Combined propulsion systems

Naval vessels are the most complex vessels on the seas. The user’s requirements applied to the propulsion system are ranging from low noise excitation, shock requirements, high-speed demand, variety of required modes of operation to high efficiency and low life cycle cost requirements. As the requirements vary, the propulsion system solutions are customized for each vessel type.

RENK understand the specific needs of a Navy and supports the ship designers in selecting the appropriate solutions.

The power transmission system is the core item of the entire propulsion plant and offers the ability to combine different prime movers such as diesel engines, gas turbines and electric motors and link them with various propulsors like CPP, FPP or Waterjet.

In the category of combined mechanical propulsion systems that typically consists of diesel engines and / or gas turbine, RENK offers a variety of configuration options such as CODOD / CODAD, CODOG / CODAG, COGOG / COGAG. In particular, RENK CODAG (combined Diesel And Gas turbine) power transmissions have been implemented with a wealth of applications such as the German Sachsen-class frigates or the US Coast Guard National Security Cutters.

The mechanical-electrical combination of prime movers, also called “Hybrid system” is available from RENK either by adding an electric machine (motor / generator) to the mechanical power transmission or in the highly sophisticated CODELAG / CODELOG configuration as applied in the latest generation of vessels, providing extremely low noise operation and low life cycle cost for propulsion in lower speed range. The German F125 class and the Italian FREMM frigates are equipped with RENK CODELAG Cross-Connect gear systems.

The competence of RENK has been extended to electric propulsion modules with the Advanced Electric Drive (AED), which can be integrated in the combined propulsion plants.

The largest and fastest megayachts are also equipped with combined propulsion plants from RENK.