Warm exhaust from finishing booths

Spray-paint, powder-coat, and electrocoat booths exhaust large volumes of warm air carrying solvent or powder. Venting it wastes both heat and, in winter, forces the make-up air system to reheat from cold. Recovery preheats incoming air and reduces the heater load.

Suitable exchanger types and how they work

Stainless plate air-to-air exchangers preheat the make-up air using the booth exhaust, with the streams fully separated so no overspray or solvent crosses to the supply. A counterflow plate maximizes effectiveness; a run-around coil is used when booth and make-up units are distant.

Design considerations for paint booths

Exhaust can carry solvent vapor and particulate, so use cleanable stainless plates, provide condensate and drainage, and keep surface temperatures within safe limits for the solvents present. Design for frequent cleaning, confirm pressure drop against the booth exhaust fan, and never allow cross-leakage that could concentrate solvent on the supply side.