Abstract: With the development and application of high water-head hydropower stations,big capacity and multi-nozzles became the development tendency of impulse water turbine. Specialized governor which adapts to the characteristics of impulse water turbine emerged and developed rapidly. The authors reviewed and summarized the development history of impulse water turbine governor technology in the past half a century according to the operation practices of typical governors used by Yunnan Yilihe River Hydropower Station,the first hydropower station with high waterhead in China. By offering the experiences and knowledge,it is expected to be helpful for the standardization,lectotype and application of impulse water turbine governor.

Key words: high waterhead power station , impulse turbine unit , governor , technology development