Overspeed (engine)

"Overspeed" redirects here. For the aircraft flight condition, see Overspeed (aeronautics).

Overspeed is a condition in which an engine is allowed or forced to turn beyond its design limit. The consequences of running an engine too fast vary by engine type and model and depend upon several factors, chief amongst them the duration of the overspeed and by the speed attained. With some engines even a momentary overspeed can result in greatly reduced engine life or even catastrophic failure. The speed of an engine is ordinarily measured in revolutions per minute (RPM).

Examples of overspeed

Overspeed protection

Sometimes a regulator or governor is fitted to make engine overspeed impossible or less likely. For example:

Large Diesel engines are sometimes fitted with a secondary protection device that actuates if the governor should fail.[1] This consists of a flap valve in the air intake. If the engine overspeeds, the air flow through the intake will rise to an abnormal level. This causes the flap valve to snap shut, starving the engine of air and shutting it down.

See also

References



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