Steam & Gas Turbines Governors, Regulators and Performance topics include: Control, performance and supervisory instruments, direct speed and hydraulic speed responsive governors, speed and pressure regulators and their operation, effects of throttle governing, nozzle governing, temperature changes, compressibility effect, adiabatic efficiency, parson’s number and quality factor, surging and turbine performances. A steam turbine governor, also called regulator, is a component of the turbine control system that regulates the rotational speed of the turbine in response to changing load... Show more

Steam & Gas Turbines Governors, Regulators and Performance topics include: Control, performance and supervisory instruments, direct speed and hydraulic speed responsive governors, speed and pressure regulators and their operation, effects of throttle governing, nozzle governing, temperature changes, compressibility effect, adiabatic efficiency, parson’s number and quality factor, surging and turbine performances.

A steam turbine governor, also called regulator, is a component of the turbine control system that regulates the rotational speed of the turbine in response to changing load conditions. The governor output signal controls the position of the steam inlet valve or nozzles, which regulates the steam flow to the turbine. 

Steam turbine governing is the process of controlling the flow rate of steam into a steam turbine to maintain its speed of rotation. The flow rate is monitored and controlled by valves between the boiler and the turbine. 
A steam turbine governor can be mechanical-hydraulic or electrical. They all include a pilot valve, or controller, which modulates the turbine's inlet valve to keep the shaft speed on set point. 

Here are some methods of steam turbine governing:
Nozzle governing: Regulates the flow rate of steam by opening and closing sets of nozzles.
Bypass governing: Opens bypass valves to introduce fresh steam into the later stages of the turbine. This method is used when the turbine is overloaded for short durations.
Combination governing: Uses any two of the above methods. For example, bypass and nozzle governing are often used simultaneously. 
 

Governors can be mechanical-hydraulic or electrical. They all include a pilot valve, or controller, which modulates the turbine's inlet valve to keep the shaft speed on set point. 

When considering a governor retrofit, a selection must be made for the speed feedback and valve position feedback. You should also consider the following factors:
Operating conditions, Steam temperature, Pressure, The specific design of the steam turbine, The corrosiveness of the steam, Any potential contaminants present in the operating environment 

Some typical parameters to evaluate in a steam turbine performance test include: Re-heater performance, Main steam pressure and temperature validation, Enthalpy drop test 

Here are some differences between steam turbines and gas turbines:
Efficiency: Steam turbines are generally more efficient than gas turbines. Steam turbines use water vapor to generate electricity, while gas turbines use compressed air. Steam turbines can reach temperatures of 500 to 650 degrees Celsius (932 to 1,202 degrees Fahrenheit), while gas turbines can reach temperatures of 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,732 degrees Fahrenheit).
Startup time: Steam turbines can take an hour to start up, while gas turbines can reach normal operating speed in about 30 minutes.
Maintenance: Gas turbines are easier to maintain.
Steam balance: A steam turbine may be a good option if you have a lot of excess HP steam.
Efficiency in cogeneration setups: Gas turbines can be more efficient in cogeneration setups and can operate above 90%.

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