Ion Exchange Calculator

Professional design tool for water softening, demineralization, and dealkalization systems with engineering safety factors.

Water Analysis Input
°C
Ion Concentration (mg/L) as CaCO₃ (mg/L) Conversion Factor
Calcium (Ca²⁺) 80.0 2.5 (Ca²⁺ → CaCO₃)
Magnesium (Mg²⁺) 30.0 4.12 (Mg²⁺ → CaCO₃)
Sodium (Na⁺) 20.0 2.18 (Na⁺ → CaCO₃)
Potassium (K⁺) 2.6 1.28 (K⁺ → CaCO₃)
Bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) 100.0 0.82 (HCO₃⁻ → CaCO₃)
Chloride (Cl⁻) 30.0 1.41 (Cl⁻ → CaCO₃)
Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) 40.0 1.04 (SO₄²⁻ → CaCO₃)
Nitrate (NO₃⁻) 0.0 0.81 (NO₃⁻ → CaCO₃)
Total Hardness 110.0 mg/L as CaCO₃
Total Cations 132.6 meq/L
Total Anions 170.0 meq/L
TDS (est.) 250 mg/L
System Parameters
Average flow rate for design
hours/day
hours
Service cycle length
Select based on continuity requirements
%
Standard: 15% for conservative design
Resin Properties
Strong Acid Cation (SAC)
Na⁺ form for softening
Capacity: 22 kgr/ft³
Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺ Na⁺
Regen: NaCl, 6-15 lb/ft³
Weak Acid Cation (WAC)
H⁺ form for dealkalization
Capacity: 35 kgr/ft³
Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺
Regen: HCl, 4-6 lb/ft³
Strong Base Anion (SBA)
Cl⁻ or OH⁻ form
Capacity: 16 kgr/ft³
Cl⁻ SO₄²⁻ HCO₃⁻
Regen: NaOH, 4-8 lb/ft³
Mixed Bed
SAC + SBA mixed
Capacity: 12 kgr/ft³
All cations All anions
Regen: HCl + NaOH
kgr/ft³
Theoretical capacity of selected resin
inches
Typical: 24-48 inches

Please calculate system design first to view regeneration parameters.

Equipment Selection Database

Select equipment from our database of actual manufacturers and suppliers. All equipment is pre-validated for compatibility.

All Equipment Resin Vessels Valves Controllers Chemical Systems

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Equipment Selection Notes:

  • All equipment is from verified suppliers with certified performance data
  • Prices are approximate and vary by region and quantity
  • Lead times: 2-6 weeks for standard equipment
  • Select equipment to include in your design report

Engineering Standards Compliance Check

Automatically verify your design against industry standards and best practices.

AWWA B100-09 NSF/ANSI 44 NSF/ANSI 61 ASTM D1782 ISO 9001 ISO 14001

Run compliance check after system design calculation

Please calculate system design first to view cost analysis.

Calculating system design parameters...

Design Report Generator

Generate a comprehensive engineering report with all design parameters, calculations, and equipment selections.

Generate a report preview after completing system design.

System Configuration Options

Single Vessel System
One ion exchange vessel with manual regeneration during downtime.
Small systems, residential, batch processes
Advantages: Low cost, simple operation
Disadvantages: Downtime during regeneration
Duplex System (Lead-Lag)
Two vessels in series for polishing, primary vessel does bulk removal.
High purity water, critical processes
Advantages: High quality effluent
Disadvantages: Higher capital cost
Twin Alternating System
Two vessels, one in service while the other is on standby or regenerating.
Continuous operation required
Advantages: No downtime
Disadvantages: Higher resin volume
Triple System (2+1)
Three vessels, two working in parallel with one standby.
Large industrial systems, critical applications
Advantages: High reliability, no downtime
Disadvantages: Highest capital cost

Engineering Design Notes:

  • All designs include engineering safety factors (typically 15%)
  • Surface loading rate should be 5-8 gpm/ft² for optimal performance
  • Bed depth minimum of 24 inches to ensure proper flow distribution
  • Backwash expansion should be 30-50% of bed depth
  • Consider seasonal variations in water quality