Morton System Saver Water Softeners


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How Morton System Saver Water Softeners Work
Components I Ion Exchange I Service And CycleS

When the softener is providing soft water, it is called "service" or the "softening cycle." During this cycle, hard water flows from the main water pipe in the household into the softener. Inside the resin tank is a bed made up of thousands of tiny plastic resin beads. As hard water passes through the bed, each bead attracts and holds the hardness minerals. Water without the hardness minerals (soft water) flows from the softener to the rest of the house.

The Softening Cycle

Eventually the beads become coated with calcium or magnesium ions. At this point, the water softener needs to replenish the beads with sodium ions. This process is called "regeneration." Regeneration occurs when the resin beads are washed again with a strong salt water solution. The sodium forces the calcium and magnesium ions to be released, where they are then discharged as waste during the regeneration cycle. The beads are then ready to once again exchange hardness minerals of calcium and magnesium from the water. The regeneration cycle is programmed by the user for any time during the day or night.

Regeneration consists of 5 cycles:

Brine Fill

Brining

Brine Rinse

Backwash

Fast Rinse

The Fill Cycle

Salt, dissolved in water, is called brine and is needed to clean the minerals from the resin beads. To make brine, water flows into the salt storage area during the fill stage as shown. The softener continues to produce soft water during this initial stage.

MODEL CODE	Fill Cycle Time Varies with capacity operating level	Fill Cycle Flow Gallon /minute flow to brine tank
MSS20B	Default is 8 minutes	.3 gpm
MSD27B	Automatically Adjusts	.3 gpm
MSD30D	Automatically Adjusts	.3 gpm
MSD34C	Automatically Adjusts	.3 gpm
MSD45E	Automatically Adjusts	.3 gpm

The Brine Cycle

The softener is taken off-line from the main water supply. hard water is provided. The nozzle and venturi create suction to move brine upward, maintaining a very slow rate for better resin cleaning with a minimal amount of salt. Brine travels from the salt storage area into the resin tank. Brine is the cleaning agent needed to remove the hardness minerals from the resin beads.

The hardness minerals and brine are diverted to the drain. After a pre-measured amount of brine is used, the brine valve closes. During brine rinse, water continues to flow in the same path as during brining, except for the discontinued brine flow.

MODEL CODE	Brine Cycle Time Includes rinse minutes	Brine Cycle Flow Gallon /min flow to drain	Brine Rinse Cycle Flow Gallon /min flow to drain
MSS20B	Default: 80 min.	.16 gpm	.11 gpm
MSD27B	Auto Adjusts	.15 gpm	.10 gpm
MSD30D	Auto Adjusts	.22 gpm	.15 gpm
MSD34C	Auto Adjusts	.15 gpm	.10 gpm
M D45E	Auto Adjusts	.15 gpm	.10 gpm

The Backwash Cycle

Hard water is available. Fast water flow continues, resin bed lifted and expanded. Accumulated iron, dirt and sediment are removed from the resin bed and drained away.

MODEL CODE	Fast Rinse Cycle Time Default min	Fast Rinse Cycle Flow Gal /min flow to drain
MSS20B	12 Minutes	1.8 gpm
MSD27B	12 Minutes	2.2 gpm
MSD30D	12 Minutes	2.2 gpm
MSD34C	12 Minutes	2.2 gpm
MSD45E	12 Minutes	2.2 gpm

The Fast Rinse Cycle

Softener goes back on-line and soft water becomes available.

MODEL CODE	Fast Rinse Cycle Time (Default min)	Fast Rinse Cycle Flow Gal /min flow to drain
MSS20B	3 Minutes	1.8 gpm
MSD27B	3 Minutes	2.2 gpm
MSD30D	3 Minutes	2.2 gpm
MSD34C	3 Minutes	2.2 gpm
MSD45E	3 Minutes	2.2 gpm

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