Water softening refers to the removal of hardness (calcium and magnesium ions) from water with the use of ionic exchange resins. The process involves ionic exchange between calcium and magnesium ions that are present in the water, and sodium ions which do not form deposits and scale on surfaces.
Consequently, this method does not alter water quality relative to the total concentration of ions that are present, and for that reason it is recommended as a solution for waters that contain relatively high hardness concentration but also low concentration of other salts.
Water softening units essentially consist of one or more tanks which contain an ionic exchange resin column, a control unit and a brine solution tank. Brine (sodium chloride solution) is used to regenerate the resin when it is saturated by calcium and magnesium ions. More specifically, a brine solution is passed through the resin and during this process the resin is re-charged with sodium ions, while all calcium and magnesium ions are removed.
Water softening units are classified into two distinct types. Single water softeners (mainly for residential applications), that consist of one resin column and for which the pipe network is supplied with hard (untreated) water during the resin regeneration process, and duplex water softeners that contain two resin columns where one is in service and the second is on standby. Resin regeneration alternates between the two columns so that treated water outflow is continuous and uninterrupted.
Finally, water softeners are also divided into time-controlled units, where resin regeneration occurs at pre-determined time intervals, and volume-controlled units where resin regeneration depends on the volume of water treated.
SYCHEM S.A. has acquired over the years the required expertise and experience for the design and construction of specialized water treatment systems that are used to generate the required water quality for industrial, swimming pool, potable water or irrigation applications, where the method of desalination is not economically and technically feasible or desired. These specialized treatment systems can be installed as stand-alone units or as pre-treatment and/or post-treatment stages of composite desalination systems.
Indicative specialized water treatment systems are listed below: