How does a water softener function within a feedwater system?

A water softener plays a crucial role in a feedwater system by removing hardness-causing minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. These minerals can lead to scale buildup in equipment like boilers and pipes, which can decrease operational efficiency and lead to costly maintenance issues.

The process typically involved in this function is ion exchange. In ion exchange, the hard water passes through a resin bed that contains sodium ions. As the hard water flows over the resin, the calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to the resin and exchanged for sodium ions, which do not contribute to hardness. This effectively reduces the levels of hardness in the water that will be used in the feedwater system.

By ensuring that the water is softened, the water softener helps maintain the integrity and efficiency of the entire feedwater system, preventing scale formation and thereby enhancing the lifespan of equipment and improving overall system performance.