How does a Water Softener work?
Softeners have been used since the early 1900's to prevent scale in boilers, so the technology is well understood and their performance is predictable and reliable.
They involve a process called ion exchange which uses an ion exchange resin. The resin comprises tiny polymeric beads which are specially formulated so that they can be charged with certain ions. Calcium and magnesium, the causes of scale and scum from hard water, are referred to as ions, and as water passes through the resin the calcium and magnesium ions swap places with the sodium ions on the resin. Sodium salts, unlike calcium and magnesium, are highly soluble so sodium does not cause scale or scum. When all the sodium ions have been exchanged for calcium or magnesium, the resin must be regenerated by recharging it with sodium ions. This is done by flushing the resin with salt solution (brine).
Softeners are supplied in different shapes and sizes. All have a tank to hold the resin through which the water is passed to soften it, all have a tank to store and dissolve the salt for the regenerating brine and all softeners regenerate automatically. There are various ways in which softeners determine when to regenerate - some are fitted with a timer and some regenerate after a pre-set volume of water has been treated.
Ion exchange involves the use of a resin bed. Ion exchange resin is a very small synthetic bead-like material that looks a little bit like brown sugar. The beads are very small, about the size of a pin head.
The process is called Ion exchange because the ions calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are exchanged for small amounts of sodium (Na).
Water softeners use ion exchange (see above) and although they all differ in design they do share the following characteristics.
Operation and Maintenance
Maintenance of water softeners is largely confined to restocking the salt supply for the brine solution. Semiautomatic models require either a manual start of the regeneration cycle or regular service for a fee.
The resin should never wear out. If resins are not regenerated on a regular basis, at the proper intervals, they may become contaminated with slime or impurities and require replacement. Resins can also become clogged with tiny particles of iron if the raw water contains that mineral. Back-washing, that is, reversing the normal flow of water through the treatment unit, may be required to remove the iron. Alternately, special additives may be added to the brine to help minimize this condition.
Type choice:
Softener equipment applies cation resin for softing raw water,its main target is to use cation resin to adsorp (main parts of ),encreasing the hardness of raw water.
1. Users can choose manual operation control system for saving cost.
2. If users using for 24 hours can accord to water using time choosing for rebirth
3. Uses can according to water quality requirement:first grade multi-media filter,which can remove mud,rust,colloid and suspension in water.Second grade activated carbon filter,which can remove color,olfactory,biochemistry organic in water and encrease the left oxygen value and pollution in water.Third grade equiped softener equipment.
4. Effluent water capacity achieves the water supply of national low-pressure bioler.
5. Time control- type;flow control- type.In working ,apply single-tank,double-tank and multi-tank etc. other varied combination method.When choosing,users can choose as their needs.In operation,it has not only automatic function,but also is manual operation.
Technoloty index and working
Water pressure:0.18-0.6Mpa
Working temperature:1°c-55°c
Hardness of raw water: <8mmol/L
Operation method:manual/automatic
Hardness of effluent water: ≤0.03mmol/L
water flow: 0.3-100 m3/hour
Rebirth method:
Control method: time or flow
Working electric: 220V/50Hz
Water softener for hardness removing
Model I : dual-tank and dual-valve, two tanks running simultaneously and regenerate respectively.
Model |
water output
(m³/hour) |
Resin-tank<mm>
(diameter*Height) |
Brine-tank(Liter) |
Resin
(kg) |
connecting pipe(inch) |
YL-II-0.5A |
0.5 |
200×1200 |
60 |
40 |
3/4 |
YL-II-1A |
1 |
250×1400 |
60 |
80 |
3/4 |
YL-II-2A |
2 |
300×1400 |
100 |
120 |
1 |
YL-II-3A |
3 |
350×1650 |
200 |
160 |
1 |
YL-II-4A |
4 |
400×1800 |
200 |
240 |
1 |
YL-II-5A |
5 |
500×1800 |
200 |
360 |
1 |
YL-II-6A |
6 |
600×1850 |
350 |
480 |
1.5 |
YL-II-10A |
10 |
750×1850 |
500 |
720 |
1.5 |
YL-II-18A |
14-18 |
900×1850 |
500 |
720 |
1.5 |
YL-II-25A |
20--25 |
750*1850 |
500 |
720 |
2 |
YL-II-36A |
30--36 |
900*1900 |
800 |
1040 |
3 |
YL-II-50A |
45--50 |
1200*2400 |
1000 |
1440 |
3 |
YL-II-70A |
60--70 |
1200*2400 |
1500 |
2000 |
3 |
YL-II-100A |
80--100 |
1500*2500 |
2000 |
3200 |
3 |
Model II.:dual-tank and single valve,running mode :one tank is running,
the other one is stand-by.
Model |
water output |
Resin-tank<mm> |
Brine tank
(Liter) |
Resin
(kg) |
connecting pipe(inch) |
m³/hour |
(diameter*Height) |
YL-II-1B |
1 |
250×1400 |
60 |
80 |
3/4 |
YL-II-2B |
2 |
300×1400 |
100 |
120 |
1 |
YL-II-3B |
3 |
350×1400 |
100 |
160 |
1 |
YL-II-4B |
4 |
400×1650 |
200 |
240 |
1 |
YL-II-5B |
5 |
500×1750 |
300 |
360 |
1 |
YL-II-6B |
6 |
600×1850 |
350 |
480 |
1.5 |
YL-II-10B |
8--10 |
750×1900 |
500 |
720 |
1.5 |
YL-II-18B |
12--18 |
900*2400 |
800 |
1040 |
2 |
YL-II-25B |
20--25 |
1000*2200 |
1000 |
1440 |
2 |
YL-II-35B |
30--35 |
1200*2400 |
1500 |
2000 |
3 |
YL-II-50B |
40--50 |
1500*2400 |
2000 |
3200 |
3 |
Model III. Single-tank and single-valve(time setting based or flow rate based)
Model |
water output
(m³/hour) |
Resin-Tank<mm>
(diameter*Height) |
Brine tank
(Liter) |
Resin
(kg) |
connecting pipe(inch) |
YL-I-0.5 |
0.5 |
200×1200 |
60 |
20 |
3/4 |
YL-I-1 |
1 |
250×1400 |
60 |
40 |
3/4 |
YL-I-2 |
2 |
300×1400 |
100 |
60 |
1 |
YL-I-3 |
3 |
350×1650 |
200 |
80 |
1 |
YL-I-4 |
4 |
400×1650 |
200 |
120 |
1 |
YL-I-5 |
5 |
500×1800 |
200 |
180 |
1 |
YL-I-6 |
6 |
600×1850 |
350 |
240 |
1.5 |
YL-I-10 |
10 |
750×1850 |
500 |
360 |
1.5 |
YL-I-16 |
16 |
900*2200 |
1000 |
520 |
2 |
YL-I-20 |
20 |
1000*2200 |
1500 |
720 |
2 |
YL-I-28 |
28 |
1200*2400 |
2000 |
1000 |
3 |
YL-I-50 |
50 |
1500*2400 |
2000 |
1600 |
3 |
Decide whether complete water softening is necessary.
Just because you have hard water, doesn't mean it's necessary to soften it. The techniques used for softening hard water can have adverse effects that outweigh the annoyances of having hard water. If having hard water is something you can work around, consider living with it or making small changes noted in the next method that can improve your lifestyle without going to the expense of putting in a water softening system.
Ion water softeners replace the mineral ions with sodium ions. This makes your chores easier, but since the water has a high salt content it kills plants, makes soil inhospitable to new growth, and can harm bodies of water where the saltwater is deposited.
However, softening your water will extend the lifespan of your plumbing and make chores that involve the use of soap a lot easier.
A good compromise is to attach your water softening system to the hot water line only, so that only half of the water you use is softened with sodium.
Boil your water before drinking it.
You might also want to use boiled water for cleaning your kitchen and bathroom, brushing your teeth, bathing and washing your hair to increase the effectiveness of your cleaning products.
After boiling water for a few minutes, allow it to cool. Visible lime particles will settle on the surface of the water. Scoop off the top layer of particles and discard them before using the water.
Alternately, allow the water to sit longer and the particles will fall to the bottom. Scoop out the fresh water carefully so as to not disturb the settled lime particles. Discard the bottom few inches of water where lime particles remain.