Infrared (IR) or Radiant Heating Review

Industrial, Testing, and Engineering Equipment

Infrared (IR) or Radiant Heating Review

Infrared (IR) or Radiant Heating is a form of heat energy transfer from an Infrared radiant energy source. Infrared radiant heating may be generated from an infrared lamp, sunlight, an electrical wire or element or a flame heat source. Radiant heating energy is in the form of electromagnetic waves. Infrared radiation (IR) has a wavelength that is longer than visible light, however shorter than microwaves. Infrared radiation wavelengths are between approximately 750 nm and 1 mm and spans over five orders of magnitude. The quantity of radiant energy is determined by the radiant power (or flux) with respect to time. The standard or SI unit for radiant energy is the joule.

Another way to understand radiant infrared energy is that warming effect given by one standing in sunlight on a cold day. The reason one feels warmth is that the sun is a infrared energy source. The infrared energy travels through space and converts to heat energy when absorbed by you and surrounding objects. Every object within the universe that has a temperature above absolute zero emits infrared energy. The hotter or higher an objects temperature above absolute zero, the more the object emits infrared energy. In industrial applications, such as heaters, the IR source typically operates at temperatures between 550 ° F - 4250° F. The radiant energy output increases with the temperature of the IR source. Infrared is classified into and described in terms of three wavelengths: short wave, medium wave, and long wave. Keep in mind, that for a object to be heated by infrared energy, it must absorb the energy. An objects emissivity is factor from 0 to 1 that defines how well an object or material will absorb infrared energy. One of the greatest advantages of Infrared is the ability to heat materials faster than convection systems (heated air)..

The ability or likeness of a materials or object to absorb infrared energy can be described by color sensitivity. which will effect the absorption and reflectivity of infrared energy. The color sensitivity should be considered in the design of an infrared heating system and in the selection of the infrared emitters or source and corresponding controls.

Infrared heating is used within a variety of industries doing a wide variety of industrial tasks such as:

• Thermoforming plastics.
• Coatings and adhesives curing.
• Accelerating the drying process
• Heating industrial space
• Anneal ferrous and nonferrous metals
• Sintering

Industrial Infrared energy types and nomenclature (name):

• Infrared Radiant Gas Heating
• Electric infrared heaters
• Infrared gas tube heaters
• Portable heaters
• Radiant infrared heaters