The Kuznetsov NK-88 was an experimental
alternative fuel
Alternative fuels, also known as non-conventional and advanced fuels, are fuels derived from sources other than petroleum. Alternative fuels include gaseous fossil fuels like propane, natural gas, methane, and ammonia; biofuels like biodies ...
turbofan engine, designed by the
Kuznetsov Design Bureau
The Kuznetsov Design Bureau (, also known as OKB-276) was a Russian design bureau for aircraft engines, administrated in Soviet times by Nikolai Dmitriyevich Kuznetsov. It was also known as (G)NPO Trud (or NPO Kuznetsov) and Kuybyshev Engine D ...
.
Development
Development of the NK-88 began in 1974
at the Kuznetsov Design Bureau. It was a modification of the
NK-8-2U two-spool low-bypass turbofan
and was designed to run on
liquid hydrogen
Liquid hydrogen () is the liquid state of the element hydrogen. Hydrogen is found naturally in the molecule, molecular H2 form.
To exist as a liquid, H2 must be cooled below its critical point (thermodynamics), critical point of 33 Kelvins, ...
(LH
2).
A further development of this engine, the
NK-89, was designed to run on both
liquified natural gas
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane, C2H6) that has been cooled to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport. It takes up about 1/600th the volume o ...
(LNG) and
kerosene
Kerosene, or paraffin, is a combustibility, combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in Aviation fuel, aviation as well as households. Its name derives from the Greek (''kērós'') meaning " ...
.
On April 15, 1988,
one NK-88 running on
cryogenically stored LH
2 was tested in flight in the starboard nacelle of the
Tupolev Tu-155
The Tupolev Tu-155 is a modified Tupolev Tu-154 (СССР-85035) which was used as an alternative fuel testbed, and was the world's first experimental aircraft operating on hydrogen and later liquid natural gas. The similar Tu-156 was never bui ...
flying laboratory.
The other two nacelles contained engines of the native
NK-8-2 type and ran on
kerosene
Kerosene, or paraffin, is a combustibility, combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in Aviation fuel, aviation as well as households. Its name derives from the Greek (''kērós'') meaning " ...
.
Applications
*
Tupolev Tu-155
The Tupolev Tu-155 is a modified Tupolev Tu-154 (СССР-85035) which was used as an alternative fuel testbed, and was the world's first experimental aircraft operating on hydrogen and later liquid natural gas. The similar Tu-156 was never bui ...
(testbed)
Specifications (NK-88)
See also
References
{{Aeroengine-specs
Low-bypass turbofan engines
1980s turbofan engines
Kuznetsov aircraft engines