Kuznetsov NK-88

The Kuznetsov NK-88 was an experimental alternative fuel turbofan engine, designed by the Kuznetsov Design Bureau.

NK-88
One NK-88 engine was tested in flight in the starboard nacelle of this Tupolev Tu-155 (СССР-85035)
Type	Turbofan
National origin	Soviet Union
Manufacturer	Kuznetsov Design Bureau
First run	February 1980[1]
Major applications	Tupolev Tu-155
Developed from	NK-8-2U[1]
Developed into	NK-89

Development

Development of the NK-88 began in 1974^[1] at the Kuznetsov Design Bureau. It was a modification of the NK-8-2U two-spool low-bypass turbofan^[1] and was designed to run on liquid hydrogen (LH₂).^[1] A further development of this engine, the NK-89, was designed to run on both liquified natural gas^[2] (LNG) and kerosene.^[2]

On April 15, 1988,^[1] one NK-88 running on cryogenically stored LH₂^[2] was tested in flight in the starboard nacelle of the Tupolev Tu-155 flying laboratory.^[1] The other two nacelles contained engines of the native NK-8-2 type and ran on kerosene.

Applications

• Tupolev Tu-155 (testbed)

Specifications (NK-88)

Data from Otechestvennaya aviatsionno-kosmicheskaya tekhnika - SAMARSKIY NTK^[1] and ram-home.com^[3]

General characteristics

• Type: Two-spool alternative fuel turbofan
• Length:
• Diameter:
• Dry weight: 2,300 kg (5,100 lb)^[3] (with heat exchanger and cryopump)

Components

• Compressor:
• Fuel type: LH₂^[1]

Performance

• Maximum thrust: 103 kN (23,000 lbf)^[1]
• Specific fuel consumption: 30 kg/(kN⋅h)^[1] in cruise on LH₂

See also

Comparable engines

• Kuznetsov NK-89
• Reaction Engines Scimitar

Related lists

• List of aircraft engines