Paper mills require large quantities of steam for processes such as pulp preparation, paper drying, and other production operations. In many plants, high-pressure steam is reduced to a lower pressure through pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) before being supplied to the process. While PRVs control pressure effectively, the available pressure energy is not converted into useful work. This creates an opportunity for paper mills to improve energy efficiency and generate electricity from the same steam.
A steam turbine can be installed in place of, or in parallel with, a conventional PRV arrangement to recover the pressure energy available in high-pressure steam. As steam expands through the turbine, it produces mechanical power that can be converted into electricity using a generator. The turbine exhaust can then continue to supply the paper-making process at the required pressure. This allows the mill to generate captive power while maintaining its normal process steam requirements.
The potential power output depends on important operating parameters such as steam flow rate, inlet pressure, inlet temperature, exhaust pressure, and operating hours. Turtle Turbines provides customized steam turbine solutions that help paper mills convert otherwise wasted steam pressure into useful electrical power while optimizing overall steam utilization.
Replacing or supplementing PRVs with steam turbines can reduce electricity purchases, improve overall plant energy efficiency, and lower operating costs. Paper mills using biomass or other renewable fuels can also increase the value of their existing steam generation systems by producing captive electricity. With proper system design and turbine selection, pressure reduction can become an opportunity for power generation rather than simply an energy loss.