Textile stenter machines generate high-temperature exhaust containing oil mist, fiber dust, additives, and high humidity, which often leads to corrosion, fouling, and unstable system operation. To address these challenges, a full stainless-steel air-to-air plate heat exchanger is used for exhaust heat recovery, integrating vertical exhaust channels, flat-plate passage structures, vertical spray washing, and a bottom condensate/ sludge settling tank. These optimized designs ensure reliable heat recovery specifically tailored for the textile printing and dyeing industry.
1. Application Background
Typical characteristics of stenter machine exhaust:
• Temperature 120–180°C
• Contains oil mist, fiber particles, chemical additives
• High moisture content; risk of condensation and corrosion
• Tendency to cause fouling and blockage in conventional heat exchangers
Aluminum exchangers cannot handle these harsh conditions. A full stainless-steel design with specialized structures is required to ensure long-term stable performance.
2. Key Structural Features
1. Full Stainless-Steel Heat Transfer Plates (304 / 316L)
• Excellent resistance to acidic condensate and dyeing chemicals
• High thermal and mechanical stability at elevated temperatures
• Supports high-frequency washing without deformation
• Considerably longer service life than aluminum plates
2. Flat Exhaust Passage Design
• Smooth, wide flow channels prevent fiber and oil mist accumulation
• Extended maintenance intervals
• Lower pressure drop, ideal for the large airflow of stenter machines
3. Vertical Exhaust Flow (L-Shaped Flow Path)
• Exhaust flows vertically downward or from top-side down
• Gravity assists removal of oil droplets and particles
• Reduces fouling on plate surfaces and prolongs cleaning cycles
• Enhances drainage efficiency during spray washing
4. Vertical Spray Cleaning System
• Periodic spray washing removes oil, fiber dust, and chemical residue
• Prevents fouling and restores heat transfer performance
• Allows online cleaning without dismantling the heat exchanger
5. Bottom Wastewater and Sludge Settling Tank
• Collects oil-contaminated water and fiber particles washed from plates
• Facilitates proper drainage and disposal
• Prevents recontamination of the heat exchanger
• Easy-to-clean structure, independent from the upper heat exchange area
3. Working Principle
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High-temperature exhaust enters the vertical flat channels.
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Heat is transferred through stainless-steel plates to the fresh-air side.
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Moisture condenses and carries oil/dirt downward into the settling tank.
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Fresh air absorbs waste heat and is preheated for reuse in the stenter machine or workshop ventilation.
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Cooled exhaust is then discharged to downstream treatment (RTO, carbon adsorption, fans) with reduced thermal load.
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The spray system periodically washes the exhaust channels to maintain stable efficiency.
Airflows remain completely separated to avoid cross-contamination.
4. Technical Advantages
1. Engineered Specifically for Textile Stenter Exhaust
Resistant to high temperature, corrosion, oil fumes, and fiber dust—solving long-standing issues in the dyeing and finishing industry.
2. Significant Energy Savings
Recovering exhaust heat to preheat fresh air can reduce gas, steam, or electric heating consumption by 20–35%.
3. Anti-Fouling, Stable Operation
Flat channels + vertical airflow + spray washing prevent blockages common in stenter exhaust systems.
4. Protects Downstream Equipment
Lower exhaust temperature reduces load on RTO, ducts, and fans, improving service life and reliability.
5. Low Maintenance
Routine spray cleaning and simple sludge removal are sufficient; no frequent disassembly required.
5. Typical Applications
• Textile heat-setting stenter machines
• Stretching, drying, and heat-setting production lines
• High-temperature exhaust with oil mist and fiber dust
• Pre-cooling and energy recovery before VOC treatment systems