A) External Conditioning

Removal of hardness producing salts from the

water before feeding into boiler. The external
treatment can be done by the following methods:

1)Lime Soda prOcess

2) Zeolite Process

3) lon Exchange Process / Demineralization process

/deionisation process
 1) Lime Soda process
The basic principle of the process to chemically
Convert all the soluble hardness causing
impurities(Ca and Mg salts) into insoluble
precipitate by adding calculated amounts of lime
Ca(OH)2 and soda Na2C03, which may be
removed by settling and filtration.

Lime-Soda process are of 2 types:

a) Cold Lime-Soda process
b) Hot Lime-Soda process
 Cold Lime- Soda process:
In this method, calculated quantity
of chemicals (lime and soda) are Motor Driving
belt
mixed with water at room Chemicals
(soda+lime+coagulant
Raw water
feed inlet

temperature. At room temperature, feed inlet

Filtered
sortened water

the precipitates formed are finely Wood-1ibre

filter D
outlet

Outer chamber
divided. so they do not settle Stirrer
oner chamber
paddles
down easily and cannot be filtered
easily: Consequently. it is essential Stirrer

toadd small amounts of

coagulants(like alum. aluminium Seanented

sulphate etc.). which entrapped in sludge

the fine precipitates. Cold L-S Sluue outiei

process ITes Water contanng a

residual hardnessof 50(o 60 ppm.
 Hot Lime- Soda procesSs:
It involves in treating water with softening chemicals at
atemperature of 80 to150 degree Centigrade.Sinc
hot process is operated at a temperature close to the
boiling point of the solution. Raw water
'aed intet

$.a.neated
Advantages of the process are: iainiet

(a) the reaction proceeds faster, 1,

Chemicais (ime- soda
eed niet
Reacton
(b) the softening capacity of hot process is increased to tank

many fold and Fine

Sotened

(c)the precipitate and sludge formed settle down rapidly Conica

sand layer

and hence, no coagulants are needed. sedimentation

tank
Sand
Coarse sard
aer

(d) Much of the dissolved gases (such as CO2 and air) are Precpitated Graves ave
driven out of the water. S".cge
Caco,, Mg(OH)2
(e) Viscosityof softened water is lower, so filtration of Preceiptated
sludge outtet e
water becomes easier. This in-turn increases the
filtering capacity of filters, and
(f) hot lime-soda process produces water of comparatively
lower residual hardness of 15 to 30 ppm.
 2) Zeolite Process

Zeolite is hvdrated Sodium-Alumino silicate

(Na20.A1203.xSi02. yH20)capable of exchanging reversiblv
its Na ions for hardness producing metal ions in water.
For softening of water byzeolite process., hard
water is
percolated at a specified ratethrough a bedof Zeolite.
evlinder. The hardness- causing ions (Ca2+. Mo2+, ete.)kept in a
retained bv the Zeolite as CaZe and MeZe: while the are
water contains sodium salts. Reactions taking
place
outgomg
softening process are: during the
Cale NaHCO,
 Themes

Hard water inlet

Zeoite bed
Injector Gravel

NaCl
Solution -To
-sink Soft water
storage outiet

Hard Water Brine

MCI or MSOs NaCr

Na,Ze MZe MZe NagZe

Waste
Softened
water
water
() Regene:ten Cyle
() Softening Cycle MCa or Mq
 Advantages of zeolite process:
1) It removes the hardness almost completely and water of about 10 ppm
hardness is obtained.
2) The equipment used is compact, occupying a small space
3) No impurities are precipitated, so there is no danger of sludge formation in t
treated-water at a later stage.
4) It is quite clean.
5) It requires less time for softening.
6) It requires less skill for maintenance as well as operation.

Disadvantages of zeolite process:

1) The treated-water contains more sodium salts than in the lime soda process
2) The method only replaces Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, but leaves all the a
the soft water.
3) Water having high turbidity cannot be treated ett
 3) lon Exchange Process
(Demineralization / deionisation process)

" The process removes allthe anions and cations present in

the hard water.

" lon Exchange resins are insoluble cross linked long chain
macropolymer with micro porous structure and the
functional groups attached to the chains are responsible for
the ion exchanging properties.

lon Exchangeresin are of two types:

(i) Cation exchange resins (RH+)
(ii) Anion exchange resins (R'OH)
 () Cation exchange resins
Capable of exchanging their cation (H+) with other cations present in the hard water.
Cation exchange resin is represented as RH+.
Resins containing acidic functional group(-CO0-H+, so3 Ht) are capable of
exchanging their Ht ions with other cations of hard water.
Mainlystyrene (diviny!) benzene copolymers which on sulphonation or
carboxylation become cabable to exchange their hydrogen ions with cations in water
Process:
The hard water is passed first through cation exchange column, which removes all
the cations like
Ca2+, Mg2+, etc., from it and an equivalent amount of H+ ions are
releasedfrom this column to water. Thus:
2RH - Ca R.Ca- 2H
2RH - Mg R,Mg- 2H
Regeneration:
when the cation exchange resin is exhausted, it can be regenerated by passinga
solution of dil.HCI or H2S04:
R2Ca2+ + 2HCI RH + CaCl2
 (ii) Anion exchange resins
Resins containing basic functional groups (NH2) or quaternary ammonium groups
are capable of exchanging their OH-ions with other anions of hard water.

Anion exchange resin is represented as RtOH

Anion exchange resin Styrene-divinyl benzene or amine formaldehyde copolymers
which contain amino or quarternary. amm as integral part of resin matrix.
Process:
The water which is now free from cations, is passed through anion exchange
column, which removes all the anions like S042-, CI- etc., present in the water and
equivalent amount OH- ions are released from this columnto water. Thus:
ROH - CI RCl- OH
2R'OH - SO R', SO, - 20H
2ROH - Co R,CO,- 20H
H+ andOH-ions (released from cation exchange and anion exchange columns
respectively) combine to produce water. Thus the water coming out from the exchanger is
free from all cations as well as anions. lon-free water is known as deionised or
demineralised water.
H- OH
Regeneration:
The exhausted anion exchange column is regenerated by passing a solution of dil.
NaOH.The regeneration can be represented as:

RCI + NaOH ROH + NaCl

The regenerated ion exchange resins can be used again.

Hard water in

Cation
bed
exchange Anion exchanger
bed

Gravel Gavel
Injector = +inector

To To
Sink Sink
A AW
Acd Purmp Sot waet
egererato
Advantages of ion exchange process:

(1) The process can be used to soften highly acidic or alkaline

waters.
(2) It produces water of very low hardness (2 ppm).

Disadvantages:
(1) The equipment is costly andexpensive chemicals are
needed.
(2) If water contains turbidity, then the output of the process
is reduced.
(3) The turbidity must be below 10 ppm. If it is more, it has to
be removed first by coagulation followed by filtration.
 Internal Treatment
By adding chemicals directly in the boiler to change the character of
the ion by complexing it into other more soluble salt
It is achieved by
Converting scale forming impurities into sludge forming ppt which
can be removed by bloW down operation
Converting scale forming impurities into compound which will stay
in dissolved form in water and thus do not cause any harm

Internal Conditioning Methods

a) ColloidalConditioning
b) Phosphate conditioning
c) Carbonate conditioning
d) Calgonconditioning
1) Colloidal conditioning:
Scale formation can be avoided by adding sub like kerosene, tanin, agar
agar.
These substances get coated over by the scale forming ppt, thereby
yielding nonsticky,
loose deposit which can be removed easily by blow-down operation
Applicable for low press boiler

2) Phosphate Conditioning:
In high press boiler, scale formation can be avoided by adding sod.
Phosphate
It reacts with hardness of water, forming non-adherent and easily
removable soft sludge of Ca and Mg which can be removed by blow down
operation

3CaC03 (Scale) +2Na3PO4 Ca3(PO4)2 (sludge) + 3Na2C03

3CaCl2 (Scale) + 2Na3PO4 Ca3(PO4)2 (sludge) + 6CI

The choice of salt depends upon the alkalinity of boiler feed water. The
3) Carbonate Conditioning
In lowpress boiler, scale formation can be avoided by adding sod.
Carbonate tothe boiler water, permanent hardness is converted into
temporary hardness
CaSO,(per)+ Na,CO, - CaCO,(lemp)+ Na,S0,
CaCO, is ppled as lo00se sludge which can be removed by blow-down
operation
4)Calgon Conditioning
Involves the addition of calgon. Sod.hexa meta Phosphate (NaPO36 or
Na2| Nat(PO3)6|
It prevents the scle and sludge formation by forming soluble compds
with CaSO4
Na2|Nat PO}6| 2Nat +|NaP6OI8|
2CaSO4 scale) + NaHP6O|8|
|Ca2P6O|812-taq)+ 2N2SO4
 Potable water (water for domestic use)

The water which is fit for human consumption is known as potable water.
Municipalities have to supply potable water, i.e., water which is safe to
human consumption should satisfy the following essential requirements:
1. It should be sparkling clear and odorless.
2. It should be pleasant in taste
3. :should be perfectly cool
4. Its turbidity should not exceed 10 ppm
5. It should be free from objectionable dissolved gases like hydrogen
sulphide.
6. It should be free from objectionable minerals such as lead, arsenic,
chromium and manganese salts.
7. Its alkalinity should not be high. Its pH should not be above 8.0
8. It should be reasonably soft
9. Its total dissolved solids should be less than 500 ppm
10. It should be free from disease- producing micro- organisms.
 Purification of domestic water for
domesticuse:
For removing various types of impurities in thenatural water from
employed;
various sources, the following treatment process is

1. Removal of suspendedimpurities: large

a. Screening: The raw water is passed through screens, having
them.
number of holes, when floating matter are retained by
b. Sedimentation:It is the process of allowing waterto stand
of the
deep, when most
undisturbed in big tanks, about 5 mthe bottom, due to gravity.
Suspended particles settle down to drawn from the tank with the
is then
The clear supernatant water in a sedimentation tank
helpof pumps. The retention period
ranges from 2-6 hours. removing colloidal matter by passing
of
Filtration: It is the process sand and other proper - sized
C.
of fine
water through abedFiltration sand filter.
is carried out by using
granular materials.
2. Removal of micro-organisms:
The process of destroying /killing the disease producing bacteria, micro
organisms, etc., from the water and making it safe for the use, is called
disinfectation.
a.
Boiling: By boiling water for 10-15minutes, all the disease producing
bacteria is killed and the water becomes safe for use.

b. Adding bleaching powder: In small water works, about 1 kg of bleaching

powered per 1000 kiloliter of water is mixed and allowed to standing
undisturbed for several hours. The chemical action produces
hypochlorous acid (apowerful germicide).
CaOCl;+ H,0’Ca(OH);+Cl;
Cl,+ H,0’ HCIH HOC1
Gerns+ HOCI ’ Gerns are killed
C. Chlorination: Chlorination (either gas or in concentrated solution from)
produces hypochlorous acid, which is a powerful germicide.
Cl+ H0 ’ HCIH+ HOCI
Bacteria+ HOCI Bacteria are destroved
Process Flow
R
Raw Water
Chart
Screning
sedimentation
1Removal of
Sedimentation with Coagilation suspended
Impurities
Filtration

2) Removal of
Disinfection micro organism
Drinking Water
Process Flow
Raw Water
Chart Ravy
Screening
sedimentation
1 Removal of
Sedimentation with Coagulation Suspended
Filtration Impurities

’ 2) Removal of
Disinfection micro organism
Drinking Water