Image Place Holder rightMost manufacturers make two basic types of water softeners. These can be classified as fully automatic and demand initiated regeneration models.
A fully automatic softener is usually equipped with a timer which automatically initiates every step in the regeneration process. The regenerating of the unit is usually done at night when water usage is at a minimum.
With a demand initiated regeneration unit all operations, including bypass (of hard or soft water depending on design) and return to service are initiated and performed automatically in response to the demand for treated water. Salt storage shall be sufficient for multiple regenerations.
Salt for regeneration may be put in the softener in any of several different ways depending on the type of equipment. With some models salt is placed directly in the unit through an opening at the top, at the proper time during the regeneration.
In other units the salt brine form may be stored in a separate closed tank. When needed, this brine is forced into the softener by fresh water under pressure. Brine can also be stored in a non-pressure container and be drawn into the softener by suction, to feed the proper amount of brine into the softener tank.
Water softeners are rated in terms of grains of capacity. This capacity refers to the ability of the unit to remove the stated number of grains of hardness from a supply of water. The capacity of a unit depends on the amount of ion exchanger in the softener, the amount of salt used to regenerate it, plus a variety of other design factors such as regeneration flow rates, etc.
The ion exchange process outlined up to this point meets the requirements for the preparation of fully soft water for home needs.
Industrial demands, on the other hand, often call for water that is completely free of mineral contaminants. For this reason, the treatment of the water must be carried further than is necessary for home needs. (--> Next) |