Radiant Heating

The transfer of heat from a warm object to a cooler one takes place by one of three methods or a combination thereof. These methods are: conduction, convection or radiation.

CONDUCTION

Conduction of heat occurs when faster moving molecules pass on some of their energy to adjacent molecules which are slower-moving, i.e. at a lower temperature. This may occur within a solid or between a solid and an adjacent fluid such as air. In any heated building or enclosure, heat is conducted or transmitted from the warm inside air to the inside surfaces, then through the wall or roof, to the cooler outside surface and on to the outside air.

CONVECTION

Convection transfer of heat involves the mixing of warm and cool particles of fluid. The mixing may come as a result of density differences due to temperature differences which is natural convection, or, if the mixing is produced by mechanical means, forced convection.

In a heated building, convection losses occur when cold outside air enters a building, mixes with the warmer inside air, and then exits through an exhauster or through doors, cracks, etc.

RADIATION

Heat transfer by radiation differs from the transfer of heat by conduction or convection in that it does not need matter to accomplish the transfer. Radiated heat is usually termed infra-red. This is just one of the several forms of radiation (see the electromagnetic spectrum, Figure #1). Infra-red is transmitted at the speed of light, 186,000 miles per second, in a straight line with minimal loss to the air. It can be aimed, reflected or focused by materials that have a highly reflective surface. Bright aluminum for example. When infra-red strikes an absorptive object such as concrete, wood, water, paint, skin or clothing it is converted into heat at the surface. Surrounding air is then warmed by conduction and convection. The best example of this transfer of heat is from the sun to the earth without loss of heat to outer space.

Radiation or infra-red energy is emitted by all matter that is above absolute zero (-460°F). The net transfer of heat is from one object to a cooler object.

Warm objects, including people inside a heated building lose or radiate heat to the cooler inside surfaces of the walls. The walls conduct heat to the outside surface and then lose heat by radiation, conduction and convection to the outside.

HOW INFRA-RED WORKS

The amount of radiation produced by a perfect radiator is expressed by the Stephan-Boltzman Law, where:

For ordinary objects, non-perfect radiators, Q is reduced by multiplication of the object's emissive power (always less than one). Thus, at normal temperatures the amount of infra-red radiation produced by an object is relatively low, but as the temperature is increased, radiation increases significantly.

For example: An object at 80°F (540° absolute temperature) with an emissive power of 0.85 will produce 124 BTUH/ft2. When its absolute temperature is doubled to 1080° its output is increased sixteen fold to 1,984 BTUH/ft2. If its absolute temperature is quadrupled to 2160° its output increases two hundred and fifty six fold to 31,744 BTUH/ft2.

Solaronics gas infra-red heaters, high and low intensity, convert a high rate of their input to infra-red output. Input energy not converted into infra-red 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, only low intensity may be vented, return up to 90% of input to the space they occupy. The longer the unit, the higher the percentage.

The most frequent use of Solaronics infra-red heaters is for comfortable heating in buildings. This may entail heating of the entire space or just spot or 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. These methods are outlined in the Total Building Heating Design Guide (Form # DG-1), Spot and Area Heating Design Guide (Form # DG SPOT) and Protection of Stored Material Heating Design Guide (Form# DG-PSM-1).

For heating entire spaces a Solaronics infra-red system really provides several systems in one. One of these is very similar to a floor radiant system. The infra-red 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).

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 infra-red 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.

A well-designed infra-red 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.

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Low Intensity Heater (above)

High Intensity Heater (above)