Softener

Water softeners are ion exchange systems designed to remove scale-forming calcium and magnesium ions prior to boiler, cooling, and reverse osmosis systems. The amount of hardness a softener can remove between regenerations is known as the softener capacity and can be expressed either in grains or in gallons. Capacity is important when sizing, configuring, or troubleshooting a softener.

To calculate softener capacity, you must know

Raw water hardness in ppm

Resin volume in cubic feet (ft3)

Salt dosage in pounds(lbs)/ft3 of resin

If the resin volume is unknown, Table One can be used to cross-reference the tank circumference and height to the resin volume. The salt dosage during regeneration determines the resin exchange capacity. Typically, a salt dosage of 15 lbs/ft3 resin is used to provide an exchange capacity of 30,000 grains/ft3 resin. Lower salt dosages reduce capacity, but allow for more economical salt usage, which is the basis for salt saver dosage. See Softener Regeneration with Salt Saver Dosages (TB4-006).

Each calculation is followed by an example, using this information: The water contains 118 ppm of total hardness and the softener has 6 ft3 of resin that is regenerated using 15 lbs of salt per ft3.

The softener capacity is calculated in three simple steps:

1. Convert water hardness from ppm to grains per US gallon

Total Hardness (ppm) = Total Hardness (gpg)    Example:  118 ppm TH = 6.9 gpg;

            17.1                                                                                                 17.1

2. Calculate softener capacity in grains

Ft3 resin X resin exchange capacity (typically 30,000 grains/ft3) = Grains capacity 

Example: 6 ft3 resin X 30,000 grains/ft3 = 180,000 grains of capacity

3. Calculate softener capacity in gallons    

       Softener Capacity (grains)      = Max softener capacity in gallons;

Total Hardness (grains per gallon)

Example:  180,000 grains  = 26,087 gallons;

                6.9 grains/gallon

A 10% Safety Factor is applied to prevent hardness from breaking through.

Example: 26,087 gallons X 0.90 = 23,478 gallons of capacity with 10% safety factor

Table One: Tank Size and Resin Volume