Abstract
The governor has been the key component in the operation of the stable-heat engine since the invention of Stevenson's "Rocket". However, concerning the operational management of the marine diesel engine, doubts have been expressed as to whether it is required. Under seagoing conditions and against the always-changing resistance of the ocean, we do continually control the volume of the fuel-oil supply, so as to maintain constant engine speed. On the other hand, this leads to the doubt as to whether harder operations are forced onto marine diesel engines. This project was to return to the starting point and reconsider the definition of the governor's purpose. We focused attention on the idea that it might be better - in terms of both fuel-oil consumption and engine load - to maintain a stable ignition pressure within each cylinder, and then allow the engine's revolutions to vary, somewhat. We stopped the former practice of micro-controlling the amount of fuel oil supplied. We then changed fuel-oil supply comparatively slowly. And although engine speeds vary, the average engine speed remains generally as before. This paper introduces the basic research results gathered from container vessels in the development of a "fuel save mode" control system, one built around the new governor.
