Abstract: A single-drum recovery boiler comprising a superheater (2), boiler bank elements (3a) forming a boiler bank, and elements (3b) forming an economizer. In the recovery boiler, a plurality of boiler bank elements (3a) and economizer elements (3b) are disposed alternately so that a boiler bank--economizer unit (3) is achieved where the ratio between the boiler bank elements and the economizer elements is optimized in relation to the operating conditions of the boiler.