Two Bed Ion Exchange (TBDI)

Two Bed Deionization is a physical process which uses specially-manufactured ion exchange resins which provides ion exchange site for the replacement of the mineral salts in water with water forming H+ and OH- ions. Because the majority of water impurities are dissolved salts, deionization produces a high purity water that is generally similar to distilled water, and this process is quick and without scale buildup.

Ion exchange effectively removes more than 90 percent of barium, cadmium, chromium (III), silver, radium, nitrites, selenium, arsenic (V), chromium (VI), and nitrate.

Ion exchange is usually the best choice for small systems that need to remove radionuclides.

Advantages

  • Ion exchange process, like reverse osmosis, can be used with fluctuating flow rates.
  • Effluent contamination is virtually impossible.
  • Large variety of specific resins are available from suppliers. Each resin is effective in removing specific contaminants.

Limitations

  • Ion exchange waste is highly concentrated and requires careful disposal.
  • Potential for unacceptable levels (peaks) of contamination in effluent.
  • Usually not feasible with high levels of TDS.
  • Pretreatment required for most surface waters.
  • Ion exchange units also are sensitive to the presence of competing ions. For example, influent with high levels of hardness will compete with other cat-ions (positive ions) for space on the exchange medium, and the exchange medium must be regenerated more frequently.

Process

Ion exchange is a process that exchanges one type of ion (charged particle) for another. Many troublesome impurities in supply water are ions, making this process extremely important in boiler water treatment. Ion exchange takes place in a closed vessel which is partially filled with an ion exchange resin. The resin is an insoluble, plastic-like material capable of exchanging one ion for another. There are two types: cation and anion resins. Each is capable of exchanging one or the other types of ions.

  • Cation = positively charged Ions
  • Anion = negatively charged Ions

In the demineralizer, water is treated in two steps. First, it is passed through the cation exchange bed, where the cations (calcium, magnesium and sodium) are exchanged for hydrogen ions. The treated water is now free of cations but is too acidic and cannot yet be used in the boiler. In the second step the water passes through the anion exchange bed where the anions (sulfate, chloride, carbonate and silica) are ex-changed for hydroxide ions. The hydrogen and hydroxide ions react to form water, now suitable for use in the boiler. A third ion exchange could be used to control alkalinity.

Ion exchange resins have a limited capacity and will eventually become exhausted. They can be regenerated however; sodium cycle cation exchange beds are regenerated with salt brine, cation exchange beds are regenerated with hydrochloric or sulfuric acid and the anion exchange beds become regenerated with caustic soda. Salt brine regeneration is followed by a fresh water rinse to assure that no salt enters the boiler.

Equipment

Typical ion exchange units consist of pre-filtration, ion exchange, disinfection, storage, and distribution elements. (See figure 1)

Chemicals

Sodium chloride is often used to regenerate the exchange medium in ion exchangers because of the low cost of the chemical. However, this can result in a high sodium residual in the finished water, which may be unacceptable for individuals with salt restricted diets. This problem can be avoided by using other regenerant materials, such as potassium chloride.

Fig # 1 Ion Exchange Treatment System


SYSTEM DETAILS SKID DIMENSIONS (in) SHIPPING SKID DIMENSIONS
SYSTEM SIZE RESIN X TANK (CU FT) TANK SIZE (in) L W H WEIGHT (lbs) L W H WEIGHT (lbs)
AMCO-1354 2.5 13 x 54 46 31 72 720 54 31 72 800
AMCO-1665 4.5 16 x 65 52 34 83 1560 60 34 83 1733
AMCO-2162 9 21 x 62 62 39 80 1840 70 39 80 2044
AMCO-2472 10 24 x 72 68 42 96 2950 76 42 100 3278
AMCO-3072 15 30 x 72 80 48 96 3120 88 56 100 3467
AMCO-3672 25 36 x 72 92 54 96 4675 100 62 100 5194
AMCO-4272 30 42 x 72 104 60 96 6230 112 68 100 6922
AMCO-4872 45 48 x 72 116 66 96 8250 124 74 100 9167
AMCO-6367 63 63 x 67 146 81 85 11800 154 89 89 13111
AMCO-6386 72 63 x 86 146 81 104 14200 154 89 108 15778

AMCO
10402 Rodney Street
Pineville, NC, USA 28134

Phone: (704) 889-7281
Fax: (704) 8897270

Proudly manufactured in the USA for over 100 years.