Brine Drum Settings

All water softeners use various ion exchange resins to remove unwanted ions in water such as hardness (excess calcium and/or magnesium), iron, manganese, and nitrates. A given amount of resin has a specific exchange capacity; it can only absorb so much before it becomes saturated and can hold no more. It then requires regeneration so it can continue to provide conditioned water. The frequency of regeneration is determined by the number of the meter disc installed in the Kinetico control valve. Meter discs range from a #1 disc to a #8 disc. The lower the number the more water can be processed before regeneration is required and vice-versa. Determining the meter disc setting depends on two factors: 1. The compensated hardness of the water the higher this figure the more quickly the exchange capacity of the resin will be exhausted. 2. The amount of resin in the softener tanks the larger the tanks the more resin is available thus the system has a higher volumetric treatment capacity. A Kinetico softener and its disc setting are selected based on these factors together with the particular application requirements, including required flow rate.

Regeneration
Before the exchange capacity of the resin is exhausted allowing untreated water through to use, the Kinetico control valve will automatically initiate regeneration. In a Kinetico softener, the brine drum mixes and stores a salt solution for regeneration of the softener resin media. During the Brine & Rinse cycle, this concentrated brine solution is drawn from the brine drum and slowly flushed through the media to regenerate it. The brine solution is flushed to waste and during the final stage of regeneration a fast rinse removes any residual brine from the resin before it reenters service. Effective regeneration depends on two factors: 1. The correct salt setting is used this determines the amount of brine solution to be flushed through the resin. Available salt settings range from 200 grams to 18.1 kg, and the correct salt setting for each application depends on the compensated hardness of the water being treated, the model softener being used and the meter disc number installed in the Kinetico control valve. The correct salt setting for each application will be highlighted in the installation instructions provided with the softener or you can refer to the table further on in this section. 2. The brine solution has had time to reach saturation. It requires time for water to dissolve sufficient salt to reach the degree of saturation required. Depending on the model used this can range from 30 minutes to an hour, so allowance must be made for this where a softener will be used continuously or filling a storage tank as there must be sufficient time after one tank has regenerated for the brine solution to reach the required degree of saturation before regeneration of the next tank is initiated. Completely saturated brine is a 26.4% solution of NaCl with a specific gravity of 1.2 at 200C. For example, to achieve complete brine saturation in one litre of water requires just over 300 grams of salt to be dissolved. Central brining systems which can provide continuous saturated brine allowing continuous use are available for commercial applications.

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings

Salt settings
The brine valve assembly contains an adjustment to draw the correct amount of salt solution (brine) for each regeneration cycle and automatically refill the brine drum to make more brine solution. The correct setting for each individual application is highlighted in the installation instructions supplied, and this must be set up by removing the rubber band used to secure the assembly in transit and then making the required adjustments. This adjustment is made in two places: the Adjuster Tube and the Float Cup. The Adjuster Tube measures the amount of solution that is drawn from the brine drum into the softener during the Brine & Rinse cycle. The Float Cup height determines how much softened water flows back into the brine drum to prepare brine for the next regeneration.

Adjuster Tube Setting

The Adjuster Tube is set by cutting and removing tabs on both sides of the tube. These tabs are marked and if they are hard to see then run chalk or crayon along the plastic strip to make them more visible. Note the number or letter recommended for this installation. You need to remove all tabs ABOVE this number or letter as they are not required for your setting. Using a pocket-knife, cut across immediately above the tab specified horizontally on both sides, following the channel in the plastic, and then cut vertically on both sides to remove the unwanted tabs until the proper setting is reached. The remaining number or letter imprinted on the tab determines the correct setting. The drawing at right shows an Adjuster Tube at setting "M".

Note: 13 and 16 diameter tanks (CP213s, CP213sOD, CP216s and CP216sOD) use a different brine valve with no adjuster tube float cup height setting only is required.

Adjuster Tube set at M

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings

Float Cup Setting
The Float Cup is set by adjusting its height above the bottom of the Brine Valve Assembly. By removing the Brine Valve Assembly and resting it on a flat surface, the height of the Float Cup can be measured with a ruler. The height is measured from the base of the Brine Valve Assembly to the top of the Float Cup (see drawing at right). Note that standard settings are defined by markings on the rod of the Brine Valve Assembly. The settings on the rod are listed in the tables at the end of this section. Where the predefined settings are not adequate, the actual Float Cup height, in inches, is listed, and the setting must be measured and set according to the measured Float Cup height.

Float Cup Height Adjustment

Installing the Brine Valve Assembly

After the adjustments have been made to the Adjuster Tube and the Float Cup, the Brine Valve Assembly must be installed in the Brine Drum. Locate the brine valve in the brine well so that the 9.5mm bent tube is along the back of the brine well away from the brine drum wall. The 9.5mm bent tube snaps into a notch and extends from the brine drum about 25mm. Note: Do not drop the brine valve into the drum! resulting in an improper setting. Dropping may lower the Float Cup,

Brine Valve Installation: Top View Side View

Brine well

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings

Application
Determining the correct Brine Valve settings for a particular application is a three step process: 1. Determine compensated hardness. This requires a hardness test, an iron test and a manganese test on raw water from the application site. Compensated hardness is calculated by multiplying the ferrous iron (in mg/L) by 51 and adding it to the total hardness (in mg/L). Manganese in mg/L is multiplied by 85 and also added to total hardness in mg/L to give compensated hardness. 2. Determine salt setting. The salt setting is determined by taking the compensated hardness (calculated in step 1 above) and using the Specifications table, located in each Specifications section, for the proper model of softener to look up a suitable meter disc and salt setting. 3. Determine Adjuster Tube and Float Cup height settings. Use the Brine Drum Specifications on the following pages and the model of Brine Drum to determine the correct settings for both the Adjuster Tube and the Float Cup height. Grid/no grid refers to the presence or absence of a support grid at the bottom of the brine drum. Note: this process does not apply to the IF80 Greensand Filter. This filter is shipped preset from the factory and do not require setting.

KEY
(Salt Setting kg of salt)

1.0 = 0.5 1.25 = 0.6 1.5 = 0.7 A = 0.8 B = 0.9 C = 1.1 D = 1.2

E = 1.4 F = 1.5 G = 1.6 H = 1.8 J = 2.0 K = 2.3 L = 2.5

M = 2.7 N = 3.4 O = 3.8 P = 4.5 Q = 5.7 R = 6.8

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings Mach 2020c HF

There are two salt settings that can be used on the internal brine valve. The 0.3kg setting allows you to increase Litres between regenerations without replacing the meter disc. The float cup is raised 114mm measured from the bottom of the valve to the top of the float cup as shown in figure 1. The 0.23kg setting will allow for the most salt efficiency. The float cup is pushed all the way down as shown in figure 2.These systems may either use block salt or pellet salt. Figure 1 Figure 2

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings Mach 2025s

Standard Settings 1 197 mm 2 219 mm 3 241 mm 4 289 mm 5 340 mm

Brine drum with grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected: Cut adjuster tube to tab marked: Set float cup height at:

0.5 kg
1.5 184 mm

0.6 kg
1.5 191 mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS

DISC No. Litres

1 2,771

2 1,385

3 924

4 693

5 553

6 N/R

7 N/R

8 N/R

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings Mach 2060s

Standard Settings 1 197 mm 2 219 mm 3 241 mm 4 289 mm 5 340 mm

Brine drum without grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected: Cut adjuster tube to tab marked:

1.2 kg N

1.6 kg L

1.8 kg N

2.0 kg N

Set float cup height to:

153 mm

185 mm

172 mm

178mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS

DISC No. 2060s

1 4,743

2 2,372

3 1,581

4 1,186

5 949

6 791

7 678

8 593

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings Mach 2060s OD

Standard Settings 1 197 mm 2 219 mm 3 241 mm 4 289 mm 5 340 mm

Brine drum without grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected 1.2 kg 1.8 kg 2.0 kg

Cut adjuster tube to tab marked:

Set float cup height to:

152 mm

172 mm

178 mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS DISC No. 2060s OD 1 12,000 2 6,000 3 4,000 4 3,000 5 2,400 6 2,000 7 1,715 8 1,500

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings Mach 2060s Tannin Plus

Standard Settings 1 197 mm 2 219 mm 3 241 mm 4 289 mm 5 340 mm

Brine drum without grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected: Cut adjuster tube to tab marked: Set float cup height to:

2.0kg N 178 mm

2.3 kg N 191 mm

2.5 kg N 197mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS DISC No. 2060s Tannin Plus 1 4,743 2 2,372 3 1,581 4 1,186 5 949 6 791 7 678 8 593

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings Mach 2060n OD

Standard Settings 1 197 mm 2 219 mm 3 241 mm 4 289 mm 5 340 mm

Brine drum without grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected N/A N/A 2.0 kg

Cut adjuster tube to tab marked:

N/A

N/A

Set float cup height to:

N/A

N/A

178 mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS DISC No. 2060n OD 1 12,000 2 6,000 3 4,000 4 3,000 5 2,400 6 2,000 7 1,715 8 1,500

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings Mach 2100s

Standard Settings 1 197 mm 2 219 mm 3 241 mm 4 289 mm 5 340 mm

Brine drum without grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected: Cut adjuster tube to tab marked: Set float cup height to: 2.5 kg N 3.4 kg N 4.5 kg N 6.8 kg N

197 mm

229 mm

273 mm

375 mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS DISC No. 2100s 1 6,492 2 3,246 3 2,164 4 1,623 5 1,298 6 1,082 7 927 8 811

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings Mach 2100s OD

Standard Settings 1 197 mm 2 219 mm 3 241 mm 4 289 mm 5 340 mm

Brine drum without grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected 2.5 kg 4.5 kg 6.8 kg

Cut adjuster tube to tab marked:

Set float cup height to:

205 mm

284 mm

390 mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS DISC No. 2100s OD 1 14,494 2 7,247 3 4,831 4 3,624 5 2,899 6 2,416 7 2,071 8 1,812

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings Mach 2175s

Standard Settings 1 197 mm 2 219 mm 3 241 mm 4 289 mm 5 340 mm

Note: no adjuster tube, float cup height adjustment only

Brine drum without grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected 6.8 kg 13.6 kg

Set float cup height to:

318 mm

546 mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS DISC No. 2175s 1 6,492 2 3,246 3 2,164 4 1,623 5 1,298 6 1,082 7 927 8 811

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings CP213s/CP213s OD

Note: no adjuster tube, float cup height adjustment only

Brine drum without grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected 6.8 kg 11.3 kg

Set float cup height to:

318 mm

480 mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS DISC No. CP213s 1 33,770 2 16,885 3 11,256 4 8,444 5 6 7 4,825 8 4,220

6,752 5,628

Revised May 2010

Brine Drum Settings CP216s/CP216s OD

Note: no adjuster tube, float cup height adjustment only

Brine drum without grid - setting brine draw for regeneration

For Salt Setting selected 10.9 kg 18.1 kg

Set float cup height to:

480 mm

688 mm

USABLE LITRES BETWEEN REGENERATIONS DISC No. CP216s 1 57,500 2 28,750 3 4 5 6 7 8,213 8 7,188

19,167 14,375 11,500 9,584

Revised May 2010