What is infrared heating?
From a physics point of view, infrared heating is that which is transmitted by electromagnetic radiation with longer wavelengths than those of visible light (Infrared) in the electromagnetic spectrum (extends between 800 NM and 1,000 μm). It is beneficial and healthy for humans and plants, according to the World Health Organization, and currently, has multiple applications.
The waves are classified, according to the wavelength bands of their infrared emission, in this way:
- Short infrared – shortwave (for the range from 800 nm to 2500 nm)
- Medium infrared – medium wave (from 2.5 μm to 50 μm)
- Far infrared – longwave (from 50 μm to 1000 μm)
Each of them has special characteristics that make them more appropriate for different applications. And at IR Radiant we have developed different lines of business of infrared heating for each of them.
We use the near infrared to heat outdoor places and installations that are very difficult to heat. They warm up from the first second they are plugged in, and they give us a reddish light because they are closer to the visible light.
Far infrared is more suitable for closed rooms and, among others, requires less energy. In addition, they have other properties that are very beneficial for the human being. They provide a great energy saving, great comfort (no emissions, soft drinks, light or acoustic) and, above all, provide health: by not heating the air, the airways do not dry out. This makes them especially recommended for people with allergies, or with respiratory problems, and for children and the elderly.
Infrared heating
In general, we could say that it is the most ecological heating, with no CO2 emissions, with a much longer life cycle than any other device, and manufactured with materials 95% recyclable. Safe and environmentally friendly.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Herschel came to the conclusion that all bodies over 0ºK, emit infrared radiation to a greater or lesser extent. This causes a continuous exchange of this heat between different objects and people which are in the same place. In that sense, the infrared heating system imitates solar radiation, emitting infrared heat waves that penetrate superficially into the skin and heat it directly as the sun would do on a winter morning.
As a curiosity, it is proven that a human can emit up to 100 W of heat, which are invested in equaling its temperature with objects (or people) nearby that are colder.
Radiation vs Convection
Systems that heat by convection (in general, all the traditional heating), use the energy they consume, either electric or gas combustion, or firewood, etc., to heat the air of the room. As a result, the energy consumed is proportional to the volume of air contained in the room and its temperature. In addition, hot air moves upwards, displacing the colder air towards the lower layers, and causing an uncomfortable circulation, moreover an air stratification or heating by layers. The consequences of this way of heating are, on the one hand, that when opening a door, the hot air will escape and we will have to start again, and, in the other hand, that, in general, we will have a hot head and cold feet.
However, in the process of radiation heating, infrared waves penetrate the objects on which they directly impact and heat them superficially. This causes a thermal sensation of warmth in the skin very quickly, almost instantaneously, and decreases the consumption by not having to heat the entire room. For this same reason, the infrared heat is much less sensitive to an open door, since the heat will continue to impact directly on us in a warm and pleasant way, from head to toe, without stratifying the air and without big temperature differences (less than 3° C).
Does not cause air drafts, nor dries the environment
It heats almost instantaneously. Savings of up to 30% – 50%
Completely safe, with no risk of fire or burns