Water Softening Plant

Water Softener Plant is a is a process where Calcium and Magnesium ions are exchanged for Sodium ions. Calcium and Magnesium ions associated with Alkalinity contribute for scale formation. These ions are also called as Total hardness. The strong acid Cation exchange resin in Sodium form is used for softening the water. When the resin is exhausted, it is regenerated with brine solution (Sodium Chloride) 10 % or 15% brine solution is normally used for the regeneration. If the brine solution is passed from the bottom of the resin and service flow is from the top, then it is called as Up flow softener. If the service and regeneration flows are from top to bottom, then it is called as down flow softeners. The softeners are run up to the Hardness slip of 5 ppm as CaCO3 in the treated water, which is called as Industrial Zero hardness.
Process :

The process of Water Softening mainly rely on the removal of Ca2+ and Mg2+ from a solution or the sequestration of these ions, i.e. binding them to a molecule that removes their ability to form scale or interfere with soaps. Removal is achieved by ion exchange and by precipitation methods.

Mineral tank and the brine tank are the main constituents of the water softening system. The water softening system consists of a mineral tank and a brine tank. The mineral tank and the water supply pipe is connected due to which water passes through the tank before it can be used. Mineral tank consist of negatively charged beads or resins that attracts positively charged calcium and magnesium.

The surface of the resin gets coated with the calcium and magnesium minerals. The resin is cleared by flushing a strong sodium (salt) solution held in the brine tank. The sodium ions are powerful and they easily overpower the calcium and magnesium ions and drives them off of the resins which is later drained out of the unit.
Features