Industrial water softeners (ion-exchange) are used for example in power and heat production, laundries, steam plants, printing houses and many other places and applications. Ion-exchange water softeners replace hardness salts like magnesium and calcium ions with natrium ions. This prevents scale from building up in pipes or heating coils as well as reducing other problems such as the coagulation of detergents in washing processes.
Water softening system flow rates and features
A typical water softening system consists of a softening unit and possible additional monitoring and measurement equipment.
There is a wide selection of water softeners available in the market – from smaller household units to large industrial systems. In most industrial applications, a softener with a standard water filtration valve provides a good and economic solution. StrongFlow’s own standard softeners are designed for volumes from 2 to 12 m³/h. However, larger standard water filtration valves are available which allow softeners to be built for volumes up to 240 m³/h.
When there is a need for more advanced functionalities, simple water softeners and functionalities and standard water filtration valves are not always enough. Such functionalities include integrations with other control systems and online system/water quality monitoring. StrongFlow’s customised water softeners can be equipped with measuring and monitoring functionalities which ensure the water quality (online hardness measurement), process reliability and efficiency (e.g. minimised consumption of regeneration salt). With online measurement of back wash water, it is possible to minimise water consumption. In addition, all custom-made equipment can be integrated as part of the process and linked to external control systems.
Required information for system design
To complete a water treatment system design, a raw water analysis is needed together with information about the required water flow/capacity of system and the required water quality after treatment or information about the use of the water produced. If the equipment is being installed in an existing space, information about available drainage and room dimensions is also good to know.
