128 IMPELLER PUMPS Jn propeller pumps 7= 2k sinBy (8) where r denotes the outer radius of the blades and k = 4-5. These formulae make it possible to calculate the number of impeller blades for clean liquids. For liquids conveying solid matter, the number of blades usually lies between 1 and 3, in order to obtain large flow-sections. 4. Range of application of impeller pumps As the specific speed n, decreases, the impeller passages get progressively longer and for small discharges, they also get too narrow, while the area of the shrouds gets very large. As a result, the hydraulic resistances in the passages and the disc-friction of the shrouds rotating in the liquid absorb a consider- able part of the input power of the pump and lower its efficiency. The lowest value of the specific speed x, is thus dictated by economic factors. On the basis of experiments carried out on low specific speed impellers, it has been established that the lower limit of specific speed is (n,Q)min © 10 0) below which, it does not pay to manufacture impeller pumps. Hence, the range of application of single-stage impeller pumps may be specified by the inequality V2 _ 519 (10) Vn hence > 10 VE. jcc an H <0-0464 ae or m (2) For a rotational speed n = 3000 r.p.m. Qmin = 11-1 x 10-° H3? m/sec (13) Hnax = 0-2 104 Q?” a4) E.g. from equation (14) and for Q=11/sec=0-001 m®/sec, the maximum total head Hyax = 20 m. From equations (11) and (12), we may draw the conclusion that it is most difficult to design low-discharge high-lift centrifugal pumps. In these cases, we use multi-stage pumps, distributing the total head uniformly between several stages.