operation

A governor undergoes changes while

in operation

18
.

It is not connected to the crankshaft

It is not an energy storing device.

Short term energy storage

A long term speed controller as per

load on the prime mover

19
.

Used in reciprocating steam

and IC engines

Used in riveting machines to store

energy from the motor and release
the energy during the riveting
operation Used in SI and CI engines

20
.

It cannot change the speed of

the crankshaft

It is used to limit the speed.

21.

Flywheel supply back energy

as when required

Power is supplied to the governor

from the engine shaft

22.

Energy stored in a flywheel is

directly proportional to the
square of its rotational speed

There is no such relation

Centrifugal

Inertia

- Works on the principle of balancing of centrifugal forces.

- Works on the principle of moment of inertia

- Not directly attached to the engine shaft

- Directly attached to the engine shaft

- Masses rotate in horizontal plane

- Masses rotate in vertical plane

- Preferred over inertia governors when balancing of revolving

masses is an issue.

- Preferred over centrifugal governors when more rapid response to

needed.