Turbine–electric powertrain

These turbines were based on stationary practice, with single large reverse-flow combustors, heat exchangers and using low-cost heavy oil bunker fuel.

Power can be provided by diesel engines, nuclear reactors, or gas turbines in which case it is called turboelectric propulsion.

[1] This is especially important on warship as they often require high electrical power independent of travel speed as well as the ability to perform efficient low speed cruise whilst maintaining the ability to perform less efficient sprints.

For that reason warships often use combined power systems where an efficient prime mover, such as a diesel engine or a small gas turbine, is used for cruising while large gas turbines can be activated for high speed.

By discarding mechanical power transmission these systems can improve efficiency by allowing each system to operate at its most efficient speed, improve reliability by cutting down on the number of components, and simplify ship layout as without the need for direct mechanical linkages to the propellers engines can be placed optimally.