How to Choose a Water Softening System Without Causing Downtime? Single Tank vs. Dual Tank Explained!

How to Choose a Water Softening System Without Causing Downtime? Single Tank vs. Dual Tank Explained!

The water softening system is mainly used to remove calcium (Ca²?) and magnesium (Mg²?) ions from the water, thus reducing the hardness of the water and preventing scale formation. The system makes the hard ions of water adsorbed by resin through ion exchange, and releases sodium ions (Na+) at the same time, and finally obtains the softened water. 

Working Principle of Water Softening System

Let's analyze this working principle

• The water softening system removes Ca and Mg ions from the water through the ion exchange resin.

• When the raw water passes through the resin layer, the sodium ions (Na+) on the surface of the resin in the water softening system are exchanged with the calcium (Ca²?) and magnesium(Mg²?) ions in the water.

• The sodium ions (Na+) enter the water while the calcium and magnesium ions(Mg²?) are adsorbed by the resin.

• As the calcium(Ca²?) and magnesium(Mg²?) ions adsorbed by the resin increase, the exchange capacity of the resin gradually decreases.

• At this point, a regeneration process is required to restore the exchange capacity of the resin.

• The regeneration process uses brine (sodium chloride solution) to rinse the resin, replacing the adsorbed calcium and magnesium ions and allowing the resin to re-adsorb sodium ions.

In the industrial field, water softening equipment is commonly used for boiler feed water, air-conditioning system make-up water, and cooling systems.

Below is an introduction to the single-tank single-valve water softening system and double-tank double-valve water softening system should be how to choose, please take into consideration the enterprise's own situation!

Single Tank, Single Valve Water Softening System

Its structure is mainly a resin tank + a control valve

Working Principle

Softened water runs in one tank. When the resin is saturated, it needs to be shut down for regeneration. (Why regeneration is needed is explained above in this article.)

Characteristics

• Normally, this single tank, single valve water softening system will have periodic shutdowns because the softened water cannot be discharged during regeneration and you need to wait for regeneration to complete.
• It is more suitable for occasions with small water consumption, such as small factories, laboratories, and small boiler feeds (e.g. heating boilers).

VS

Twin Tank, Twin Valve Water Softening System

Its structural composition is mainly two resin tanks + two control valves

Working Principle

Twin Tank, Twin Valve water softening system has two tanks working alternately. When one tank needs to be regenerated, the other tank automatically switches to provide softened water, and 24-hour continuous water supply is ensured.

Features

• The Double Tank and Double Valve Water Softening System provides uninterrupted water supply and is mainly used where continuous water supply is required.

• It has a longer service life because the alternating use of two tanks extends the life of the equipment.

• This system is more suitable for factories and boiler systems with large water demand, such as industrial production lines (e.g., food processing, chemical, electronics factories), large boiler systems (e.g., power plants, steam boilers), hospitals, hotels, and large laundries where continuous water supply is required.

Overall, let's summarize in a table