Space Heating with Infrared

Solaronics gas infrared heaters, including high intensity and low intensity units, convert a high rate of their input to infrared output. Input energy not converted into infrared is released as convected heat and water vapor.

Unvented units, high or low intensity, return a total of 92% of input to the space they occupy. Vented units return up to 90% of input to the space they occupy, only low intensity may be vented. The longer the unit, the higher the percentage.

The most frequent use of Solaronics infrared heaters is for comfortable heating in buildings. This can include heating of an entire space, outdoor spaces, or smaller area heating. Although it may be tempting to use rule-of-thumb methods to determine requirements, it is strongly recommended that standard ASHRAE heat loss calculation methods be used.

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For heating large spaces such as a warehouse or manufacturing plant, a Solaronics infrared system provides functionality of several systems in one, including effects very similar to a floor radiant system. The infrared emitted by the system is absorbed by the floor, material, and equipment. These objects become warmer than the surrounding air and act as low level heat exchangers heating the air. They also re-radiate their energy and provide a higher Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) contributing to the temperature of the entire environment. View more applications of our products here.

The products of combustion released, by indirectly vented units, rise and help offset the upper wall and roof heat losses and also help to temper infiltrated air. In this respect the system acts as a warm air system.

While the heaters operate, they deliver infrared energy directly to people’s body surfaces. This substantially increases the mean radiant temperature and provides comfort, yet air temperature can be lower than that needed with conventional heating saving energy and avoiding wasted costs.

A well-designed infrared heating system will cycle on and off most of the time, as will any other system. When the temperature outside falls to design levels all heaters will operate and, at this time, the system will act as a large area heating system.