Softened Water Equipment

I. Definition of Water Softening Equipment:

Equipment that reduces water hardness by replacing calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ions in the water with sodium (Na) ions. The softening process does not reduce the total salt content in the water. The regenerant used is large-particle industrial salt (chemically known as sodium chloride, chemical formula: NaCl), without added iodine or other chemicals.
II. Working Principle of Water Softening Equipment:
Water softening equipment primarily uses ion exchange resin to soften water. When raw water passes through the ion exchange resin, the calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ions in the raw water are adsorbed by the resin. When the adsorption reaches saturation and can no longer adsorb, the multi-port valve changes the flow path to draw saturated salt solution (regenerant) into the equipment. The sodium (Na) ions in the saturated salt solution replace the calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ions in the water, which are discharged as wastewater. After the replacement is complete, the ion exchange resin regains its adsorption capacity. This cycle of the water softening equipment achieves continuous water softening.
III. Working Process of Water Softening Equipment:
The working sequence consists of five processes: operation, backwashing, slow rinsing with salt absorption (regeneration replacement), brine tank refilling, and fast rinsing. All processes of different water softening equipment are very similar, though some additional steps may be included due to practical工艺 differences or control requirements. Any water softening equipment based on sodium ion exchange is developed from these five processes.
A. Operation (Service)
Raw water, under a certain pressure (0.1-0.6 MPa) and flow rate, passes through the multi-port valve chamber into a container (resin tank) filled with ion exchange resin. The sodium (Na) contained in the ion exchange resin replaces the cations in the water (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, etc.), and the calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ions are discharged through the multi-port valve wastewater outlet, achieving softening of hard water.
B. Backwashing
After the ion exchange resin becomes saturated and ineffective, backwashing is performed with water from bottom to top before regeneration. The purposes of backwashing are twofold: ① To loosen the compacted resin layer from operation, facilitating full contact between resin particles and the regenerant; ② To discharge suspended solids and broken resin accumulated on the resin surface with the backwash water, preventing increasing flow resistance in the water softening equipment.
C. Slow Rinsing with Salt Absorption (Regeneration Replacement)
The regenerant, i.e., saturated salt solution, enters the resin tank and flows through the resin layer. The sodium (Na) ions in the high-concentration salt solution replace the adsorbed calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ions in the resin, which are discharged through the wastewater outlet, restoring the adsorption capacity of the exhausted resin. After salt absorption, some brine that did not participate in regeneration remains in the equipment. Slow rinsing with clean water at a flow rate less than or equal to that of the regenerant is used to fully utilize the regeneration effect of the brine and reduce the load of fast rinsing.
D. Brine Tank Refilling
The multi-port valve, controlled manually or by timer, injects water into the brine tank to prepare the amount of brine needed for one regeneration.
E. Fast Rinsing
The purpose is to remove residual waste brine from the regeneration process in the resin layer. Rinsing is typically performed at the normal flow rate until the effluent meets standards.
IV. Advantages of Lusheng Water Softening Equipment
◎ Sealing parts are made of high-hardness, high-flatness ceramic磨片, resulting in low failure rate and long service life;
◎ The microcomputer controller has a memory function, retaining all original settings after power outage and restoration;
◎ Regeneration cycle, backwashing, salt absorption, refilling, fast rinsing, and other steps can be independently preset, making the regeneration process more time-saving and salt-efficient;
◎ Regeneration cycle is set based on water usage, ensuring softer water and preventing hard water from passing through during regeneration.
V. Parameters of Lusheng Water Softening Equipment
◎ Raw water supply pressure: 0.10 MPa-0.60 MPa
◎ Raw water hardness: ≤12 mmol/L (calculated as 1/2Ca²⁺, 1/2Mg²⁺)
◎ Total dissolved solids (TDS): ≤700 mg/L
◎ Effluent hardness: ≤0.03 mmol/L (calculated as 1/2Ca²⁺, 1/2Mg²⁺)
◎ Raw water turbidity: <5 NTU
◎ Raw water temperature: 1-40°C
◎ Ambient temperature: 1-50°C
◎ Power consumption: <20 W/day
◎ Regeneration salt is large-grain NaCl, without added iodine or calcium salt.
VI. Models of Lusheng Water Softening Equipment
Model: TMFB200 Flow Type
Water production capacity: 1 m³/h
Resin tank: 200×1100 (mm)
Resin quantity: 25 L
Salt tank volume: 60 L
VII. Application Fields of Water Softening Equipment
Soft water equipment can be widely used for softening makeup water in systems such as steam boilers, hot water boilers, heat exchangers, evaporative condensers, air conditioning, direct-fired chillers, etc. It is also applicable for treating domestic water in hotels, restaurants, office buildings, apartments, homes, etc., and for softening water treatment in industries such as food, beverage, brewing, laundry, printing and dyeing, chemical, and pharmaceutical, as well as for pretreatment in advanced water treatment.