Production of the unique aircraft engine NK-32 has been "revived" in Russia

8 September 2020 33

The first installation batch of the upgraded NK-32-02 engines for Tu-160M2 strategic bombers was handed over to the customer. This was reported the day before in the UAC.

It is worth recalling that the NK-32 was created back in 1977. The unique engine, which combined the jet and rocket principles of creating thrust, made it possible to fly in a normal atmosphere at an altitude of up to 12 km and on the border between the troposphere and stratosphere - from 15 to 20 km. At the same time, the power plant turned out to be compact and very reliable.

In 1993, not without the "help" of Western partners, the production of the engine was stopped, and part of the important technical the documentation is lost. It would seem that the unique unit is a thing of the past forever. But help, as often happens, came from where they did not expect.

In 2007, the NK-361 gas turbine engine was created for the GT1 gas turbine locomotive. The unit for long-haul locomotives is based on a unique turbine from NK-32. At the same time, work on the power plant for the needs of Russian Railways allowed the Samara Scientific and Technical Complex named after. Kuznetsov to restore some of the lost skills and documents.

Now, when the country again needed a unique engine for strategic bombers, its production was launched at the same PJSC Kuznetsov. However, thanks to the development of technologies such as large-size magnesium and shaped titanium casting, it was possible not only to "resurrect" the Soviet power plant, but also to improve its characteristics.

Thus, the modernized NK-32-02, while retaining the compactness and weight of its predecessor, has become 10% more economical, which will increase the flight range of the strategic missile carrier by almost 1 thousand km. Moreover, the new domestic engine is intended not only for the "White Swan". In the future, it is planned to install it on the promising PAK DA "Messenger". In addition, on the basis of the NK-32-02, it is planned to create a power plant for the future transport aircraft, which will replace the legendary An-124 Ruslan.

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Cudgel

-10

8 September 2020 12: 26

We barely managed to restore the production of the ancient engine, it is already 53 years old. They could not create anything new, hence the author's pearls, about the uniqueness of this product. This engine is going nowhere. He has a small degree of bypass, and therefore low efficiency, he will not go to any transport vehicle. And the Tu-160 and B-2 airplanes are a dead-end branch! For subsonic stealth bombers, which is now a priority, this product will not work!
1. mark1
  
  +4
  
  8 September 2020 15: 22
  
  Do not rush to publicly indicate your level of knowledge, Mr. Dubina!
  1. Cudgel
    
    -4
    
    8 September 2020 18: 19
    
    Well, then voice your own, dear Mr. Mark1.
    Do you really think that products that have a gradation in generations, and aircraft engines certainly belong to them, can compete with each other? That is, the MiG-21, albeit with all the upgrades, will fight on equal terms with the new F-16 or F-35, fourth and fifth generations?
    It will not work just to put a more heat-resistant turbine blade and noticeably raise the gas temperature in front of the turbine at the "old" engine, it will have to be altered.
    Why then, in the same way, not to revive the AL-21 engine, which was on the MiG-21?
    Or an engine for the MiG-25?
    1. Magog
      
      +2
      
      8 September 2020 20: 30
      
      Does this phrase bother you, a champion of everything new and breakthrough?
      
      However, thanks to the development of technologies such as large-size magnesium and shaped titanium casting, it was possible not only to "resurrect" the Soviet power plant, but also to improve its characteristics.
      
      Increasing the flight range of the Tu-160 by 1000 km is worth a lot! Is it easy to create a completely new engine in the same mass-dimensional parameters? Moreover, in conditions of almost complete loss of personnel in production and design, thanks to our "market reforms" in education, science and production ... Including, the achievement is obvious. On this, God willing and GDP, new staff will grow up!
      1. Cudgel
        
        -5
        
        8 September 2020 21: 28
        
        Confused, of course, ashamed and went to sob. If you remove this phrase, then in general you can sprinkle ashes on your head, that the old stuff has been restored, as well as shaped casting. Interestingly, but it is casting in AL31 (41) and other modern ones, how they did without it. Well, you can twist something there, write about the casting for force (solidity), but old stuff will remain old. The Americans, too, probably got the dusty drawings from the archives and the engine from the B-2, but they are already doing it with shaped casting!
        Samara NTC is already breathing so badly that it can only restore the engine of the 77-year-old model!
        It is not necessary to create such an engine from scratch for the Tu-160; it is not applicable anywhere, except for the super expensive Tu-160 to maintain and manufacture. It's just that someone caught fire from an illiquid backlog that there was still more bombers left from the Tu-160, well, the owner is a master, money is down the drain.
        Personnel will not grow up there, there is such a salary that for this money you can come to work and only register.
        
        Magog
        
        0
        
        8 September 2020 21: 37
        
        Maybe the way you write. The Americans or someone else in a similar production have achieved something breakthrough, which is why it is worth working with completely new engines or still go along the path of modernization? Compare for clarity.
        
        Cudgel
        
        -5
        
        8 September 2020 22: 39
        
        Upgrading the previous generation will not work. India's MiG-21 (95) Bizon was very good. But this is his ceiling. Everything is interconnected there, the degree of pressure increase and the temperature of the gas in front of the turbine, since the compressor and the turbine (gas generator). Now they make a gas generator and, on its basis, a family of engines. Well, plus the resource has been drastically raised, at times. The pinnacle of evolution, of course, at the moment, is the F-135, the Americans are going to install it on the B-21. Our engines, especially the old ones, 70-80 years, had a penny resource. Now, of course, you can raise it, but not much. Maintainability, again worse than Novya.
        
        Magog
        
        +1
        
        9 September 2020 10: 12
        
        Everything looks kind of vague in your answer. The question is practically the same. What are the breakthroughs in the technologies of aircraft engine production that the same Americans have, because of which we should certainly go along the path of creating a new engine? "Maintainability", as I understand it, is not a decisive argument. NK-32 in the past and present was somehow repaired, which means that this is not the main reason. The material of the turbine blades - yes, the technology of production of these blades - the second "yes". Traction, resource, efficiency, etc. depend on this element. Then the question is the following. Somehow we got a technological breakthrough in the manufacture of blades - why make a new engine when you can install these super-duper blades on a modernized old engine? So critical are the changes in the speed and temperature of the gas in front of the turbine during the introduction of new blades that it is necessary to develop a completely new engine?
        
        Cudgel
        
        -3
        
        9 September 2020 12: 15
        
        I graduated from the second faculty of the Moscow Aviation Institute, 201 departments - these are just aircraft engines. When I was wearing a jacket, I ended up in the unit with the MiG-29, only then, only the secrecy was removed from them. So, the RD-33 engines from the MiG-29, then had a resource of 300 hours. American counterparts have about 3000.
        There is an optimum curve: the dependence of the degree of pressure increase in the compressor on the gas temperature in front of the turbine. If the temperature is raised, but the pressure remains the same, the efficiency will drop. And the temperature means the heat intensity is higher, which means that the resource is less, and then there is only harm from this. You are right, everything rests on the turbine blades, there is a clever cooling of them, and ion implantation of the blade surface, and so on. The West is now making some very clever blades, a mixture of metal and ceramics alloys, we don't have such. At the time of my graduation from Moscow Aviation Institute, we were 5 - 10 years behind the Americans, now the gap is about 15 - 20 years.
        The design has also changed. Now they are trying to use single-stage turbines. Much attention is paid to the convenience and speed of assembly - disassembly of the engine, the convenience of inspection and taking readings (for service life).
        Well, little things: when the MiG-29 switched from cruising mode to maximum speed or afterburner, the engine began to smoke very strongly, and the plane immediately became noticeable. Smoke is also considered an important characteristic, but it is not written anywhere.
        Now you will not develop a new aircraft with a MiG-21 or even an F-15 layout, but take the F-22 layout. So it is with engines, outwardly it is not noticeable, and here and there - some kind of pipe, but inside the differences are very noticeable.
        
        Magog
        
        +2
        
        9 September 2020 12: 36
        
        I don’t know how it is possible to combine ceramics with metal there, but we are following the path of blade casting technology to obtain a single-crystal alloy of metals. Americans can say whatever they want - it is impossible to check yet. The resource of our engines today is far from hundreds of hours and also amounts to thousands. How much - I don't know. At least, our new civilian engine PD-14 seems to have reached the level of the world's best indicators in terms of resource and efficiency. Or is it not so good here? Then, watching the Americans "grind out" their F-35 and sell it to everyone they hit, I doubt they have any breakthroughs ...
        
        Cudgel
        
        -4
        
        9 September 2020 13: 14
        
        I was surprised myself when I learned about ceramics and metal. Maybe a ceramic matrix or a mustache. This technology came from civil engine building. The single crystal was still with me, alas, now the heat intensity is no longer pulling.
        The resource is easy to check. Many countries operate American engines, military and civil, none of them say that the resource is left.
        We now, formally, also have thousands of hours, but there with the replacement of some units. The Americans do not need to replace anything.
        I can't say anything about PD-14. Officially, Sam146 based on the French CF-56 is now considered the most promising.
        The engine of the F-35 is the most modern at the moment, if we can master this, then in 20 years.
        The Americans have no breakthroughs; they quietly and quietly make good planes, good weapons and good engines.
        
        Magog
        
        +1
        
        9 September 2020 13: 50
        
        based on French
        
        Did the French supply engines for the Sukhoi Superjet? Also, the resource before the first repair was about 4 thousand hours. But in reality? And I won't argue about all the good American things ...
        
        Cudgel
        
        -4
        
        9 September 2020 14: 08
        
        Supplied, not the most modern CF-56 and at the same time making SaM146.
        In fact, 4000 was. CF-56 and its clones were on many planes, airlines, if the resource did not match, would have ruined SNECM in ships.
        The Americans, of course, do not have all the best, there are not very good ones, especially the old samples from the 70s. But modern weapons, that they do the best for "contactless wars". Their quality was always high. Read the memoirs of front-line soldiers about American planes, tanks, trucks. All quality and functionality are celebrated.
        
        Magog
        
        +1
        
        9 September 2020 15: 25
        
        Bottom line: there are no breakthroughs, but they have all the best. And we are 20 years old before them ... It is very logical and understandable.
        
        Cudgel
        
        -4
        
        9 September 2020 15: 38
        
        We got it right. Except for a few cartoons, there is nothing groundbreaking. So, an easy upgrade of the Soviet legacy.
        From the latest upgrade, just NK-32, with a prefix is unique.
        
        Magog
        
        +2
        
        9 September 2020 16: 02
        
        To look at them as a model is not to respect yourself. Which is what you observe very expressively. The Americans are the best in the world to sell, no matter what. Therefore, they inspire everyone that they have the best. To be convinced of this, it is enough to work with them for some time or in a parallel competing project, in which I personally participated more than once. By the way, also in the aviation industry or very close.
        
        Cudgel
        
        -5
        
        9 September 2020 17: 50
        
        I agree in part, Israeli Spike and European MMP are much better than Javelin. HK-146 is better than M-4. Abrams is worse than Leopard or Black Panther. But in any case, American weapons will be among the top three.
        If not a secret, what kind of project.
        You know, the first time I came across that the American is better, this was when I studied at the institute and we studied gyroscopes (for review, this was not the main subject). Then it was fashionable to ask questions, which is better - with us or the Americans. When the teacher was asked whose gyroscope is better, the answer was: "What are you, fools? They, of course, are better." The rest of these questions were answered more delicately: "We are lagging behind for so many years ..."
        Now, if you participate in any scientific or technical conference, then a person who wants to show the relevance and correctness of the path of something there will say this: "This is how the Americans are doing" or "The Americans are now working on it", well, or " The Americans have it. "
        
        Magog
        
        0
        
        9 September 2020 20: 15
        
        He worked in an industry research institute, there were several topics. Which ones I won't say - why pick the past? But in one of them the results were much wider and better than the American ones. What did we do then? If not everything worked out well for them in a parallel topic, then the bosses did not think for a long time, and they curtailed work with us: either completely, or until better times.
        
        Magog
        
        0
        
        9 September 2020 21: 46
        
        I can't say anything about PD-14.
        
        Resource of PD-14 engine blades - 4000 hours (overhaul), engine service life - 20000 hours.
        
        mark1
        
        +1
        
        11 September 2020 17: 43
        
        Quote: Cudgel
        I graduated from the second faculty of MAI
        
        Whether oh! Maybe they started to start ...
        
        Cudgel
        
        -6
        
        11 September 2020 17: 58
        
        He defended himself on NPMO them. Chernysheva. As a prototype for the diploma project, there was product 88, according to the in-plant classification, aka RD-33.
        Well, there is nothing to cover, you can try to smear the interlocutor with shit, the usual practice is put on. I noticed long ago that the less literate a person is, the more he yells hurray, we will defeat everyone, we have the best weapon and other nonsense. Our storekeepers, from the distant Moscow region, are firmly convinced that the Poseidons are already swimming on the oceans, waiting for the order to turn towards America, and the Petrels are proudly flying over them and also waiting for the order.
        It's just that in their miserable life they have nothing to be proud of, they have no achievements, except for carrying the load, but their involvement in great, defensive achievements somehow raises their inner self.
2. magma
  
  0
  
  9 September 2020 13: 33
  
  Quote: Cudgel
  We barely managed to restore the production of the ancient engine, it is already 53 years old. They could not create anything new, hence the author's pearls, about the uniqueness of this product. This engine is going nowhere. He has a small degree of bypass, and therefore low efficiency, he will not go to any transport vehicle. And the Tu-160 and B-2 airplanes are a dead-end branch! For subsonic stealth bombers, which is now a priority, this product will not work!
  
  You would first change your surname, or something, before talking about "Universe".
  1. Cudgel
    
    -3
    
    9 September 2020 14: 18
    
    Powerful remark. Do you distinguish between a nickname and a surname or is everything the same for you?
    Well, give us your vision of the "Universe", can you master the degree of bypass, an annular combustion chamber, can you handle the boundary layer? Or did they come to insert their patriotic three kopecks?
    Madame, I graduated from the 2nd faculty of the Moscow Aviation Institute with honors, department 201. And for some time at the NPO. Chernysheva, it is "Red October", then "Salute", worked. And I know this "kitchen". I know the quality of our products and the difference between the actual characteristics and the declared ones. Samara STC is on fire, salaries are at the level of Zimbabwe and on you, super-duper wunderwaflu, on their knees, they have restored the old dusty blue marks.
    1. magma
      
      0
      
      9 September 2020 14: 26
      
      I graduated from the 2nd faculty of the Moscow Aviation Institute with honors, department 201. And for some time at the NPO. Chernysheva, it is "Red October", then "Salute", worked. And I know this "kitchen".
      
      Well, if so ... And then somehow reading a comment from a person with such a nickname seriously fails. No offense. Write yourself at least a name like the others (in brackets).
beeper

+2

8 September 2020 13: 38

I am glad that we have not "lost" the unique NK-32!
But this is all trivial mechanics, albeit with considerable engineering fiction - all questions here are accessible to linear understanding and are provided by the already achieved (or near future) level of scientific and technical knowledge, and I am interested in living people and their, ours, so far little explored superpowers, in including the ability for self-healing, which are asleep, unclaimed and therefore undeveloped, in each of us (and I am sure that everyone will be able to remember "something like that" about himself, something that "cannot be", but it was there is a symbolic manifestation of our part of God, our subconscious attachment to the Universal Mind, in us! )!
Therefore, in the video for this Article about the NK-32-02 aircraft engine I was "hooked" and really liked the final episode about cardiac surgery and Leo Bockeria's operation!
About accidentally, unfortunately, the Tragedy of Beslan, the revealed property, not so small, incandescent (but also clearly not high-speed - after all, with such a mass, shape and size as in the video, a piece of metal stuck in the heart, and did not penetrate all the puny boy body right through, and would cause irreparable damage to the neighboring parts of the body ??!) to "seal" the wound channel behind itself.
This brings up certain thoughts about the transcendental capabilities of the human body and the ultra-wide range of subconscious work of the human brain (not only the brain and spinal cord, but also its local components in the important organs of our body).
The study of the possible causes of such phenomena opens up new (at the same time, purely physical, surgical methods of exposure - gas, cryo and laser coagulation are considered "old" and studied, and the focus on psychotherapy of self-healing and tissue regeneration is the future of medicine) ways of dealing with incurable diseases and fatal injuries.
steelmaker

+4

8 September 2020 16: 25

I always support any advanced production in Russia. And aircraft engines, like space ones, are advanced technologies. And what is this old thing? Tell that to the Chinese!
1. Cudgel
  
  -5
  
  8 September 2020 18: 26
  
  I have already answered above, but I will repeat myself. Let then AL-21 (MiG-21), R15 (from MiG-25) revive production? Pay attention to the requirements for airplanes, their stealthiness, the introduction of composites and hence other requirements for design and even appearance, with aircraft engines - similarly, just outwardly not so noticeable (the degree of bypass, the gas temperature in front of the turbine, resource, smoke, etc. .).
  And let's more often nod at the Chinese! They say they are even worse. The Chinese have a lot of old aircraft and old engines, but I think that they are unlikely to look for blueprints, technologies to restore the production of 53-year-old junk. They will do and do new things.
  1. sharp-lad
    
    +1
    
    8 September 2020 19: 52
    
    I wonder how much the diesel has already hit? And what about an internal combustion engine running on light oil fractions? Well, wow, we are still moving on ancient trash!
    1. Cudgel
      
      -5
      
      8 September 2020 21: 17
      
      And the ax is generally thousands of years old! Let's upgrade the ax! There is such a thing as generations. A resistor or inductor has no generations. The transistors have, especially the MOS. There are generations of processors and tanks. It's not so critical with diesel engines. Although BMW has generations of diesels, I don't think they will deliver a '77 diesel. With processors it is even more critical, if a diesel or an aircraft engine can still be supplied, then the processor is 77 years old, certainly not, there the turnover of generations is several times higher. If the production of the AL-21 was restored, then they would also shout from each iron that it had super-duper technologies, they were improved and now the engine will be installed on the Su-57. The engine on the Tu-95 is even older, the Germans designed it, its production can also be restored, there is nothing to develop a new generation.
  2. Magog
    
    0
    
    8 September 2020 20: 42
    
    In the ordinary mind, defense technology is usually associated with the cutting edge of science and technology. In fact, one of the main properties of military technology is its conservatism and continuity. This is due to the colossal cost of weapons. Among the most important tasks in the development of a new weapon system is the use of the backlog on which money was spent in the past.
    
    This statement is also relevant in our case.
Nikolaevich I

0

9 September 2020 11: 03

NK-32 was created back in 1977. A unique engine that combines jet and rocket principles of thrust generation. Jet and missile principles? Let me ask you: how is this? What exactly did the author who wrote this "note" mean?
1. Cudgel
  
  -2
  
  9 September 2020 13: 18
  
  This phrase is to give "uniqueness" to a conventional engine. If we discard it, then it will be very sad: "We have restored the production of the 77-year-old engine", and this is how the unique engine from the 77-year production was restored! PutinAgitProp - rules.
  And not just restored, but with shaped casting, which, probably, has been in full swing for several years in the production of AL-31 (41).
2. Magog
  
  0
  
  9 September 2020 21: 54
  
  The author of this, rather, for the first time understood how the afterburner mode of a turbojet engine works. And I understood quite correctly. This is what I hastened to share with the readers. Not all "SPECIALISTS" are here.