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Steam Turbines
500kW to 250MW
Industrial and utility-grade steam turbine generators for power generation, cogeneration, and combined heat and power (CHP) applications across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
CHP
Steam Turbines for Industrial & Utility Power Generation
Steam turbines convert thermal energy from high-pressure steam into mechanical shaft work, which drives a generator to produce electricity. Across the 500 kW to 250 MW range, they are among the most reliable and versatile prime movers available for both industrial self-generation and utility-scale power production.
Brad Thompson Company has deep expertise in applying steam turbines to the Pacific Northwest's diverse industrial base — from pulp and paper mills and chemical refineries to biomass energy facilities, food processing plants, and independent power producers. Our team helps clients select, specify, and procure the right turbine configuration for each unique steam cycle and process requirement.
Whether you are adding cogeneration to reduce energy costs, integrating a back-pressure turbine into an existing process steam header, or developing a greenfield utility project, BTCo provides the application knowledge and manufacturer relationships to deliver the optimal solution.
Key Application Criteria
- Inlet steam pressure (psig) and temperature (°F)
- Exhaust / extraction pressure requirements
- Required shaft speed (rpm) or gear ratio
- Baseload vs. peaking vs. cycling duty
- Site altitude and ambient conditions
- Fuel source driving the boiler or HRSG
- Grid-connected vs. isolated island operation
- Condensate return and feedwater recovery
- Environmental permitting constraints
- Available footprint and infrastructure
Selecting the Right Turbine Class
Steam turbines in the 500 kW–250 MW range fall into three broad segments, each with distinct design philosophies, inlet conditions, and typical applications.
500 kW – 5 MW
Small industrial turbines purpose-built for on-site power recovery, process steam let-down, and cogeneration at manufacturing facilities. Characterized by simple, rugged construction and low installed cost.
TYPICAL INLET PRESSURE150 – 900 psig
INLET TEMPERATUREUp to 750°F (400°C)
CONFIGURATIONSingle-stage or 2-stage; back-pressure or condensing
COMMON INDUSTRIESFood processing, pulp & paper, chemical, ethanol, biomass
SPEED1,800 / 3,600 rpm or variable with gear
5 MW – 50 MW
Multi-stage industrial and small utility turbines that balance efficiency, flexibility, and capital cost. Widely used in CHP projects, biomass power plants, waste-to-energy, and combined-cycle applications.
TYPICAL INLET PRESSURE600 – 1,800 psig
INLET TEMPERATUREUp to 1,000°F (538°C)
CONFIGURATIONMulti-stage; extraction-condensing or back-pressure
COMMON INDUSTRIESRefinery, district energy, independent power, geothermal
REHEATTypically not reheated; single admission common
50 MW – 250 MW
Large utility and sub-utility steam turbines for baseload and intermediate-load power generation. Optimized for high efficiency at rated load, with multi-stage, multi-cylinder arrangements and full auxiliary systems.
TYPICAL INLET PRESSURE1,800 – 3,500 psig (subcritical)
INLET TEMPERATURE1,000°F / 1,050°F with reheat
CONFIGURATIONHP/IP/LP cylinders; tandem or cross-compound
COMMON APPLICATIONSCoal, gas, nuclear steam cycles; large biomass & waste-to-energy
EFFICIENCYNet cycle efficiency 33 – 40%+ with reheat
Steam Turbine Configurations
Turbine configuration is driven by the relationship between inlet steam conditions and required exhaust or extraction pressures. Understanding these options is essential to project economics.
Back-Pressure Turbines
Exhaust steam is discharged at a pressure above atmospheric for use in a downstream process (e.g., heating, drying, or further process stages). No condenser required, minimizing capital cost. Ideal for cogeneration where all exhaust steam has a defined process use. Typical exhaust pressures range from 15 to 250 psig depending on the process header requirement.
Condensing Turbines
Exhaust steam is condensed in a surface or air-cooled condenser, maximizing pressure ratio and electrical output per pound of steam. Used when maximizing power generation is the primary goal and no process steam load exists. Requires cooling water or air-cooled condensers. Achieves the highest thermal-to-electrical conversion efficiency in the turbine island.
Extraction Turbines
Steam is tapped at one or more intermediate pressure stages for process or feedwater heating, with remaining steam continuing to a lower-pressure exhaust or condenser. Provides operational flexibility to balance process steam demand against power generation requirements. A single extraction-condensing turbine can serve variable process steam loads while maintaining predictable power output.
Reheat Turbines
Steam is expanded through a high-pressure turbine, returned to the boiler or heat recovery unit for reheating, then admitted to an intermediate-pressure turbine for further expansion. Reheat improves cycle efficiency by 4–6% and reduces moisture in the low-pressure expansion stages, protecting blade integrity. Common in utility-scale units above 100 MW and in advanced combined-cycle arrangements.
Industries & Applications
BTCo serves a broad range of industries across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Alaska, and Colorado — with project experience spanning industrial self-generation, utility power, and advanced distributed energy systems.
Pulp & Paper
Back-pressure turbines, HRSGs, and heat transfer systems integrated into recovery and cogeneration cycles.
Biomass & Waste-to-Energy
Complete power island solutions for wood waste, agricultural residue, and municipal solid waste boiler projects.
Geothermal
Condensing turbines and heat exchange systems for direct-steam and binary geothermal resources.
Combined Heat & Power
CHP and district energy systems for universities, hospitals, military bases, and industrial campuses.
Chemical & Refinery
Mechanical drive and generator duty turbines, heat exchangers, and process equipment for high-pressure steam.
Food & Ethanol Processing
Small cogeneration systems and heat recovery solutions supporting critical process steam needs.
Independent Power
Grid-connected power projects leveraging competitive fuel or waste heat sources.
Marine & OEM
Marine steam turbine generators and mechanical drive units for shipboard and packaged OEM systems.
Representative Performance Parameters
The following table summarizes indicative steam conditions and performance characteristics across the 500 kW–250 MW capacity range. Actual parameters vary by cycle design and site conditions.
| CAPACITY RANGE | INLET PRESSURE (PSIG) | INLET TEMP (°F) | EXHAUST CONDITION | TYPICAL EFFICIENCY | CYLINDER STAGES | MARKET |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kW – 1 MW | 150 – 600 | Up to 650 | Back-pressure or condensing | 60–70% isentropic | 1–2 stages | INDUSTRIAL |
| 1 MW – 5 MW | 300 – 900 | Up to 750 | Back-pressure or condensing | 70–78% isentropic | 2–6 stages | INDUSTRIAL |
| 5 MW – 20 MW | 600 – 1,500 | 750 – 950 | Extraction-condensing or BP | 78–83% isentropic | Multi-stage, 1 cyl. | INDUSTRIAL / UTILITY |
| 20 MW – 50 MW | 900 – 1,800 | 900 – 1,000 | Extraction-condensing | 82–86% isentropic | Multi-stage, 1–2 cyl. | INDUSTRIAL / UTILITY |
| 50 MW – 100 MW | 1,500 – 2,400 | 1,000 / 1,000 reheat | Condensing; reheat optional | 84–88% isentropic | HP + LP tandem | UTILITY |
| 100 MW – 250 MW | 1,800 – 3,500 | 1,000°F / 1,050°F reheat | Condensing; reheat required | 86–90% isentropic | HP + IP + LP tandem | UTILITY |
How BTCo Supports Your Project
Application Review
We begin with your steam source data — boiler or HRSG capacity, pressure, temperature, and turndown — alongside your power and process steam requirements. Our engineers map these to the optimal turbine configuration and cycle arrangement.
Manufacturer Selection
Through our exclusive manufacturer relationships, BTCo identifies the right OEM for your project’s size, budget, delivery timeline, and service support requirements. We manage the technical specification and bid evaluation process on your behalf.
Project Support
Our involvement extends beyond equipment sale. BTCo actively participates in pre-sales engineering, project management coordination, startup planning, and post-sales technical support — protecting your project schedule and long-term operating performance.