Pros and cons of an infrared heater

Infrared heaters are now becoming increasingly popular. This is facilitated by the affordable price and high efficiency of the devices. How do such devices work, what are their technical characteristics, as well as advantages and disadvantages?

The principle of operation of any heating device is based on the transfer of thermal energy from more heated bodies to less heated ones. The greater the temperature difference between the body and the environment, the more intense is the heat transfer.

There are three types of heat transfer:

• thermal conductivity;
• convection;
• radiation.

In fact, any heating device gives off energy in all of the above ways, the differences are only in the percentage ratio between them.

Traditional heating devices (oil heaters, radiators) provide the main heat transfer through convection. The heat of the device heats the layer of air in contact with it, which becomes lighter and rises, freeing up its place to heavy cold air, creating a natural circulation in the room. Thus, the heating of surrounding objects is not direct, but through heated air masses. At the same time, the temperature near the ceiling is always several degrees higher than on the floor of the room.

Infrared heaters provide the main heat transfer due to the emission of infrared waves. Radiated waves easily pass air and are absorbed by solid surfaces, directly heating them. In simple words, an IR heater is a small artificial sun in your home. Spreading freely in space and falling on surfaces and people in the room, infrared rays heat them and already these surfaces themselves begin to work as heat sources.

With this method of energy transfer, an extra link is eliminated - air, which can significantly increase energy efficiency and provide a more even distribution of heat in the room.

REFERENCE! Heaters are considered infrared, transmitting due to radiation more than 70% of energy.

To answer the question of whether you need an infrared heater, you need to know all the advantages and disadvantages of this type of device. The advantages of an infrared heating system are:

• simplicity of installation and lack of need for maintenance;
• quick warm-up of a room of any size, you will feel pleasant heat immediately after turning on the device;
• the ability to create multiple thermal zones within the same room;
• profitability, in comparison with traditional types of heaters;
• silent operation due to the lack of movable elements;
• do not burn oxygen and do not emit odors;
• high fire safety (subject to operating rules), it is possible to use in wooden houses;
• possibility of use in damp rooms.

IR heaters and some disadvantages are not without:

• higher cost in comparison with traditional models;
• detrimental effect on furniture and interior items (interior items and paintings constantly located in the area of ​​influence of short-wave infrared radiation lose moisture, as a result cracks may appear on them);
• the possibility of harming human health if operating rules are not observed.

Contrary to popular belief, infrared heaters are used not only in residential and office premises. Depending on the design, infrared devices are used in such areas as:

• agriculture, for heating greenhouses, young farm animals and birds;
• production, for main or local heating in workshops, hangars, garage boxes;
• service sector for heating outdoor cafes and restaurants;
• medicine, for disinfection of premises;
• industry, production of infrared saunas and heating furniture.

Industrial and domestic heaters are completely different devices, they differ both in the type of heating element (IR wavelength) and in the type of energy source used

There are a large number of types of infrared heaters. In fact, a surface heated above 60 ° C - already emits IR waves intensively. In this case, the wavelength is inversely proportional to the surface temperature. Infrared is called radiation with a wavelength of 0.74 micrometers to 1 millimeter. This range is between the end of the red color of the visible spectrum and the invisible part of the microwave radiation.

IR devices can be classified according to several criteria. By used energy source:

• electric (to create IR rays, the heating element can be heated up to 900 degrees, as a rule, designed for an area of ​​up to 25 square meters);
• gas (effective for heating large areas - hangars, gyms, greenhouses).

By type of heating element:

1. Tube (got its name because of the bright golden glow during operation. The heating element is a filament made of chromium-nickel alloy or tungsten, placed in a quartz tube from which air is pumped out. Due to the high temperature it emits short-wave radiation that can harm human health, are not recommended for residential premises).
2. Carbon (similar in design to tube devices, the only difference is in the material of the heating element - they use a carbon or carbon spiral having a lower heating temperature, as a result of which these heaters emit longer waves that are safe for humans, the heating becomes softer and more comfortable).
3. Ceramic (a ceramic panel of a large area acts as a radiating, infrared wave, element. The panel is heated to a temperature of about 60 ° C by a built-in metal spiral. The emitted IR spectrum is soft, safe and comfortable for humans, and the high performance properties of ceramics allow the use of these devices in educational institutions and humid environments).
4. Mycothermal (similar in structure and emission spectrum to ceramic. The radiating element is a plate coated with metal oxides and a mica shell; heating is provided by a nickel-chromium alloy thread. The main difference from ceramic heaters is the lower heat capacity of the heating element and, as a consequence, a higher infrared effect).
5. Film (The most modern sources of long-wave infrared radiation. They are a film with a thickness of not more than one millimeter. Film heaters can be placed under the interior decoration elements on the walls, floor or ceiling. They are an excellent source of distributed soft infrared radiation).

Heaters are also divided by wavelength:

• shortwave (designed for heating non-residential premises, infrared radiation with a wavelength of 0.74 ... 1.5 microns, characteristic of radiating elements with a temperature of 600 to 1000) ° C;
• longwave (provide softer heating intended for residential premises, characteristic of radiating elements with temperatures up to 120 ° C).

The most widespread at the moment are electric infrared heaters based on micothermal panels, lamp and carbon emitting elements.

In order for the acquired infrared heater to fully realize its strengths, it is important not to be mistaken in choosing the type of device. Before choosing an infrared heater, you must clearly determine for what purpose you plan to use it. Experts recommend adhering to the following principle:

• for additional heating of living rooms use low-temperature panels (ceramic or microthermal);
• use devices with a surface temperature above 120 ° С based on carbon elements as the main source of heat in office premises;
• To heat large areas, use high-temperature electric or gas heaters located at the recommended by the manufacturer distance from people.

It is worthwhile to carefully study all the possibilities and make the right choice of a device that will bring radiant heat to the house.