What is an infrared heater

Infrared heater — what is it and what is it eaten with

Many are aware of the benefits of infrared heaters. They, unlike a fan heater, do not dry the air, consume less energy and provide zone heating. After turning it on, heat is felt immediately, while other types of heaters take time to “build up”.

Nevertheless, when choosing an infrared heater, an attentive buyer has a number of legitimate and fair questions. Is it possible to harm from «infrared»? Is it safe to use it as a lamp? Which emitter in infrared heaters is better: an incandescent lamp or a special alloy panel?

It’s not easy to figure this out. For example, take incandescent lamps. They come in different types: halogen, carbon, quartz … Patience, we will talk about all this below.

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• What is the principle of operation of an infrared heater?

• Where is this miracle used?

• Types and device of infrared heater

• Briefly about heating elements

• Varieties by radiation range

• Varieties by type of use

• Varieties by type of execution

• Where to run, where to buy and how much to pay?

• Popular foreign brands

• Popular domestic brands

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By the name «infrared heater» it is clear that this is a heating unit that heats by means of infrared radiation. And what is the most efficient source of such radiation? Sun. It sends us natural heat rays that are absorbed by all possible surfaces (from giant skyscrapers to the same person), and they, in turn, give some of this heat to the surrounding air. So here is an infrared heater — it will be an individual small Sun that warms your room or a certain area on the street.

What is the principle of operation of an infrared heater

The infrared range is long waves, invisible to us, but felt as heat. Such radiation is almost not absorbed by the air, so the vast majority of energy is transmitted directly to people and objects in the coverage area of ​​the infrared heater. This principle of operation is called direct heating, while the usual convection heating refers to indirect heating.

Scope of application

Although infrared heaters belong to a fairly new type of heating compared to the classical one, in such a short time they have been on the market, a huge number of areas of its application have appeared. According to the main types, infrared heaters can be divided into:

— industrial (for industrial premises, warehouses, hangars, motor vehicles and other workshops, outdoor and indoor sports facilities, stadiums and others);

We all know from school that when heated, warm air rises, and cold air, respectively, goes down. It is also no secret that at industrial facilities, as a rule, rooms with very high ceilings, and as a result, most of the energy consumed is spent on heating unnecessary space under the ceiling. A wall or ceiling infrared heater will perfectly cope with such a problem.

— commercial and industrial (for shopping centers, supermarkets, exhibition pavilions, cinemas, theaters, indoor and outdoor areas, stations, bus stops, open cafes, terminals and others);

In addition to solving the problem described above, for commercial and industrial premises, an infrared heater is the only way to create local heating. That is, only with its help you can maintain different temperature conditions in different parts of the room and refuse to heat certain areas. By placing devices at certain points, significant energy savings are achieved due to the absence of the need for unnecessary heating of the entire area.

— household (for houses, apartments, garages, greenhouses, gardens, cottages, terraces, gazebos, terrariums and others);

Undoubtedly due to the type of device of infrared heaters — they have become much more often considered as alternative sources of heat for domestic purposes. Such a heater in the apartment will not dry the air and burn oxygen, it is able to normalize the humidity in the garage and will not create dust circulation and drafts in a country house.

To date, the choice is so great that the user, having spent a minimum of time selecting a heater that suits his requirements, can almost immediately start viewing the list of companies on the portal and quickly find a personal model.

How to calculate the heat output of a gas heater

Calculation formula according to which the calculation is carried out: given that the radiated thermal energy is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the heat source to the heated body, then to obtain a comfort temperature in the room — 18 degrees C, in the absence of air movement and at an external temperature Te 0 degrees C, it is enough to have 370 kW of thermal energy per 1 sq. m. For other Te values ​​obtained will depend on the average ratio between the base delta T and the desired (given) temperature.

Types and device of infrared heater

Any infrared heater consists of:
1) body
2) heating element
3) reflector (reflector) with thermal insulation
4) mounting bracket
5) thermostat and auto-off sensor (control unit).

The most popular type of infrared heater is electric. Due to the excellent ratio of efficiency and durability, they are used in all three areas, from large stations to small garages. Let’s take a closer look at the components using his example.

Frame can be made from steel and aluminum, as well as from various other types of temperature-resistant plastic or glass. Thanks to this scheme, an electric infrared heater reflects radiation in the right direction.

Role heating element several materials can play in it: heating elements (tubular electric heaters), halogen lamps, ceramic lamps, carbon spirals or film mikathermic panels. Heating systems with open elements (spiral) are becoming a thing of the past, they are being replaced by modern lamps and films. The difference between the two is the continuous use resource. Carbon lamps in infrared heaters are considered the most durable.

For directed heat distribution reflector. It is made of modern materials with maximum reflectivity (for example, aluminum foil is used in film). The reflector is installed exclusively behind the heating element and is provided with additional thermal insulation to protect the body of the unit from overheating.

fasten such electric heaters, as a rule, are mounted on an installation floating bracket, which comes in the factory kit. Less often, suspensions are used as fasteners. The easiest way is to deal with floor infrared heaters, which simply need to choose the right place wisely.

Any modern infrared heater also has sensor temperature with auto-off or a control unit to protect against threats such as overheating or falls (for floor models).

Gas infrared heaters are used more often for commercial and industrial premises. And only in non-residential premises. Similar to an electric infrared heater, gas heaters have the same components. The difference lies in the method of obtaining thermal energy:

Method one. The heating element is always special ceramic plates. These thin sheets of ceramic are heated by what appear to be gas burners, small gas flares or exhaust gas streams. And in this case, the combustion products do not come into contact with the heated materials.

Method two. From the gas-air mixer under pressure, oxygen and gas are passed through the ceramic plates and burn on their surface. With this method, the plates can be replaced by metal meshes. And the combustion products enter a special drying section, where they come into contact with the heated materials.

Significant savings when using this type of infrared heaters makes them a recognized favorite for heating industrial premises, because the gas is burned inside and the percentage of energy conversion into heat is very high.

Infrared heaters on diesel fuel identical to gas. Only standard diesel fuel is used instead of gas, which can be purchased at any gas station. They meet all the standards of modern technical requirements. And a large number of mobile models and power options allow you to use them anywhere, from large industrial areas to heating small houses that do not have a gas supply.

Varieties by type of heating elements

Since we have already briefly dwelled on the example of an electric infrared heater device, let’s take a closer look at the varieties of all infrared heaters by type of heating elements:

Tungsten. Close relatives of «Ilyich bulbs», in which a twisted tungsten filament is located in a vacuum tube and is a source of radiation. Pros / cons: the most affordable creates a fairly bright glow.

Halogen. They have the same principle of operation as tungsten, but instead of vacuum, a buffer gas is pumped into the tube

Heating elements (tubular electric heaters). In such units, aluminum plates with a special coating began to be used as heating elements, which significantly improves heat transfer. And the specially designed heating elements built into them made it possible to create one of the longest-lasting heating devices. Pros / cons: long period of use «crackling» during operation

Carbon (carbon fiber). Here, instead of a tungsten coil, a hydrocarbon fiber is placed in a vacuum, which has a higher heating rate. Pros / cons: economical energy consumption and high efficiency — 90-95% the cost of carbon infrared heaters is already an order of magnitude higher.

Ceramic. In such heaters, heated spirals (rarely wire or cable) of high-resistance metals transfer their heat to the ceramic panel. This single plate is additionally covered with a special glaze to protect against high humidity and the appearance of rust. Pros / cons: does not dry the air and are considered refractory / rather fast cooling

Film mikathermic panels. They are the latest know-how in the world of infrared heaters. In it, numerous thin fibers of graphite are fixed on a single thermostatic film. Thanks to this design, this is the only one of all types of existing heaters in a «flexible» design.

The film infrared heater can be mounted both on the floor or ceiling, and on the wall. Moreover, if a person has never encountered such a heating device before, he may not even guess that the front is not just an element of the interior. Pros / cons: aesthetic appearance, ease of installation and noiselessness work only on electricity, fragile.

Varieties by radiation range

All infrared heaters can be divided into several types and by radiation range (or by heating value):

longwave — these are models with a low heating temperature of the elements from 100 ° C to 600 ° C. They can be used in residential areas even with low ceilings. They consume little energy and are a good option for normal household use.

medium wave — already have an increased heating temperature of the elements from 600°C to 1000°C. These are more often used in commercial and industrial premises or large houses with a ceiling height of more than 3 meters.

Shortwaves — These are heaters with the highest heating element temperature, more than 1000°С. Short-wave infrared heaters are designed for large industrial facilities: warehouses, shops, hangars, etc. They cope remarkably well with heating in open space. They are not used for residential premises, since a long stay of a person under such a device is not recommended.

Depending on the type of radiator, it is always necessary to observe the minimum distance between the surface of infrared heaters and heated objects, it can start from a few centimeters and end with several meters.

Varieties by type of use

Stationary — used as a more economical replacement for central heating.

Mobile — exploited in the majority in the form of an additional cheap source of heat: to heat a garage, a dacha for the weekend or selected workplaces at enterprises.

Varieties by type of execution

Well, one of the most important types that you need to understand before buying an electric or gas infrared heater is the separation by type of execution:

Ceiling. The most popular and convenient, because, firstly, it has a huge number of models both for the needs of industrial facilities and for domestic premises, and secondly, it does not take up additional space. Ceiling infrared heaters in new apartments can be built into the false ceiling; in retail space they can be fixed with special floating brackets to a regular ceiling; in large hangars mounted on suspensions to any type of ceiling. A significant advantage of this type is the most extensive range of heating coverage.

One example of a ceiling system is Fraccaro’s Girad series, a ribbon-type radiator suitable for heating large areas. It consists of a warm air generator with a power of 35 to 300 kW and a heat-radiating circuit with an average temperature on the pipe surface of 200-250⁰С. The configuration of the contours is calculated in each case, depending on the size of the building.

Panrad only allows heating of certain work areas or places. A heat-radiating generator with a gas burner at Ecomix vacuum and an additional condenser allow you to get heat transfer up to 107%.

wall. The largest selection of design options for every taste and the minimum installation installation. Wall-mounted infrared heaters are the best solution for additional heating of a certain area. They are not used as a replacement for central heating, as they have their own characteristics. The first of them is a lot of obstacles in the way of radiation in an apartment or a country house (sofas, tables, cabinets…) for effective work. The second is a competent choice of the installation location and type of heating element, based on the presence of small children or animals at home. Wall-mounted models are a great source of gentle heat for a living room sofa, or for an employee’s workspace, without the expense of maintaining an unnecessary high temperature throughout the room.

One example of a wall-mounted light-type (ceramic) gas IR emitter is the GH series device manufactured by PAKOLE.

Some manufacturers offer both wall and ceiling mounting. For example, dark tube IR radiators ZENIT of the PAKOLE trademark can be mounted in several ways: both on a chain to the ceiling, and on brackets to the wall of a heated room at an angle of 30 degrees.

floor standing. The main strong point of floor infrared heaters is mobility, which we modern residents really appreciate. One heater can be used wherever there is a need for it at the moment: in an apartment, in a country house and in a garage.

Floor infrared heaters are produced not only in the classic version of a mobile radiator on wheels or on a support, but also in the form of an analogue of a warm floor, only portable. The film floor infrared heater can be quickly placed under the carpet, linoleum or carpet.

Skirting. It is a symbiosis of the two previous types of execution and performs the function of only auxiliary heating of the room. Plinth infrared heaters are installed at the junction of the floor and the wall, therefore, as a rule, they have a minimum height and width. It is economically and functionally advantageous to use them under panoramic windows, to protect walls from freezing, in areas with poor insulation and as an alternative to a thermal curtain. Modern high-quality models even contain special grooves for communications.

Separately, I would also like to dwell on such a subspecies as infrared fan heater. The most significant difference from the previous ones is the presence of forced convection. A fan is built into the body of such a heater, which circulates the air in the room in parallel with the infrared heating method.

The advantage of such units is the very rapid heating of the room, and the disadvantage is the fear of high humidity. To work with high levels of humidity (in bathrooms, baths, etc.), you should choose devices from a series of moisture-proof infrared heaters, the body and special coating of which are not afraid of such conditions of use.

We hope we managed to convince you in detail and authoritatively that with the right choice of the type of infrared heater, in accordance with the conditions of your room, it will not only not cause any harm to health and things, but will bring additional benefits, including your wallet.

Where to run, where to buy and how much to pay?

So, you have decided to buy an infrared heater. On what should this choice be based? First of all, let’s pay attention to the manufacturers. Ours or foreign? What guarantees? Are there good reviews?

European manufacturers have higher prices for infrared heaters. For example, the approximate cost of Fraccaro Panrad is from 1117 to 1693 euros. The cost of the cost of the Hungarian dark pipe GII varies from 1000 to 2000 euros, depending on the power of the device (from 12kW to 58kW) and the length of the radiant pipe (from 3m to 24m for a straight pipe configuration and from 1.5m to 12m for a U-shaped pipe configuration). But is there a direct relationship between the quality of the device and the high cost? The increased cost here depends on expensive labor and the number of dealers in the producer-dealer-buyer chain. An expensive model made of good materials will cost good money both from a Russian manufacturer and a foreign one. A cheap one will similarly cost inexpensively for both.

Due to the increase in demand for this type of thermal equipment, the number of firms has also increased. It has become difficult for an ordinary buyer to navigate in such a variety. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of the main trusted companies offering infrared heaters.

Several popular foreign manufacturers:

1. Infrared heaters BALLU (BALU) the international company «BALLU Industrial Group» has been producing for a long time. Thanks to the powerful potential of design offices, unique technical solutions and high-quality materials, it has become a leader in this field. It has a large number of lines of infrared heaters for the home, for giving and for commercial and industrial premises.

2. TIMBERK- is a Swedish brand specializing in specific areas and trends. Achieved high quality indicators of TIMBERK infrared heaters. Differs in fast reaction to dynamic change of demand and needs of buyers.

3. Infrared heaters SINBO exported from Turkey. Thanks to large deliveries, the final cost of their products has become lower. It has a wide range of models, and periodically updates them.

four. CARLIEUKLIMA is a trademark of Italian origin. Infrared heaters Carlieuklima have all the necessary quality certificates and have a modern design.

5. Infrared heaters FRICO are heaters from the leading manufacturer of heating equipment in Scandinavia. But in other countries it has strengthened its reputation as a serious brand.

6. Fraccaro (Italy) has been working in the field of infrared heating equipment for over 40 years. The company specializes primarily in the field of heating industrial and large premises, while paying attention to other aspects of the possible use of gas radiant heating systems, such as industrial furnaces, greenhouses, places of worship, etc.

7. PAKOLE (Hungary) is one of the leaders in the gas heating equipment market and offers a wide range of devices for heating industrial premises and warehouses, the ability to select combined heating systems, an integrated approach to projects, from design to service support, as well as a spare parts warehouse. PAKOLE gas IR emitters are the best value for money, reliable Honeywell automation, high energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of equipment.

Several popular domestic manufacturers:

1) Infrared heaters, leaders of our market, are produced under the Russian trademark ALMAC. The company specializes in their production. This equipment is based on all modern developments in this field.

2) Infrared heaters PEONY made in the Moscow region by the domestic company «You are warm». Housings of heating devices are made of aluminum alloy and painted with powder enamels in various colors.

3) Brand RIOLAND produces deluxe ceiling infrared heaters Rioland. The range of model range allows you to choose the right option for any premises.

four) DOME is a research and production enterprise. In its wide range, an important place is occupied by the production of infrared heaters Dome of the international level. The production is equipped with modern technological lines of Western companies.

5) PLEN — domestic trademark of infrared heating systems. Plen infrared heaters are mounted or sewn up with any kind of finishing materials (except for iron and mirrors).

Prices for infrared heaters have a wide range and depend on the scope, materials and type of execution. On average, a good Russian-made household appliance can be purchased within 2000-4000 rubles. Imported will cost more, up to 5000-8000 rubles. Industrial ones, due to the lack of low-power models, will already cost from 5,000 rubles. Made abroad from 6000-7000 rubles. You can choose the ideal infrared heater for yourself very quickly, for example, simply by leaving a request with the necessary parameters on the portal.

Source: TopClimat.ru