What does the term "superheating" refer to in boiler operations?

The term "superheating" in boiler operations refers specifically to the process of heating steam beyond its saturation temperature. When steam is generated in a boiler, it can either be at saturation temperature (the temperature at which water boils and steam is in equilibrium with water) or at a higher temperature, which is known as superheated steam.

Superheating is crucial in many industrial applications because it increases the energy content of the steam, allowing it to do more work when it expands in a turbine or other machinery. Moreover, superheated steam has significantly lower moisture content, which helps to prevent corrosion and erosion in the steam lines and equipment, leading to increased efficiency and longevity of the system.

In contrast, the other options involve different processes that are not related to superheating. For instance, heating water to its boiling point describes the standard process of boiling without any consideration of after-state steam conditions. Cooling steam to increase pressure is a misunderstanding of basic thermodynamic principles, as lowering temperature generally results in decreased pressure. Finally, condensing steam into water refers to the phase change from gas back to liquid, which is opposite to the superheating process.