Power output from a TG set is controlled by varying the inlet steam pressure to the turbine.

In a conventional mode, the boiler is made to generate steam at a constant pressure and the required pressure reduction is effected in the turbine inlet chest. This entails loss of energy in the turbine inlet control valves. Typically the boiler may need ~6 hrs of start up time to reach the full saturation temperature (going by the conventional 1C/min of heating rate to avoid undue stresses in pressure parts). On the other hand, if the boiler is made to generate steam at a pressure just equal to the pressure needed at the turbine inlet, the steam chest losses can be avoided and also, the boiler feed pumping energy can be saved. This type of operation, where the boiler generates steam at a variety of pressures, is known as the variable /sliding pressure operation. Besides being energy effective, the heating and cooling times of the boiler are faster as the saturation temperatures are lower at lower pressures. The sliding pressure operation is easier with super critical boilers than sub critical ones. This is because in an abrupt pressure reduction, the steam bubbles formed in the drum and downcomer water interfere with the circulation and restrict the dynamics of the load change. After all the steam bubbles want to go up and water needs to go down. While there are subcritical plants with variable pressure operation care required is more and hence they did not become so popular.

Constant and sliding pressure operation

The output of a turbine is varied by varying the steam pressure at the inlet of the nozzles. In a constant pressure operation, the main steam pressure is held constant and the inlet nozzle pressure is varied by dropping the pressure across the turbine inlet control/ governing valves. On the contrary, in variable/sliding pressure operation, the pressure of steam from the boiler is varied to suit the turbine nozzle inlet pressure. This pressure variation is effected by controlling outlet pressure of the boiler feed pump. The sliding pressure operation is obviously more efficient thermodynamically as there is no loss of power in the control valves. consumes less power as the BFP losses are lower even more so at lower loads. subjects all the pressure bearing components to lower stress levels due to lower pressure of the feed pump In a sub critical boiler, the sliding pressure operation needs to be done more carefully, with a reduced ramp rate. When the TG output is to be reduced, the boiler pressure is correspondingly reduced. This fall in pressure leads to the formation of steam bubbles in the drum and down comers, impairing the circulation.

 Bubbles cause disturbance to water level in the drum that affects the controls The differential temperatures between the top and bottom of the steam drum can induce thermal stresses in thick drums. This is somewhat improved by adopting a an assisted circulation boiler or b modified sliding pressure where SOP is held constant up to a certain load and reduced below that load Supercritical boilers and even subcritical once through boilers are more ideal for sliding pressure operation as there is no circulation and thick drums. Usually SC boilers employ sliding pressure operation to enhance the efficiency differential over drum type boilers.