Why Sliding Pressure Operation Improves Efficiency
Published: March 1, 2026
In steam turbine operation, throttling loss is one of the key factors affecting thermal efficiency. When governing valves operate at small openings, significant pressure drops occur before the steam enters the turbine stages.
Sliding pressure operation reduces unnecessary throttling by allowing boiler pressure to vary with load. The steam energy is used more effectively for mechanical work instead of being wasted across control valves.
In simple terms, it allows the steam to do real work rather than losing energy fighting resistance at the inlet.