A vehicle assembly plant exhausts 70,000 m3/h of paint-booth air at about 30 C, laden with solvent vapours. EN159 recovered sensible heat with a plate exchanger to preheat make-up air.
The Challenge
The booth needed heated make-up air in winter. Exhaust carried solvent vapour, so any recovery device had to avoid transferring contaminants into the supply air.
Why Plate Air-to-Air Recovery
Paint-booth exhaust is solvent-laden. A rotary enthalpy wheel would carry VOC and coating mist into the supply stream, which is not allowed. A plate exchanger does sensible-only recovery with fully separated streams, so contaminants stay in the exhaust.
The EN159 Solution
EN159 BXB counter-flow plate module, 70,000 m3/h, make-up air preheated from 5 C to 22 C, stainless plates with solvent-resistant coating and an exhaust prefilter.
Measured Results
- Recovered heat: about 0.5 MW
- Make-up air preheated from 5 C to 22 C
- Winter heating cost cut by 38 percent
- Estimated payback: 20 months
Compliance and Selection Notes
Sensible-only plate recovery, separated streams, no rotary wheel. Solvent-laden exhaust must not be recirculated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a rotary wheel be used?
No. A rotary enthalpy wheel would transfer solvent vapour and coating mist into supply air. Plate sensible recovery is the safe choice.
Is the plate solvent-safe?
Yes, with a solvent-resistant coating and an exhaust prefilter upstream.
Related Guides and Tools
Plate Heat Exchangers · Paint Booth Exhaust Heat Recovery · Industrial Waste Heat Recovery · Painting Spray Plate Exchanger · Spray Painting Exhaust Recovery · Contact EN159
Get a Site-Specific Recovery Estimate
Talk to an EN159 application engineer about your automotive paint booth exhaust stream. Call 15753355505 or visit our contact page for a site-specific recovery estimate.