Infrared heaters use electromagnetic radiation to transfer energy from a source with higher temperature to one with lower temperature with virtually no contact between the two. It is purely invisible radiant energy working through the principle of electromagnetic radiation travelling along wavelengths longer than that of visible light, between 700 nm (nanometers) to 1mm and over. Almost all the thermal radiation that objects emit at room temperature is termed 'infrared'.
The earth has been warmed by infrared rays from the sun for millions of years; it is in fact the biggest source of infrared energy or heating. Just as the sun’s rays emit warmth on people and spaces even in bitter winters negating the temperature of the air surrounding the object, so does infrared heating. When infrared panels radiate heat on to a surface, the heat energy that is released warms up the object. The objects absorb the infrared energy which is then slowly released to heat up the surrounding area.
The heat energy produced by conventional heaters such as gas or propane using medium and long wavebands usually mean that there is high loss of heat in transmission. Whenever there is an onset or rush of colder air, the hotter air rushes out – e.g. opening and closing of windows and doors. This is where quartz infrared heaters have proven to be of superior benefits because the heating technology provides radiant heating.
Some of the advantages of quartz infrared heaters are:
- Reliable heat source
- Instant heating up with hardly any lead-time for warm up
- Fairly low operating cost
- Virtually no combustion products
- Noiseless
- Space saving
Besides home heating, quartz heaters are also widely used in several industries such as chemical processing, food processing, paint drying etc. as well as for other purposes of heating applications like incubators, dryers, ovens etc.