Electronic means for controlling the regeneration of resins in a resin type ion exchange device

In a resin-type ion exchange apparatus of the type for removing objectionable ions from a fluid by passing the fluid through a resin in a resin tank, said resin requiring periodic resin regeneration by backwashing the resin with a fluid, brining the resin with a regeneration agent dissolved in a fluid, and rinsing the resin with a fluid, and having at least one electrically actuable valve selectively placable in a backwashing state, a brining state, a rinsing state or a normal operation state, the improvement of an electronically controllable system comprising:

• flow volume sensor means for generating a flow volume signal indicative of the volume of fluid passing through said resin;
• a memory means for storing therein a predetermied backwashing flow volume, a predetermined brining flow volume, a predetermined rinsing flow volume, at least one further predetermined value, a predetermined value loading program, a regeneration initiation program and a regeneration sequence control program comprising at least the steps of backwashing the resin with said predetermined backwashing flow volume of fluid, brining said resins with said predetermined brining flow volume of a regeneration agent dissolved in a fluid and rinsing said resin with said predetermined rinsing flow volume of fluid;
• a microprocessor calculating means connected to said at least one electrically actuable valve, said flow volume sensor means and said memory means, for loading at least some of said predetermined backwashing flow volume, said predetermined brining flow volume, said predetermined rinsing flow volume and said at least one further predetermined value into said memory means according to said predetermined value loading program, for initiating resin regeneration according to said regeneration initiation program and said at least one further predetermined value, and for controlling said resin regeneration by application of valve control signals to said at least one electrically actuable value (1) for placing said at least one electrically actuable valve in said backwashing state until said flow volume signal indicates said predetermined backwasing volume of fluid has passed through said resin tank, (2) for placing said at least one electrically actuable valve in said brining state until said flow volume signal indicates said predetermined brining volume of fluid has passed through said resin tank, (3) for placing said at least one electrically actuable valve in said rinsing state until said flow volume signal indicates said predetermined rinsing volume of fluid has passed through said resin tank, and thereafter (4) for placing said at least one electrically actuable valve in said normal operation state;
• and
• a programming means connected to said microprocessor calculating means for application of at least some of said predetermined backwashing flow volume, said predetermined brining flow volume, said predetermined rinsing flow volume and said at least one further predetermined value to said microprocessor calculating means for storing in said memory means.