What is Infrared Heating?
Infrared heaters use electromagnetic waves to transmit energy to materials without heating the air between the infrared heater and the target.
The infrared energy generated by the heater is typically between 0.7 microns (µ) and 6 µ. Wavelengths are of specific use to the energy employed thus leading to greater efficiency in warming the material.
The infrared heating technique is unique as it deposits heat into the material to be heated while keeping the air cool around it. For this reason, infrared heaters have developed a loyal following due to energy efficiency and effectiveness, as well as health benefits of using infrared.
Infrared heaters can be powered by electric, natural gas, or propane making them an efficient and effective heating source.
Infrared electromagnetic waves used for industrial application range in wavelengths from 780 nm to 10 microns, with the wave length corresponding directly to frequency and therefore, energy, the shorter the wavelength, the greater the associated frequency and energy.
Infrared heating can produce a temperature sufficient for any process, anywhere from several hundred degrees Celsius to 6,512°F (3,600°C).
This newer technology of infrared heating has led to a broader range of applications infrared heating can be utilized for. Modern infrared heaters have many incorporated features and designs for variety to meet the needs of industrial, commercial and residential applications.
The uses for infrared heaters can be utilized for heating various spaces occupied by people such as home, office, garage, warehouse, etc.
In industry, infrared heaters are utilized for a multitude of processes including drying, curing, printing or thermally forming. In healthcare, infrared can bestow therapeutic benefits; thus infrared in physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
History of Infrared Heating
Sir William Herschel discovered infrared spectrum at the peak of the Industrial Revolution (1760-1840). Infrared heating was recognized prior to World War II, but not widely utilized until the military began their own experiments using infrared heating for drying paints and lacquers on weaponry.
The drying process was extremely effective and the military liked the idea much better than conventional ovens wasting fuel and heavy duty expensive ovens.
Because of the violence of war, infrared heaters soon appeared in every factory and workshop during World War II. After World War II, after the introduction of central heating, infrared heaters went away.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the combination of lasers accuracy and extreme hot temperature made infrared heating interesting again, together with an increasing emphasis on greener technology, led to a resurgence in infrared heaters and the number of applications for infrared heating.
Growth in population and water heaters required in every design aspect of buildings in every place, from private residential dwellings to public buildings and big plant facilities, everything was modular and layouts were changed.
Infrared radiation heaters had been improved in design and allowed larger size and/or concept modules and in the last nine decades, infrared heaters were emerging in virtually every conceivable environment.
New technology and continued evolution and sophisticated methods of control have allowed increased acceptance of infrared heating options in new solutions.
What are the operating principles behind infrared heaters?
Infrared heat is a form of radiant heat that transfers its thermal energy from an infrared heater to an object or material, rather than first heating the surrounding air.
This method of heating works like the sun heating the earth providing warming comfort naturally and efficiently, to people, surfaces, and work areas.
For this reason, infrared heating technology is becoming more popular for residential and industrial purposes space heaters, patio heaters, and industrial process heating.
With infrared heaters, unique panels/elements are heated to emit infrared radiation. Once the infrared heater is turned on, the radiation travels through the air toward a solid object like you, furniture, or industrial materials.
When the radiation makes contact with the solid object, they receive the thermal energy from the heater. Electromagnetic waves, or radiant heat, always transfer heat in this same way as the radiant heat transfer that occurs between metal and coil.
With infrared heating, it offers a unique ability to transfer heat very quickly to the target object with relatively little energy loss during that process compared to convection heating methods.
Unlike traditional convection heating methods that first warms the air space before transferring thermal energy to objects in that space, infrared heaters, within limits, are designed to project radiant heat directly onto surfaces, people, or machinery.
This radiant source of heating allows infrared heating systems to rapidly heat surfaces to their operating temperature and hold the temperature at the surface with a minimal amount of energy.
Accordingly, infrared heating systems improve energy efficiency in both residential and commercial settings, lower operating costs associated with heating, improve indoor air quality, and deliver consistent heating comfort all of which make infrared heating a more cost effective and overwhelmingly energy efficient method of heating.
Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic waves are made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields and are perpendicular to each other. Both electric and magnetic oscillating fields comprise the basis of all forms of infrared heating, and the electromagnetic waves are representative of how infrared energy travels.
Electromagnetic waves consist of two associated characteristics, which are wavelength and frequency. Wavelength is the distance between crests of the wave, and is expressed in nanometers or angstroms as expressed in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Wavelength and frequency are terms you commonly hear used interchangeably; but, although they are descriptions of wave characteristics, they represent two different concepts, and are measured differently: frequency is described in Hertz (Hz), which describes the number of cycles in one second.
Wavelength and frequency are both used to distinguish from other wavelengths of their types, which can include ultraviolet, visible light, and infrared radiation.
There is an inverse relationship between wavelength and frequency: as the wavelength shortens the frequency increases.
Additionally, the energy of a wave increases as the frequency, or the wavelength, increases. Therefore, shorter, higher frequency, waves have greater amounts of energy (will lead to more effective electromagnetic heating) than longer, lower frequency, waves.
Electromagnetic waves are vastly different from mechanical waves because mechanical waves require physical travel through a form of matter from a distance; whereas, mechanical waves cannot travel through a medium, much like sound cannot travel through air or water.
In addition, electromagnetic waves (including infrared rays), do not require a medium for propagating, and can travel through a vacuum as well!!!
This is the reason we can feel the radiant heat of the sun from such great distances and even feel the change in temperature while sitting in the sunlight.
The infrared heater is applying the same principle of solar heating within indoor and outdoor living conditions, much more effectively than standard heating options.
Infrared Waves
Infrared radiation lays between visible radiation and microwave radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum. The component wavelengths of infrared radiation exist between 700 nanometers (about 430 terahertz) and 1 millimeter (about 300 gigahertz).
The different wavelengths represent different energy levels. Infrared radiation is ideal for heat transfer applications in commercial and industrial applications.
As infrared spectrum contains several categories, each suited best for certain infrared heat applications—like near-infrared heating (NIR), which is mostly used for high-speed industrial process with immediate response, mid-wave infrared heating (MWIR), mostly used for drying and curing, and far-infrared heating (FIR), for space heating and comfort heating.
Below is a classification table of the main regions of the infrared spectrum showing how to choose materials and heater designs for your projects.
| Region | Abbrevation | Wavelength (μm) | Frequency (THz) | Photo Energy(meV) | Temperature Range(°F) |
| Near-Infrared | NIR | 0.75-1.4 | 214-400 | 886-1653 | 6495.8 to 3266.6 (3591-1797°C) |
| Short Wavelength Infrared | SWIR | 1.4-3 | 100-214 | 413-886 | 3266.6 to 1279.4 (1797-693°C) |
| Mid-Wavelength Infrared | MWIR | 3-8 | 37-100 | 155-413 | 1279.4 to 192.2 (693-89°C) |
| Long-Wavelength Infrared | LWIR | 8-15 | 20-37 | 83-115 | 192.2 to −112 (89 – −80°C) |
| Far Infrared | FIR | 15-1000 | 0.3-20 | 1.2-83 | −112.27 to −454.27 (−80.15 – −270.15°C) |
IR waves have many use cases such as efficient radiative heating, infrared thermal imaging, remote sensing, and wireless communications.
Different infrared types also have a very significant impact on heating performance penetration depth, heating efficiency, response speed, and suitability for material processing are all significantly affected by the type of IR wave.
Knowing the spectral range is important when selecting an infrared heater for underfloor heating in a residential application, patio heating in an outdoor scenario, as well as for heating industrial ovens or drying processes.
For example, very good space heaters may be classified as far infrared panels – providing gentle heating, and shortwave or near-infrared heaters are specific for rapid intense heat for a process.
Radiative Heat Transfer
Radiation refers to heat transfer caused by emission, absorption, and reflection of electromagnetic waves, including infrared radiation, from objects at a temperature above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or -459.4°F).
All objects are in constant emission of thermal radiation because of molecular motions and collisions at the atomic, molecular, and sub-atomic levels (e.g. protons, electrons).
The amount and wavelength of thermal radiation emitted by an object depends on its temperature and surface properties, which is one reason there are so many different types of infrared heating systems for different applications.
As temperature increases, objects emit more thermal energy, which is why infrared heaters are so effective at almost instantly delivering warmth where it is needed. Infrared heat does not require heating air molecules, which improves energy efficiency and delivers instantaneous comfort.
Besides radiation, heat can be transferred by conduction or convection. Conduction transfers energy as thermal energy from molecule or atom to molecule or atom through direct contact and is common in solid material.
Conduction occurs when thermal or kinetic energy is transferred from a region of higher energy to a region of lower energy. The mode of heat transfer is widely used with metal objects and buildings.
Convection uses movement of fluid or gas molecules to transfer heat.
When some part of a fluid (air or liquid) is heated, it expands, becomes less dense, and rises setting up convection currents to transfer heat from one part of an environment to another.
Convection works well, typically, for large spaces, but is not as directed and can cause uneven heating—these deficiencies can be overcome by infrared heaters as they provide the warmth directly, even if the surrounding air is cold.
How do infrared heaters work?
Infrared heaters consist of two main parts: a heating element (usually tungsten, quartz, or ceramic) that converts electrical or chemical (fuel) energy supply to thermal energy and a reflector that directs the emitted infrared waves to the items to be heated.
This simple format allows for both portable and fixed infrared heaters to offer functional heating solutions in zoned heating configurations.
The efficiency and performance of the infrared heater depends highly on the quality of a reflector. Heat-efficient reflectors will have high reflectivity, while maximizing the amount of radiant heat transmitted by the heater while limiting heat loss and wasted energy.
Reflectors should maximize functional coverage while limiting any engulfing “hot spots”. The shape, surface finish, and material are all specifically engineered and selected to direct the emitted waves outward and not lose heat energy in unintended areas.
Ideal reflectors should withstand high temperature environments and corrosion, and allow easy cleaning and maintenance to assure reliable long-term performance.
Typical materials include aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic, and quartz. Each has its unique properties in constructing a lightweight, heat-stable unit with good reflectivity.
More sophisticated units may have gold or ruby alloys on its surfaces to optimize reflectivity and direct the heat output for specific processes.
The heating elements, where offered, (i.e. carbon, halogen, and quartz tube heaters) can also be specified to tune the heater based on applications in a particular industry.
Users needing to identify the type of infrared heater to meet their specific needs should take into consideration wattage, type of heater (panel, tube, lamp), amount of mounting and control options, coverage area, safety certifications, and the compliance with smart controls or building automation systems.
Purpose-built infrared heaters serve applications of all kinds including garage and workshop heating, commercial facility environmental comfort control, food processing, paint curing, and moisture removal.
Appreciating the operating principles of infrared heaters will confirm the right technology fit for your environmental circumstance, project, or circumstance, and allow for energy savings, improved comfort, predictable, reliable, and targeted heat output to meet any application.
Chapter 3: What are some industrial uses for infrared heaters?
Flameless heating is critical in many industrial settings with core processes like drying, surface prep, curing, or enhancing manufacturing workflow performance.
These processes often require dependable, specific temperature control to ensure product quality and energy costs are minimized.
While different types of thermal processing technology continue to develop, the manufacturing sector relies more and more on infrared heating systems for the compliant and even thermal heating, particularly to satisfy modern expectations of production environments while maximizing operational cost performance and productivity.
Infrared heating systems are designed to effectively heat solids and surfaces evenly and quickly. Once turned on, these high-efficiency heaters emit their focused infrared energy—ideal for use in applications requiring immediate, consistent heating; industrial stamping, metal pressing, plastic welding, and composite curing.
Generally, the use of infrared heaters allows manufacturers to save operational costs through energy savings, while providing most processes with the precise amount of heating they require.
According to several industries from automotive manufacturing and aerospace to electronics and plastic products infrared heat enables increased productivity levels while reducing the burden on the environment.
Drying and Curing with Infrared Heating
Many industrial production processes utilize coatings, including paints, adhesives, powder coatings and protective chemical films, that are sprayed, brushed, or electrostatically applied to metal, plastic or composite parts.
Regardless of the type of liquid or dry coating process, the method used to dry or cure the coatings is an integral part of ensuring consistent adhesion, application appearance, and durability.
Infrared drying technology is commonly used for achieving fast, consistent results quickly on the full range of coated material surfaces.
In the case of liquid coating applications, industrial infrared heaters play a vital role in drying speed which results in the best possible cohesive, non-bubbled, uniform surface finish.
In the case of powder coating applications, convection air drying is inefficient in producing the gel phase and cure phase of powder coating applications the melting and bonding of powder particles into a hard durable layer; so, the use of infrared heaters significantly reduces the production cycle time and increase throughput.
As a result, infrared drying and curing is a go to option for various manufacturing industries including automotive, appliances, and heavy machinery.
Advanced infrared drying systems are also used to aid in minimizing VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions which aids in complying with stringent environmental guidelines.
Welding and Joining with Infrared Heating
Infrared welding has become a regular process for joining thermoplastics in various industries. Infrared welding is commonly used to seal and assemble plastic parts, such as fan blades, housings, automotive commodities, and fluid-handling systems.
Infrared welding produces a clean join by softening both parent materials to form a joint without particulates, contamination or mechanical strain. Infrared welding is advantageous for producing high integrity plastic containers, ducting, and pressure vessels.
In some plastic assembly techniques, infrared pre-heating is combined with vibration welding. Vibration welding involves applying controlled vibration and pressure to bond parts together.
Many manufacturers use infrared heat as a pre-heater for the surfaces before vibration, to improve welded joint strength, establish better structural integrity, and reduce the chances of generating anything during vibration, which is essential for contamination control in industries like medical device and food packaging.
Embossing and Laminating with Infrared Heating
In the precision manufacturing, embossing, or laminating industries, controlled and even heat application is critical to avoid warped material or surface defects at material edges or on surfaces that are laminating multiple materials together.
Infrared heaters are capable of providing the precise and even heat that conditioning a surface of a substrate requires for the best possible process results, ensuring that scrap or lost material is kept to a minimum.
Manufacturers, especially those in the automotive and consumer electronics industry, can depend on infrared technology for quick and uniform pre-heating before the start of the embossing or laminating process.
Within the automotive industry, and beyond, infrared laminating ovens are being used to bond multiple layers of material (or surface protection), such as various foils (plastic, vinyl, or different specialized foils), to substrates, with an aim to improve overall protection, durability, and aesthetics of the surface.
Often, complex automotive components (car doors, consoles, dashboards, etc.) are assembled with foils in layered formats, and infrared heat allows the manufacturer to bond the foils with confidence in a timely fashion.
The energy efficient use of infrared heaters helps save on energy use, ensures the best bond with less product defects, and responds to the constantly expanding use of lightweight composite materials in industrial design.
Types of Industrial Infrared Heaters
There are three major styles of industrial infrared heaters: infrared quartz heaters, infrared ceramic heaters and Infrared metal-sheathed heaters.
Since all of these are made to produce electromagnetic infrared radiation for process heating. There are devices that can generate temps of 1300 °F to 1600 °F (704 °C to 871 °C) and in some cases of the metal-sheathed units, even higher.
It is important to choose the right industrial infrared heater that will support maximum efficiency, throughput and product quality, which is dependent on many application-specific variables, such as wavelength, heating rate and durability.
- Quartz Infrared Heaters produce very intense, very focused heat and are the highest output of any industrial infrared. Quartz infrared heaters are very well suited for high-temperature applications (i.e., glass manufacturing, plastic thermoforming, paint curing, etc.) but their specific intensely focused type of infrared radiation also makes them less suitable for use as a more general purpose infra-red heater used for space heating.
- Ceramic Infrared Heaters are cost effective and incredibly reliable for heating focused work stations or production areas. The medium-wavelength of Ceramic infrared heaters is well suited for drying, curing, and heating processes across numerous industry sectors, including food packaging, plastics, and textiles.
- Metal Sheathed Infrared Heaters are most durable and most capable of withstanding the most demanding environments (ovens and submersible heating applications). Metal sheathed infrared heaters are capable of exceeding over 2000 °F (1093 °C) which is appropriate where perfection is important (i.e., laboratory, industrial process, immersion heating applications), and are constructed for long-lasting and heavy duty duty applications.
When selecting an industrial infrared heater, important factors include potential energy savings; matching the wavelength to the materials and process; safety certification; and long-term maintenance.
By utilizing the correct type of infrared heating technology, manufacturers are able to improve quality control, reduce overhead costs and ultimately speed up production turnaround to remain competitive in industries such as electronics, plastics, automotive, textiles, and food processing.
What are the different types of infrared heaters?
- Electric Infrared Heaters – Electric infrared heaters rely solely on electricity to heat their surroundings. The heating system generates heat through Joule heating or resistive heating means. Joule heating is the generation of heat by converting electrical energy to heat by passing an electric current through an element that has high resistive resistance. The resistance of the heating element must not be as high as the resistive resistance of insulators. The common element materials used with this process are tungsten, nichrome (80% nickel, 20% chromium), Kanthal® (FeCrAl), cupronickel (CuNi), and carbon fibers.
- Radiant Gas Heaters – Radiant gas heaters (gas-fired infrared heaters) use chemical energy stored in natural gas, propane, or petroleum to provide heat, and they also use a heating element to transform heat energy from gas flames to infrared electromagnetic radiation. Their heating elements and combustion chambers are enclosed in a metal, ceramic, or glass casing. Types of radiant gas heaters include:
- Radiant Tube Infrared Heaters – In radiant tube infrared heaters the gas-air mixture is combusted in a long steel tube which heats to 800-1,472°F (500-800°C), afterwards, infrared radiation is emitted into the surroundings. It is one of the most popular decentralized heating devices because it heats where you need it.
- Luminous Infrared Heaters – In luminous infrared heaters, the gas-air mixture is fired directly through a porous matrix of refractory material that ignites and heats to a surface temperature of above 1350°F (732°C). A large amount of radiant heat is released into the surroundings and the heat can be directed into specific areas where heat is desired. Luminous infrared heaters are unvented during operation so, therefore, adequate ventilation is required.
Infrared heaters can additionally be categorized according to the wavelength of the infrared radiation they produce:
- Near-Infrared (NIR) or Short-Wave Infrared Heaters – NIR heaters radiate infrared waves of around 0.78-1.5 microns and operate at high temperatures ranging from 2,600-4,712°F (1,300-2,600°C). Higher frequencies for NIR waves include better transmissive and reflective but less absorptive properties than the surfaces they strike making them less efficient and not suited for a drying application. Also, NIR heaters can create harsh heat that can be perceived 2-3 meters away from the heat source, but they can’t provide heat consistently throughout specific areas. NIR heaters warm the area immediately and primarily are used in outdoor heating applications.
- Medium-Wave Infrared Heaters – MWIR heaters radiate infrared waves of around 1.5-3 microns and operate from 1,300 – 2,372°F (500-1,300°C). MWIR wavelengths are at lower frequencies where they are best absorbed by objects and are still not comfortable heat for human heating applications. MWIR heaters are used in industrial applications for drying and curing paints, lacquers, and solvents, and in economical processing of plastic foils and sheets.
- Far Infrared (FIR) or Long-Wave Infrared Heaters – FIR heaters radiate infrared waves of around 3-1000 microns and operate at lower temperatures. Lower frequency FIR wavelengths are better absorbed by the surface they strike. The infrared heat in this spectrum is absorbed by water.
- FIR heaters provide comfortable heat that is optimally absorbed by our skin, and the heat is further led into our tissues, blood, and the rest of our bodies. FIR heaters take longer (around 5-minutes) to warm surrounding areas. FIR heaters are used in saunas, incubators, heating cabins, and any other intended indoor heating applications.
Infrared heaters can also be identified based on the materials used in their construction. Here are a few examples:
- Quartz Heat Lamps – Quartz heat lamps began by General Electric™ in the 1950s. They produce extreme heat with a temperature well over 2,732 °F (1,500 °C) and emit medium- to short-infrared waves. They heat outer bodies quickly. Since quartz can handle higher temperatures than glass, it is used as the enclosing material surrounding the tungsten heating element. Quartz heat lamps are filled with highly-pressurized inert gas containing halogens (bromine or iodine) that regenerate tungsten atoms on the filament and extend the service life of the heating element.
- Quartz heat lamps are used for outdoor patio heaters and also in various industrial processes for drying, curing, and thawing frozen products.
- Carbon Infrared Heaters – Carbon infrared heaters are made up of heating elements made from woven carbon fibers that surround the heating element in quartz. They are filled with halogen gas like quartz heaters. They operate at approximately 2,912 °F (1,200 °C) and emit medium infrared waves. The carbon fibers provide softer heat and are not as intense as tungsten light, while still having a long service life.
- Carbon infrared heaters are used to heat large, drafty, and hard-to-heat spaces, such as public halls, café terraces, and covered outdoor spaces.
- Ceramic Heaters – Ceramic heaters have the heating element directly cast in a ceramic material. They operate at 300-700 °F (149 to 371 °C) and emit medium to long infrared waves, typically with 2-10 microns in wavelength. The ceramic castings are shaped as flat-shaped and concave shape. Flat-shaped castings will spread the produced infrared heat over a larger area, while concave shaped castings do the opposite and direct the infrared heat to produce a concentrated area of heat. The surface is glazed to avoid corrosion.
- Ceramic heaters are used for comfort heating and for industrial processes such as paint drying, curing, printing, annealing, thermoforming, and packaging. The food processing and medical fields make use of ceramic heaters.
Below are some types of infrared heaters classified by their specific uses:
- Construction heaters are portable infrared heaters used for spot heating areas of construction outdoors or indoors. They may be used, mounted with a tank top. Construction heaters are designed to use infrared energy to radiate heat at their surroundings through a ceramic or steel surface.
- Over-Door Heaters uses axial fans for the purpose of providing a high-velocity air stream to quickly heat the cold entering air in the entrance when the door opens. It prevents and saves you from losing your heat through frequently opened doors.
- Over-Door hang heaters are more commonly referred to as Air Curtains. In the summer, the over-door heater will reverse and work the opposite way and save you on air conditioning costs.
- Garage heaters are used to heat an un-encapsulated area like garages and workshops and other large spaces not intended for insulation. Garage heaters are high frequency radiators so the heat will penetrate larger areas and warm the personnel working in spaces like these.
- Warehouse heaters are utilized for heating a large space like a warehouse not intended for complete insulation with unnecessary forced air convection heating practicality.
Chapter 5: What are the advantages of infrared heating?
Infrared heaters provide flexibility, easy installation and maintenance, and come in different styles to accommodate different needs. Some points of benefits of infrared heating include:
- Infrared heaters are energy-efficient. Infrared heaters warm surrounding objects directly. Infrared heaters lose no heat because they do not have to waste energy heating a surrounding medium to transfer the heat to the surrounding objects. This feature in turn saves energy.
- Infrared heaters produce heat immediately. Radiant heaters directly produce the heat to the surrounding bodies; therefore there’s no time wasted heating the air and then transferring the heat to the objects like conventional convection heaters. This feature is useful for drying operations.
- Infrared heaters provide comfortable and more natural heat. The type of heat provided by infrared heaters is similar to the radiant heat we obtain from the sun (minus the ultraviolet waves). Infrared heaters produce heat that does not increase the level of humidity and deplete oxygen from the surrounding environment and do not evaporate moisture in air. With infrared heaters, we feel warm and refreshed.
- Infrared heaters reduce the growth of molds and mildew. Infrared heaters inhibit the mobility of moisture and inhibit the growth of microbes. This feature decreases situations of stuffy noses, wheezing, and itchy eyes and skin. This feature is beneficial in places where food and medicines are handled, stored, and consumed.
- Infrared heaters operate quietly. Because most infrared heaters do not rely on a fan or blower to circulate heated air (unlike convection heaters), they generate noise that is unwanted in bedrooms and office spaces.
- Electric infrared heaters are environmentally friendly. Electric infrared heaters do not produce gaseous products, toxic fumes, or fine particulates that have negative environmental effects. Electric infrared heaters do not stir up surrounding air that usually contains dust and other irritants and allergens. Moreover, infrared heaters are energy efficient, and energy efficiency contributes to greening the environment.
- Infrared heaters have incredible health benefits. Electric infrared heaters improve living, as they provide a number of health benefits to our bodies. Electric infrared heaters promote health in a number of ways:
- They do not dry skin or sinuses.
- They help circulation.
- They support good breathable health.
- They decrease pain and inflammation in muscles and joints.
- They boost our immune systems.
- They encourage quality sleep.
Despite the benefits of infrared heaters, there are safety considerations. The core material of an infrared heater is rapidly managed to provide the desired radiant heat level; however, the core material can cause serious burns if touched or prolonged exposure at close range and direct observation of the bright glow of a high-powered infrared heater can harm eyesight.
Using engineering controls and being vigilant, help to control these types of injuries, but the risk is small compared to the positive advantages of infrared heaters.
Conclusion
- Infrared heating uses infrared radiation to heat surrounding bodies.
- There have been developments to harness infrared electromagnetic radiation thermal energy for the benefit of mankind.
- Infrared heating utilizes thermal energy that is carried by infrared waves. The waves in the infrared region have a whole spectrum of wavelengths. Shorter wavelengths have a greater frequency and higher heating temperature.
- Infrared heaters use radiation as the heat-transfer mechanism. Rather than the air being heated as with standard heating systems, infrared heating systems directly warm the surfaces of the objects seen. This characteristic of infrared heaters results in several benefits.
- Infrared heater are composed of a heating element and a reflective surface. The reflector has a big impact on the heater’s efficiency.
- Infrared heaters can be classified in different ways based on the energy source. Electric infrared heaters supply electricity which is converted to heat by resistive heating. Radiant gas heaters will use the thermal energy in the fuels.
- Infrared heaters can also be classified based on the wavelengths of the infrared waves they emit: near-infrared heaters, medium-wave infrared heaters, and far-infrared heaters. Each type of infrared heater has different characteristics of the type of heat they produce and operate at significantly different temperature ranges.
- There are many other materials from which infrared heaters can be made and are great for many varied purposes.
- The characteristics of infrared heaters provide tremendous advantages for users. Infrared heaters are energy-efficient, function in an instant, and have a more environmentally-friendly focus. In general, infrared heaters will promote better health for their users and in general have the ability to produce heat safely, economically, and efficiently.
- There is a requirement for being cautious while they are being used in a working area. That said there is minimal negatives compared to the positive benefits available through the use of infrared heaters.