Nikolai Dmitriyevich Kuznetsov
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Dmitriyevich Kuznetsov was a Chief Designer of the Soviet Design Bureau OKB-276 which deals with the development, manufacture and distribution of equipment, especially aircraft engines, turbines and gearboxes.
The topic of his diploma there was Motor: four carburettor, 28-cylinder with a 4star aircooled power of 1500 hp at 3400 rpm and at an altitude of 6000 meters with Two-high-speed driven centrifugal blowers.
In April 1939 he became a member of Communist Party organization of the academy and was elected a faculty. On 4th of April 1941 he successfully defended his thesis on the structural integrity of aircraft engines. In the period from July to September 1942 he trained under a senior engineer of 239 fighter division 6th air force who met George Malenkov
and praised the ability of Kuznetsov and subsequently sent his deputy to become a Designer at the Ufa Aviation Plant.
Here Kuznetsov worked from 1943 to 1949 first under the leadership of Klimov
then as chief designer. In 1949 he was transferred to Kuybyshev (currently the City of Samara
) which is headed by the State union pilot plant number 2 on the development and manufacture of advanced jet engines now known as "N. D. Kuznetsova Samara Scientific and Technical Complex". There he worked with Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, the famous Soviet rocket designer.
, captured German turbine specialists were brought along with some of the gas turbines to the Soviet Union. In addition to the already established Jumo 004 and BMW 003 engines they brought along the design documents and plans of Jumo 022 project.
In 1949, Kuznetsov was appointed as chief designer of jet engines at OKB-276 ("Experimental design bureau-276") and started developing turboprop
designs further with the help of the German specialists.
It proved to be a successful engine and was completed in 1955. The new turboprop engine, named Kuznetsov NK-12
, displayed great performance and was developed up to 11,000 kW. It was used in the Antonov An-22
aircraft, A-90 Orlyonok
Ekranoplane and the Tupolev Tu-95
strategic bomber among others. The later models produced around 15,000 kW.
In 1954, he began work on a two-flow jet engine with afterburner, called the Kuznetsov NK-6, which was never completed.
In 1957, He received the Order of Hero of Socialist Labor
for his contributions.
From 1959 onwards, he was also involved in the development of engines for the projected Soviet N1
moon rocket. The primary engines for the development rockets were Kuznetsov NK-15 and Kuznetsov NK-15V (later developed into Kuznetsov NK-33
and Kuznetsov NK-43). Ultimately, these designs were successful but arrived to late. By the time the bugs in this very advanced design - to this day has the highest thrust to weight ratio of any liquid fuel rocket engine ever produced - were rectified the N1 rocket program had been cancelled.
In the 1960s he developed aircraft engines specifically for the world's first supersonic transport aircraft to fly Tupolev Tu-144
, the Kuznetsov NK-144
turbofan. This was however inefficient and replaced by a Kolesov turbotjet.
Based on these design experiences, the engine Kuznetsov NK-321 (also known as NK-32-1) was developed later for the supersonic, variable-geometry heavy bomber Tupolev Tu-160
, which is also in the more powerful version of the Tupolev Tu-144 (version Tu-144LL).
In the late 1980s OKB- 267 began the development of the fuel sipping Turbo Fan Engine Kuznetsov NK-93, which has a by-pass ratio of almost 17:1 and thus an engine of a unique design in the world.
Biography
Kuznetsov started his career as a professional coppersmith and he began working as a mechanic. In 1930 graduated from the school and enrolled at the Moscow Aviation College where he studied part time and worked as a mechanic. In 1933, he joined the Air Technical Faculty in the Motor Branch of VVIA of Zhukovsky. There he studied under Prof. Nikolai Jegorowitsch Schukowski - the then head of the chair for aircraft engines research and graduated with honors on 16 November 1938.The topic of his diploma there was Motor: four carburettor, 28-cylinder with a 4star aircooled power of 1500 hp at 3400 rpm and at an altitude of 6000 meters with Two-high-speed driven centrifugal blowers.
In April 1939 he became a member of Communist Party organization of the academy and was elected a faculty. On 4th of April 1941 he successfully defended his thesis on the structural integrity of aircraft engines. In the period from July to September 1942 he trained under a senior engineer of 239 fighter division 6th air force who met George Malenkov
Georgy Malenkov
Georgy Maximilianovich Malenkov was a Soviet politician, Communist Party leader and close collaborator of Joseph Stalin. After Stalin's death, he became Premier of the Soviet Union and was in 1953 briefly considered the most powerful Soviet politician before being overshadowed by Nikita...
and praised the ability of Kuznetsov and subsequently sent his deputy to become a Designer at the Ufa Aviation Plant.
Here Kuznetsov worked from 1943 to 1949 first under the leadership of Klimov
Klimov
The Kirill Klimov Experimental Design Bureau under the direction of Vladimir Yakovlevich Klimov designed engines for Soviet aircraft. The OKB was formed in the early 1930s to produce and improve upon the liquid-cooled Hispano-Suiza 12Y V-12 piston engine for which the USSR had acquired a license...
then as chief designer. In 1949 he was transferred to Kuybyshev (currently the City of Samara
Samara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
) which is headed by the State union pilot plant number 2 on the development and manufacture of advanced jet engines now known as "N. D. Kuznetsova Samara Scientific and Technical Complex". There he worked with Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, the famous Soviet rocket designer.
Contributions
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, captured German turbine specialists were brought along with some of the gas turbines to the Soviet Union. In addition to the already established Jumo 004 and BMW 003 engines they brought along the design documents and plans of Jumo 022 project.
In 1949, Kuznetsov was appointed as chief designer of jet engines at OKB-276 ("Experimental design bureau-276") and started developing turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
designs further with the help of the German specialists.
It proved to be a successful engine and was completed in 1955. The new turboprop engine, named Kuznetsov NK-12
Kuznetsov NK-12
-See also:-External links:*...
, displayed great performance and was developed up to 11,000 kW. It was used in the Antonov An-22
Antonov An-22
The Antonov An-22 Antei was the world's heaviest aircraft, until the advent of the American C-5 Galaxy and later the Soviet An-124. Powered by four pairs of contra-rotating turboprops, the design remains the world's largest turboprop-powered aircraft...
aircraft, A-90 Orlyonok
A-90 Orlyonok
-External links:* * * * * *...
Ekranoplane and the Tupolev Tu-95
Tupolev Tu-95
The Tupolev Tu-95 is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the former Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040...
strategic bomber among others. The later models produced around 15,000 kW.
In 1954, he began work on a two-flow jet engine with afterburner, called the Kuznetsov NK-6, which was never completed.
In 1957, He received the Order of Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
for his contributions.
From 1959 onwards, he was also involved in the development of engines for the projected Soviet N1
N1 rocket
N-1 was a heavy lift rocket intended to deliver payloads beyond low Earth orbit, acting as the Soviet counterpart to the NASA Saturn V rocket. This heavy lift booster had the capability of lifting very heavy loads into orbit, designed with manned extra-orbital travel in mind...
moon rocket. The primary engines for the development rockets were Kuznetsov NK-15 and Kuznetsov NK-15V (later developed into Kuznetsov NK-33
NK-33
The NK-33 and NK-43 are rocket engines designed and built in the late 1960s and early 1970s by the Kuznetsov Design Bureau. They were intended for the ill-fated Soviet N-1 rocket moon shot. The NK-33 engine achieves the highest thrust-to-weight ratio of any Earth-launchable rocket engine, whilst...
and Kuznetsov NK-43). Ultimately, these designs were successful but arrived to late. By the time the bugs in this very advanced design - to this day has the highest thrust to weight ratio of any liquid fuel rocket engine ever produced - were rectified the N1 rocket program had been cancelled.
In the 1960s he developed aircraft engines specifically for the world's first supersonic transport aircraft to fly Tupolev Tu-144
Tupolev Tu-144
The Tupolev Tu-144 was a Soviet supersonic transport aircraft and remains one of only two SSTs to enter commercial service, the other being the Concorde...
, the Kuznetsov NK-144
Kuznetsov NK-144
The Kuznetsov NK-144 is an afterburning turbofan engine made by the Soviet Kuznetsov Design Bureau. Used on the early models of the Tupolev Tu-144 supersonic aircraft, it was very inefficient and was replaced with the Kolesov RD-36-51 turbojet engine....
turbofan. This was however inefficient and replaced by a Kolesov turbotjet.
Based on these design experiences, the engine Kuznetsov NK-321 (also known as NK-32-1) was developed later for the supersonic, variable-geometry heavy bomber Tupolev Tu-160
Tupolev Tu-160
The Tupolev Tu-160 is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Although several civil and military transport aircraft are larger in overall dimensions, the Tu-160 is currently the world's largest combat aircraft, largest...
, which is also in the more powerful version of the Tupolev Tu-144 (version Tu-144LL).
In the late 1980s OKB- 267 began the development of the fuel sipping Turbo Fan Engine Kuznetsov NK-93, which has a by-pass ratio of almost 17:1 and thus an engine of a unique design in the world.
Awards
- Hero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
(Twice) - Honorary Citizen Kuybyshev in 1982.