
Principle of a COGAG propulsion system
'Combined gas turbine and gas turbine (COGAG)' is a type of propulsion system for ships using two
gas turbines connected to a single
propeller shaft. A
gearbox and
clutches allow either of the turbines to drive the shaft or both of them combined.
Using one or two gas turbines has the advantage of having two different power settings. Since the
fuel efficiency of a gas turbine is best near its maximum power level, a small gas turbine running at its full speed is more efficient compared to a twice as powerful turbine running at half speed, allowing more economic transit at cruise speeds.
Compared to
Combined diesel and gas (CODAG) or
Combined diesel or gas (CODOG), COGAG systems have a smaller footprint but a much lower fuel efficiency at cruise speed and for CODAG systems its also somewhat lower for high speed dashes.