Backpressure turbines can either be single-stage or multi-stage which are often used in industrial plants, the turbine mainly serves as a reducing station between the boiler and the process steam header.

These turbines can either be used for drive applications (Sugar mill drives, Sugar fibrizor / Shredder drives, Pump drives, and so on) or power generation applications in which case the turbine drives the generator. These turbines are straight-back pressure types and find applications where backpressure steam is fully utilized to meet process demands. The power generation is incidental to the process steam demand.

The backpressure turbine may also have bleed points (uncontrolled extractions) to satisfy steam demands at intermediate pressures, This provision is applicable when the bleed (medium pressure) steam volume demand is low and pressure variations can be tolerated. These turbines are of bleed cum back pressure type.

The backpressure turbine with one controlled extraction point is possible, this extractionsteam is also used to meet process steam demand at intermediate pressure whenvolume demand is high and pressure variations cannot be tolerated. These turbines are of extraction cum back pressure type.