Numerous major issues can be brought on by hard water. Lime-scale can accumulate in water with dissolved calcium and magnesium ions, which can harm and ruin industrial machinery like heat exchangers. Furthermore, these ions make wash water less effective by dramatically reducing the lathering power, and general effectiveness of soaps. Thus, hard water is combated by water softening.

Let’s learn how water softeners with sodium cycles operate.

Exchange of Ions

Water softening processes commonly employ ion exchange technology. The procedure uses an exchange medium to swap out undesirable ions for more desired ones. The ion exchange unit must switch into recharge mode to replenish the medium, as this medium becomes saturated with the ions taken from the hard water.

In order to reverse the ion exchange process during the recharge process, the medium must be passed over a highly concentrated solution, containing the desired ions. The ion exchanger can be restarted after being refilled.

How do water softeners with sodium cycles operate?

Sodium-cycle softening is the most popular ion exchange technique for water softening. The ion exchange medium in this procedure is a bed of porous beads. These beads, which are also known as softener resin, add sodium ions to the water in place of calcium and magnesium ions.

After becoming saturated, the beads go through a regeneration cycle in which brine is passed over them, causing the sodium ions to take the place of the magnesium and calcium ions once more. Utilizing regenerate fluid and rinse water, the hardness generated during the regeneration cycle is flushed.

Parameters governing sodium-cycle water softening

In the sodium-cycle softening process, there are four key parameters:

1- Backwash

The regeneration cycle starts with a backwash, which shifts the direction of water flow up through the resin to remove any suspended solids, which have accumulated on top of it. An efficient backwash normally takes 10 minutes to complete, and can enlarge the resin bed by 50%. When the water begins to run clear, the backwash cycle is over.

2- Brine Draw

After the backwash, a brine solution with an approximate concentration of 8–12% is sprayed on top of the resin bed for roughly 20 minutes. The sodium ions replace the hardness of the resin beads, due to the high concentration of sodium ions in the brine.

3- Brine pull

A flow rate of 0.5 to 1.0 gallons per minute per cubic foot of resin is ideal for the brine pull.

After the brine draw is finished, the resin bed is slowly rinsed with new clean water at a flow rate, comparable to the brine draw. The ion exchange procedure is now complete, and the extra brine is flushed down the drain.

4- Rapid rinse

The regeneration process is finished with a rapid rinse that uses 1.5 to 2.0 gallons of fresh water, per cubic foot of resin. This procedure removes any last bits of hardness and brine from the resin bed, taking 20 to 50 minutes.

The sodium-cycle softener is once more prepared to treat hard water after the resin bed has been renewed.

Conclusion

Lime-scale-producing ions can be removed by water softening, which also protects against the resulting equipment damage. It's crucial to choose a water softener that will work best for your unique situation.

Netsol Water is an industry leader in water softener manufacturing, offering a complete spectrum of products. We provide both stock and customized water softening solutions for every application, with the capacity to analyse and recommend the best water softening equipment, for commercial as well as light and heavy industrial usage.

We are also experts in building effective wastewater treatment facilities for businesses. We assist businesses in the energy and water treatment sectors in resolving their unique issues. We can assist industries in becoming more efficient and ecologically friendly, thanks to our skilled team, experience, cutting-edge technology, and available resources.

Netsol Water is Greater Noida-based leading water & wastewater treatment plant manufacturer. We are industry's most demanding company based on client review and work quality. We are known as best commercial RO plant manufacturers, industrial RO plant manufacturer, sewage treatment plant manufacturer, Water Softener Plant Manufacturers and effluent treatment plant manufacturers. Apart from this 24x7 customer support is our USP. Call on +91-9650608473, or write us at enquiry@netsolwater.com for any support, inquiry or product-purchase related query.