Performance and Thermal Efficiency Analysis of Steam Turbines: A Review of Recent Developments

Abstract

Steam turbines remain a core technology in thermal power generation and continue to evolve through advances in aerothermal design, materials, control strategies, and digital maintenance. This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of recent international studies published between 2020 and 2025 to synthesize current developments in steam turbine performance and thermal efficiency improvement. Article identification was conducted through SCOPUS using keywords related to turbine efficiency, blade/nozzle optimization, failure analysis, and material enhancement. The selected studies were analyzed thematically across four domains: (1) design and optimization using CFD/FEA, (2) material and structural resilience, (3) operational performance under variable/part-load conditions, and (4) integration with hybrid renewable systems and predictive maintenance. The reviewed evidence indicates that CFD-based nozzle/blade optimization and advanced control approaches can yield measurable efficiency improvements (approximately 2–7.3%), while material innovations and enhanced cooling strategies improve durability by mitigating thermal stress and fatigue risks. In parallel, digitalization through IoT-based predictive maintenance and additive manufacturing is increasingly reported as a pathway to reduce downtime and accelerate component production. However, recurring gaps include limited real-world validation, insufficient studies in humid/tropical environments, and a lack of long-term economic/lifecycle assessments. Future work should prioritize experimental or field verification, region-specific performance studies, and integrated techno-economic evaluation to support broader deployment of high-efficiency steam turbine systems.