The comparison between the PD-14 and PS-90A3 in the aviation community is often presented as a battle between a new generation and the “legacy of the past.” Some even suggested installing PS-90A series engines on the MC-21.
But if you analyze the characteristics of the two power plants, it becomes clear – they are not competitors, but are designed for different classes of aircraft. “Pervy Tekhnichesky” conducted a direct comparison of the engines and identified the strengths of each.
Thrust
The PD-14 develops thrust of about 14,000 kgf, while the PS-90A3 develops approximately 16,000–17,500 kgf. The difference is about 12–20% in favor of the PS-90A3, and this is no longer an error.
However, a direct comparison here is incorrect. The PD-14 is a new medium-class engine, while the PS-90A3 is a heavier power unit for larger platforms of the previous architecture.
Fuel Efficiency
The fuel consumption of the PD-14 is about 0.52–0.54 kg/kgf·h, while the PS-90A3 “consumes” about 0.59–0.60 kg/kgf·h. The difference is approximately 10–15% in favor of the PD-14.
The PS-90A3 is a proven engine with extensive flight hours, while the PD-14 is a new engine that is gradually building operational statistics on the new MC-21-310.
Mass
The mass of the PD-14 is approximately 2870 kg, while the PS-90A3 is slightly heavier – 2950 kg. The difference is within 80 kg, which is essentially an engineering error for this class of power plants.
However, the PD-14 slightly wins in terms of the mass of the finished power plant due to the wider use of composites and modern nacelle aerodynamics.
Technological Level
The bypass ratio of the PS-90A3 is 4.5, and for the PD-14, it is around 8.5. Both engines do not belong to the new generation geared turbofan schemes, so it's about evolution, not revolution.
The PD-14 uses a more modern gas-dynamic scheme, an increased bypass ratio, and improved efficiency parameters at cruise modes. The PS-90A3 is a deeply modernized base of the Soviet engine-building school.
Operation and Reliability
The PS-90 family relies on millions of hours of real operation of the basic platform on the Tu-204, Il-96, and other aircraft.
The PD-14 is currently in the stage of forming full operational statistics in airlines.
Therefore, the PD-14 and PS-90A3 cannot be considered direct competitors. These are engines of different aviation classes with different tasks and different design philosophies, however, their “pure” characteristics are quite suitable for comparison in the comments to this article.