This is the operation a Water Softener must carry out in order to release the hardness salts of Calcium and Magnesium from the resin collected during the process of Softening water. The complete cycle takes about 2 hours in the older machines but, the later models, with water conservation and metering in mind take approximately 59 minutes, with a subsequent reduction in water used.
The regeneration sequences described in the following pages uses a control valve commonly used in water softening. We do not favour this or any other manufacturers control valve, it has been used only for ease of description.
This process describes the first stage of regeneration.
Softeners fitted with three action valves or manually regenerated units will not have this operation. It is basically a resin bed regrading and loosening operation, it also serves to remove any organic matter collected.
You will note the direction of water flow
at the inlet and outlet ports is unchanged however, the water at the outlet
port is now hard. Hard because this type of softener cannot produce soft water
whilst it regenerates but, is so designed that an internal bypass mechanism
allows water to be used in the household at the same time regeneration takes
place.
The internal valve mechanism having moved has changed the direction
of water flow within the resin vessel. Flow is now down the central riser and
up through the resin, as mentioned above regrading the resin and removing any
organics. The water exits the softener via the regeneration drain port to
waste. This operation usually is quite short, lasting from 3 minutes in the
newer fast regeneration softeners to 6 minutes in the older models.
Having
completed this cycle the internal valve mechanism moves to the next part of the
cycle called "BRINE & RINSE." It is this operation that actually
cleans the resin.
Click on BRINE
& RINSE to view the next sequence
or
to view other topics