How does a hot lime softener work?

Answer 1

Vinny, hot lime slakers are pretty simple pieces of equipment. Calcium Oxide pellets are fed into the slaker where a small amount of water is added to it and it forms a very thick paste of calcium hydroxide. The heat generated is tremendous.... hence the name hot lime. Counter rotating paddle shafts move this paste along to a wier plate at one end of the slaker where nozzles spray the paste (now called the milk of lime) into a larger stream of moving water to the softening basin to do it's job. Grit is removed on a conveyer belt to a grit chamber and disposed of.