RD-120

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
RD-120 (РД-120)
Country of origin
Staged combustion cycle (rocket)
Performance
Thrust, vacuumStandard: 834 kN (187,000 lbf)
Uprated: 912 kN (205,000 lbf)
Thrust-to-weight ratioStandard: 75.55[note 1]
Uprated: 82.66[note 2]
Chamber pressureStandard: 162.8 bar (16.28 MPa)
Uprated: 178.1 bar (17.81 MPa)
Specific impulse, vacuum350 s (3.4 km/s)
Burn time315 seconds
Dimensions
Length3.87 m (12.7 ft)
Diameter1.95 m (6.4 ft)
Dry weight1,125 kg (2,480 lb)
Used in
Zenit-2, Zenit-3SL
References
References[1][2][3]

The RD-120 (

Yuzhmash in Ukraine.[5]

It should not be confused with the

Soviet Energia
launch system.

History

During the

SSME, was project RD-130 within NPO Energomash. But when KBKhA tackled the development, named it RD-0120, a name that is always a source of confusion with the engine of the current article. In exchange for them tackling the difficult development of the cryogenic propellant engine, Energomash assumed the responsibility of developing the second stage engine of the 11D77, which would eventually be known as the RD-120.[6]
The fact that the RD-120 and the RD-0120 had this intertwined conception, within the same program, and with a swap of designer bureaus, does not help to avoid the confusion.

On March 16, 1976 the Government passed a resolution for the development of Zenit, the RD-171 and RD-120.

Yuzhmash.[8]
[9] In February, 1977, the preliminary design of the RD-120 was finished.[7] And on January 31, 1979 the first fire test of the RD-120 was performed.[7]

The RD-120 had a complicated debut, with the second stage failing on its first (April 13, 1985), second (June 21, 1985) and fourth (December 28, 1985) flights. While only the first failure could be attributed to the RD-120 —the propellant flow regulator had a leak and the stage ran out of propellant before being orbital—, the program initial performance was quite troubling. Eventually it proved its worth, and by December 1987 the RD-120 (and the Zenit) were considered commissioned.[7] But in the years of the Soviet dissolution, the second stage failed twice in a row on August 30, 1991 and February 5, 1992. Zenit had other second stage failures, but only the first one has ever been attributed directly to the RD-120 itself.[10]

During 1990, the NPO Energomash Head of the Propulsion Department, and leading designer, V.K.Chvanov, was awarded the State Prize for the creation of RD-120.[7]

In October 1992,

X-34 program, the one trying to develop a reusable launch vehicle for small payloads through a public/private association, the RD-120 was seriously considered for the 747 air-launched first stage. The RD-120 offered the best price and performance, and was the preferred choice of Orbital Sciences.[11] In fact, on October 11, 1995, the RD-120 was fired on the U.S. and thus became the first Russian rocket engine actively in production to be fired in American soil.[12] This version of the engine, would mainly differ from the Zenit in the addition of a gimbal mount that would enable it to offer TVC. This version would be known as the RD-120M.[12] The second private partner in the X-34 program, Rockwell International, wanted to use their own engine, the RS-27. And given the constrained schedule and budget of the program, the engine selection was not able to be resolved and the program cancelled and reimplemented as the pure NASA research program that the X-34 was later known for.[11]

Also during the 1990s, the Chinese acquired two or three models of the RD-120, and possibly some documentation.[13][14] This enabled them to bootstrap their indigenous kerosene staged combustion engine program, the YF-100 and YF-115.[14]

The RD-120 had significant margins built in, which allowed between 2001 and 2003 to develop a modernized 'Uprated' or 'Forced' version of the engine for Sea Launch which increased thrust 10% to 912 kN (205,000 lbf).[9] It also incorporated many improvements, which allowed it to increase chamber pressure and thrust without additional weight gain.[1] It still has a 5% extra margin, extended the design life to 4260 seconds, the number of ignitions to 19 and allows to consider it as a base for a reusable rocket, the engine is still not capable of restarting inflight. After a program that used 4 test engines and performed 28 hot fire tests with an accumulated running time of 8,135 seconds, the engine was qualified for flight.[9] Testing started in March 2004 and it had its debut flight on February 15, 2006 where it successfully orbited EchoStar X.[15][16]

Versions

This engine has had two operative versions and some proposed variations:

RD-120 Family of Engines
Name RD-120 RD-120
(augmented thrust) 		RD-120K RD-870
AKA 11D123 11D123
11D123M?
Development years 1976–1985 2001–2003 1986– 2016–
Engine Type
upper stage liquid rocket engine
Propellant
LOX
(O/F 2.6)
Chamber Pressure 16.28 MPa (2,361 psi) 17.81 MPa (2,583 psi) 17.63 MPa (2,557 psi) 16 MPa (160 kgf/cm2)
Thrust (Vac) 833.6 kN (187,400 lbf) 912 kN (205,000 lbf) 853.2 kN (191,800 lbf) 867.5 kN (88.46 tf)
Thrust (SL) N/A N/A 784.5 kN (176,400 lbf) 781 kN (79.6 tf)
Isp (Vac) 350 s (3.4 km/s) 350 s (3.4 km/s) 330 s (3.2 km/s) 332 s (3.26 km/s)
Isp (SL) N/A N/A 304.4 s (2.985 km/s) 298 s (2.92 km/s)
Throttle 70–110% 70–110% 50–105% 98.5–101.5%
Nozzle Expansion 114.5 114.5 49.6 N/A
Burn time 290 seconds 290 seconds 305 seconds 200 seconds
Engine life 2,200 seconds 2,200 seconds 2,200 seconds N/A
Length 3,872 mm (152.4 in) 3,872 mm (152.4 in) 2,435 mm (95.9 in) 2,746 mm (108.1 in)
Diameter 1,954 mm (76.9 in) 1,954 mm (76.9 in) 1,400 mm (55 in) 1,436 mm (56.5 in)
Weight 1,125 kg (2,480 lb) 1,125 kg (2,480 lb) 1,080 kg (2,380 lb) 1,280 kg (2,820 lb)
Used on Zenit-2 Second Stage Zenit-3SL Second Stage Project Cyclone-4M First Stage
First Launch 1985-04-13 1999-03-28 N/A N/A
Status In Production In Production Project Project
References [1][2][3][4][5][25]

Technological derivatives

The family tree of the RD-120

Not considering straight variations of the RD-120, this very influential engine has been the foundations of many engines spanning derivatives in four countries. The Ukrainian RD-801 and RD-810, the Chinese YF-100 and YF-115, as well as the Indian SCE-200 can be traced directly back to the RD-120. The Soviet/Russian RD-170 family of engines base developed on the lessons learned from the RD-120 project.

RD-170 family

As stated in the History section, the RD-120 was used as the first practical application of the

oxidizer rich staged combustion with kerosene propellant at NPO Energomash, before tackling the RD-170. So, while this later family of engines have more aggressive performance parameters and the original project (the RD-123) predates the RD-120, it was indeed the first actual design of the series development.[8]

RD-801 and RD-810

While

LOX and kerosene propellant was decided.[27]

Not only had Yuzhnoye mastered the most complex cycle for the propellant (

Yuzhmash in Ukraine, and the RD-120 thrust augmentation project of 2001 to 2003 had been a mixed project between the three companies.[27]

On the base of this experience, a family of derivatives engines were proposed. The

RD-809 are mostly modifications of the RD-8, but the RD-801 and the RD-810 members of the family can be considered true descendants of the RD-120.[27] One characteristic of this family is the limitation of keeping the preburner output temperature below 500 °C (932 °F).[27]

SCE-200

On June 2, 2005, India and Ukraine signed the Framework Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of India on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which would enter in force on February 15, 2006.[28] According to official press release on March 26, 2013 by Ukrainian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, development of a rocket engine for Indian launch vehicles initiated in 2006 under a joint Indian-Ukrainian project named "Jasmine".[29][30]

The engine blue prints supposedly transferred by Ukraine to India, have been identified as the RD-810.[31] Since the transfer specifically excluded engineering analysis methods and software, the Indians did, in fact, had to develop most technologies and engineering models to manufacture and certify the engine.[32][33][34] Given the practically identical specifications to the RD-810, and the fact that even the Indians used the Yuzhnoye renders of the engine in their presentations, it can be considered at least heavily influenced by the RD-120.[35]

YF-100 and YF-115

During the 1990s, the Chinese acquired two or three models of the RD-120, and possibly some documentation.[13][14] This enabled them to bootstrap their indigenous kerosene staged combustion engine program, the YF-100 and YF-115.[14]

As was the same case with the Indians and the RD-810, the transfer of the physical engines and blue prints only help in the development. But the development required ten years of research, requiring the mastering of 70 key technologies, the development of 50 new materials and the construction of 61 sets of engines with a combined total of more than 40,000 seconds of ignition time by 2013.[36]

Derivatives comparison

RD-120 Technological Derivatives
Name RD-120 RD-120
(augmented thrust) 		RD-191 YF-100 RD-801 RD-810 SCE-200
AKA 11D123 11D123
11D123M?
Country of Origin Soviet Union Russia/Ukraine Russia China Ukraine Ukraine India
Designer NPO Energomash NPO Energomash/
Yuzhnoye
 NPO Energomash AALPT Yuzhnoye ISRO
Development years 1976–1985 2001–2003 1999–2011 2000–2015 2005– 2005– 2005–
Engine Type
upper stage liquid rocket engine
Propellant
LOX
(O/F 2.6)
LOX
(O/F 2.6)
LOX
(O/F 2.65)
LOX
(O/F 2.65)
Chamber Pressure 16.28 MPa (2,361 psi) 17.81 MPa (2,583 psi) 25.75 MPa (3,735 psi) 18 MPa (2,600 psi) 18 MPa (2,600 psi) 18 MPa (2,600 psi) 18 MPa (2,600 psi)
Thrust (Vac) 833.6 kN (187,400 lbf) 912 kN (205,000 lbf) 2,090 kN (470,000 lbf) 1,340 kN (300,000 lbf) 1,340 kN (300,000 lbf) 2,105 kN (473,000 lbf) 2,030 kN (460,000 lbf)
Thrust (SL) N/A N/A 1,920 kN (430,000 lbf) 1,200 kN (270,000 lbf) 1,198 kN (269,000 lbf) 1,876 kN (422,000 lbf) 1,820 kN (410,000 lbf)
Isp (Vac) 350 s (3.4 km/s) 350 s (3.4 km/s) 337.5 s (3.310 km/s) 335 s (3.29 km/s) 336 s (3.30 km/s) 335.5 s (3.290 km/s) 335 s (3.29 km/s)
Isp (SL) N/A N/A 311.2 s (3.052 km/s) 300 s (2.9 km/s) 300.7 s (2.949 km/s) 299 s (2.93 km/s) 299 s (2.93 km/s)
Throttle 70–110% 70–110% 27–105% 65–100% N/A N/A 65–105%
Nozzle Expansion 114.5 114.5 37 35 N/A N/A N/A
Burn time 290 seconds 290 seconds 325 155 seconds 200 seconds N/A N/A
Length 3,872 mm (152.4 in) 3,872 mm (152.4 in) 3,780 mm (149 in) N/A N/A N/A N/A
Diameter 1,954 mm (76.9 in) 1,954 mm (76.9 in) 2,100 mm (83 in) 1,338 mm (52.7 in) N/A N/A N/A
Weight 1,125 kg (2,480 lb) 1,125 kg (2,480 lb) 2,200 kg (4,900 lb) N/A 1,630 kg (3,590 lb) 2,800 kg (6,200 lb) 2,700 kg (6,000 lb)
Used on Zenit-2 Second Stage Zenit-3SL Second Stage Angara LM-5, LM-6
and LM-7		 Mayak Mayak
ULV
First Launch 1985-04-13 1999-03-28 2014-07-09 2015-09-20 N/A N/A N/A
Status Retired In Production In Production In Production Project Project In Development
References [1][2][3][4][5]

See also

  • NPO Energomash – Engine designer.
  • Yuzhmash
    – Engine manufacturer.
  • Zenit – Launch vehicle that used the RD-120 as second stage.
  • YF-100 – Chinese engine that supposedly is based on the RD-120 technology.[37]
  • RD-810 – Ukrainian engine based on the RD-120 technology.
  • SCE-200 – Indian engine supposedly based on RD-120 technology.[37]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "RD-120". NPO Energomash. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "NPO Energomash list of engines". NPO Energomash. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Энергомаш, научно-производственное объединение энергетического машиностроения имени академика В.П.Глушко, государственное предприятие [State Enterprise Academician V.P. Glushko Energomash Research and Production Association of Power Engineering] (PDF). The Aerospace Thermal Technology Department of the Moscow Aviation Institute. 1998-10-16. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  4. ^ a b c d "Двигатели 1944-2000: Аавиационные, Ракетные, Морские, Промышленные" [Aviadvigatel 19442-2000: Aviation, rocketry, naval and industry] (PDF) (in Russian). pp. 265–266. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  5. ^ a b c "Liquid rocket engine RD-120". Yuzhmash. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015.
  6. ISBN 978-0-387-69848-9
    . Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Вехи истории" [Milestones] (in Russian). NPO Energomash. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014.
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-0-387-69848-9
    . Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  9. ^ a b c "History". NPO Energomash. Archived from the original on 18 November 2014.
  10. ^ Ed Kyle (2014-08-25). "Space Launch Report: Zenit Data Sheet". Space Launch Report. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d "The Policy Origins of the X-33. Part VII: The X-34". NASA Headquarters. 2000-03-25. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
  12. ^ a b c "Pratt & Whitney conducts the first U.S. test firing of a production Russian rocket engine". PR Newswire. 1995-10-11. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
  13. ^ a b UKRAINE/MTCR/NSG: CENTRIFUGAL CHARGING PUMPS TO CHINA/CHINESE RD-120 DEVELOPMENT (Report). WikiLeaks. 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  14. ^ a b c d "Chang Zheng-5 (Long March-5)". SinoDefence. Archived from the original on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  15. ISBN 978-0-387-69848-9
    . Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  16. ^ Gunter Dirk Krebs (2015-06-28). "Zenit-3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  17. ^ Zak, Anatoly (2013-01-31). "Stage II of Zenit rocket". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  18. ^ Wade, Mark. "RD-120K". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on March 21, 2002. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  19. ^ Brügge, Norbert. "ULV-22 (Edinstvo)". B14643.de. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  20. ^ "RD-146". Archived from the original on December 28, 2016.
  21. ^ Wade, Mark. "RD-182". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on June 25, 2002. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  22. ^ Brügge, Norbert. "Riksha". B14643.de. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  23. ^ Brügge, Norbert. "Propulsion Riksha". B14643.de. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  24. ^ Wade, Mark. "RD-182M". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on May 5, 2002. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  25. ^ a b "RD-870 could become Ukraine's first booster engine".
  26. ISBN 978-0-387-69848-9
    .
  27. ^
    ISSN 1727-7337. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 16 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Legal basis of Ukraine and India". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  29. ^ "Урядовий портал :: Україна розробляє ракетний двигун для індійської ракети-носія". www.kmu.gov.ua. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  30. ^ "Урядовий портал :: Ukraine designs rocket for Indian launch vehicle". www.kmu.gov.ua. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  31. ^ Brügge, Norbert (2016-07-11). "ULV Propulsion". B14643.de. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  32. ^ UKRAINE: APPEAL FOR USG FORBEARANCE ON INDIA SPACE PROGRAM COOPERATION (Report). WikiLeaks. 2007-09-07. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  33. ^ UKRAINE: U.S. FEEDBACK ON SLV ENGINE COOPERATION WITH INDIA AND MIXER CASE (Report). WikiLeaks. 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  34. ^ UKRAINE: YUZHNOYE AND ISRO PROPOSED ROCKET COOPERATION (Report). WikiLeaks. 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  35. ^ "Semi-Cryogenic Engines" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-08.
  36. ^ "120吨级液氧煤油发动机项目验收" [120-ton liquid oxygen kerosene engine project acceptance] (in Chinese). CASC. 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  37. ^ a b Brügge, Norbert. "The family of the rocket engine Energomash RD-120". B14643.de. Retrieved 2015-08-06.

Notes

  1. ^
  2. ^

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RD-120&oldid=1178608801"
This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article: RD-120. Articles is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license; additional terms may apply.Privacy Policy