How does Ion Exchange Water Softener working?

Since the hardness of water is mainly formed and expressed by calcium and magnesium, cation exchange resin (water softener) is generally used to replace Ca2+and Mg2+(the main component of scale formation) in water. With the increase of Ca2+and Mg2+in the resin, the efficiency of removing Ca2+and Mg2+by the resin decreases gradually.
The softening device is divided into five processes: working (sometimes called water production, the same below), backwashing, salt absorption (regeneration), slow flushing (replacement), and fast flushing. It is usually controlled by full-automatic multi-way valve or valve group.