A unique two-stage air-to-air heat exchangers system by Munters has been installed for a well-known automotive parts manufacturer at a plant in Mexico that fabricates headlight lenses.
One of the processes in the plant involves applying a chrome coating to the lenses. A thermal oxidizer incinerates isopropyl alcohol and the butyl acetate fumes that result. Munters' Thermo-Z heat exchanger recovers heat from the incinerator’s exhaust at 1400°F, so it can be used to preheat inlet effluent air from 123°F to 1180°F. In doing this, the heat exchanger operates at an efficiency of 83%.
In the second stage, also supplied by Munters, a water coil in the exhaust stream uses 365°F air coming out of the heat exchanger to heat a water-glycol mix from 160°F to 190°F. The water then flows to a clean room in the plant, where a forced air fan blows ambient air across a second coil, heating the air from 70°F to 180°F. This hot air goes to a flash-off zone, where it cures a sprayed-on clear coat and solvent applied to the lenses. Using waste heat from the thermal oxidizer to heat water in this fashion eliminates the need for a boiler.
About Thermo-Z
The Thermo-Z™ all-welded heat exchanger, offers modular design with heave gauge, welded-plate construction, and guaranteed leakage rates less than 0.01% factory tested. Thermo-Z™ offers integral thermal expansion compensation and an insulated shell with an all-welded outer casing for increased performance. Both crossflow and counterflow configurations are available. Variable plate spacing is utilized to optimize performance, pressure drop, and service requirements, providing the most efficient and maintenance free heat recovery equipment available.
Welded construction eliminates the possibility of premature failure and increased leakage caused by particulate build-up in the compression seals of a non-welded unit.
Tel: (800) 843-5360 | E-mail: dhinfo@munters.com