Abstract: A vertical tube, once-through, sliding pressure steam generator comprises a furnace having an outlet and heat exchanger surfaces made of smooth bore tubes, single-lead ribbed (SLR) tubes, and multiple-lead ribbed (MLR) tubes. All of these tubes are preferably constructed as membrane wall tube panels. The steam generator includes fuel burners for burning fuel and air within the housing, creating low, medium and high heat flux regions within the furnace. Fluid flows through the tubes of the wall panels to provide an efficient heat exchanger. The smooth bore tubes are located at the low heat flux regions, and the SLR and/or MLR tubes are located in the high and medium heat flux regions.