Methods and systems for an integrated acid regeneration of ion exchange resins are disclosed for use in cleaning applications. Acid resins designed for use in a variety of cleaning application using a treated, softened, acidic water source are disclosed. Various methods of using the softened acidic water generated by acid regenerate-able ion exchange resins within a cleaning application, e.g. ware wash machine, are disclosed to beneficially reduce spotting, filming and scale buildup on treated surfaces, reduce and/or eliminate the need for polymers, threshold reagents and/or rinse aids, and using protons generated in the acidic water effluent for triggering events useful in various cleaning applications.

A water softener system includes a brine tank, an ion-exchange resin and a softener control valve fluidly coupling the brine tank and the ion-exchange resin. The softener control valve has an inlet configured to receive a flow of feed-water and an outlet configured to deliver a flow of product water. A flow meter is configured to monitor a flow rate of water to or from the control valve, and a sensor is arranged upstream of the inlet of the softener control valve to measure a fluid property of the flow of feed-water. A controller is configured to calculate an available exchange capacity of the ion-exchange resin using flow rate data from the flow meter and a hardness value of the feed-water, which the controller calculates using a fluid property value from the sensor and a predetermined coefficient. The controller is also configured to initiate a regeneration of the ion-exchange resin using the brine tank and the softener control valve, and to update the predetermined coefficient based at least partially on the calculated available exchange capacity upon initiating the regeneration.

A water softener system includes a brine tank, an ion-exchange resin and a softener control valve fluidly coupling the brine tank and the ion-exchange resin. The softener control valve has an inlet configured to receive a flow of feed-water and an outlet configured to deliver a flow of product water. A flow meter is configured to monitor a flow rate of water to or from the control valve, and a sensor is arranged upstream of the inlet of the softener control valve to measure a fluid property of the flow of feed-water. A controller is configured to calculate an available exchange capacity of the ion-exchange resin using flow rate data from the flow meter and a hardness value of the feed-water, which the controller calculates using a fluid property value from the sensor and a predetermined coefficient. The controller is also configured to initiate a regeneration of the ion-exchange resin using the brine tank and the softener control valve, and to update the predetermined coefficient based at least partially on the calculated available exchange capacity upon initiating the regeneration.

The present invention is a water softener brine tank salt bag splitter with a blade and telescoping mounting rod positioned below the tank lid to accommodate a variety of tank sizes and stiffen the lateral flexibility of the tank sidewall. Looped vertical mounting brackets secure over and around the upper edge of the tank sidewall to preserve the seal between the tank sidewall and lid. The mounting rod and brackets form a platform to support the weight of a salt bag when pouring salt pellets into the tank. The configuration of the brackets and the weight of the bag locks the bracket in place to prevent the blade from rotating when the bag drops down onto the blade. The device includes a rod assembly with an adjustable length, a cutting blade attached to a surface of the rod assembly, and brackets connectable to first and second ends of the rod assembly.

A water softener apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber for accommodating at least one compressed salt block having an elongated block form, the configuration accommodating the compressed salt block within the chamber with its longitudinal axis in a vertical orientation. The water softener apparatus includes a manually detachable front cover enclosing the chamber and a non-touch salt level indicator device arranged in or on the front cover of the housing above the chamber to determine a salt level from an upper end face of the compressed salt block accommodated in the chamber, the non-touch salt level indicator device determining the salt level from the upper end face of the compressed salt block through a wall of the front cover of the housing. The non-touch salt level indicator device is a battery powered device and the water softener apparatus is a non-electric powered water softener apparatus.

A water softener apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber for accommodating at least one compressed salt block having an elongated block form, the configuration accommodating the compressed salt block within the chamber with its longitudinal axis in a vertical orientation. The water softener apparatus includes a manually detachable front cover enclosing the chamber and a non-touch salt level indicator device arranged in or on the front cover of the housing above the chamber to determine a salt level from an upper end face of the compressed salt block accommodated in the chamber, the non-touch salt level indicator device determining the salt level from the upper end face of the compressed salt block through a wall of the front cover of the housing. The non-touch salt level indicator device is a battery powered device and the water softener apparatus is a non-electric powered water softener apparatus.

A well (18) is mounted on an extension (12) of a brine tank (10) in a water softener system. The extension (12) can be molded integrally with the brine tank (10), or separate from the brine tank (10) and mounted thereto by fasteners (24). The extension (12) extends above the horizontal plane (14) at the upper edge (16) of the brine tank (10) and the well (18) is mounted to the extension (12) above the horizontal plane (14). A riser (20) is mounted to the extension (12) for external connection and extends into the well (18). All necessary connections to components in the well (18) are made through the extension (12) above the horizontal plane (14) so that no passages need be made through the wall (22) of the brine tank (10). Also, the upper end of the well (18) is above the horizontal plane (14) to facilitate servicing.

A softening apparatus in which resistance applied between electrodes is decreased to reduce power consumption. The softening apparatus includes a regeneration unit and a softening unit. The regeneration unit includes at least one anode and cathode in a first space which generate regeneration water containing hydrogen ions (H+). The softening unit is disposed in a second space partitioned from the first space and includes an ion exchange body regenerated by the regeneration water.

A softening apparatus in which resistance applied between electrodes is decreased to reduce power consumption. The softening apparatus includes a regeneration unit and a softening unit. The regeneration unit includes at least one anode and cathode in a first space which generate regeneration water containing hydrogen ions (H+). The softening unit is disposed in a second space partitioned from the first space and includes an ion exchange body regenerated by the regeneration water.

The invention relates to a compressed salt block and a liquid treatment apparatus provided therein with at least one such compressed salt block. The liquid treatment apparatus comprises a housing adapted to accommodate at least one liquid treatment tank and at least one compressed salt block. The housing comprises a first space portion for accommodating the at least one liquid treatment tank, and a second space portion for accommodating at least partially the at least one compressed salt block; wherein the at least one compressed salt block comprises an extension portion which extends into a space in the first space portion between an external surface of the at least one liquid treatment tank and an inner wall surface of the housing adjacent the external surface of the at least one liquid treatment tank to thereby position the at least one compressed salt block within the housing. The compressed salt block comprises an elongated body having an irregular cross section, the cross section comprising a base side and a functional side opposing the base side, wherein at least a portion of the functional side forms an acute angle to the base side thereby forming the extension portion of the salt block.