Infrared Heaters Key Terms

Understand the meanings of infrared heater key terms

By Howard Robertson

An infrared heater, also called an IR heater, supplies an alternative form of heat for your business needs. An infrared heater uses infrared technology to heat objects. Many industries use infrared technology to provide steady and constant heat. If you want to install infrared heaters at your workplace, there are several terms that you will need to understand. This guide covers some of the common terms, such as radiant power, heat absorption factor, emissivity and infrared curing.

Infrared technology

Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation. Infrared light has a longer wavelength than visible light.
Try: Advanced Energy, a supplier of industrial motors and drivers, has information about infrared technology and its various applications.

Radiant power

Radiant power is the energy carried across a surface by electromagnetic radiation per unit time. In simple words, it is the total radiant energy emitted by a source of electromagnetic radiation per unit time.
Try: CCI Thermal Technologies, a manufacturer of electric and gas catalytic infrared heating products, has information about radiant power.

Heat absorption factor

All objects radiate electromagnetic energy. At normal temperature, the majority of this energy is radiated in the infrared segment of the spectrum and wavelengths longer than that can be seen with the naked eye. The higher the temperature of the object, the more energy it radiates and the shorter its wavelength is. This is the heat absorption factor.
Try: Casso-Solar Corporation, a provider of applied electric infrared heating and heat-processing systems, has detailed information about the heat absorption factor.

Emissivity

The emissivity of a material is the ratio of energy radiated by that material to energy radiated by a black body (a term used in physics to describe an ideal object that absorbs all electromagnetic radiation that contacts it) at the same temperature. It is a measure of a material's ability to emit absorbed energy.
Try: Solar Products, a manufacturer of custom infrared electric heaters, provides detailed information about emissivity.

Far-infrared radiant heat

Far-infrared waves heat objects by direct light conversion, a process that directly warms the object without warming the surrounding air.
Try: Sauna Gen, a provider of sauna equipment, has a technical article on far-infrared radiant heat and its application. Additionally, you can refer to Clearlight Infrared by Sauna Works.

Infrared curing

Infrared curing applies radiative energy to the receiver by direct transmission from the emitter. Some of the energy emitted will be reflected off of the surface and some is absorbed into the coating. This direct transfer of energy creates an immediate reaction in the coating. Cross linking, at the molecular level, begins quickly once the surface is exposed to the emitter.
Try: Products Finishing Magazine provides detailed information about infrared curing and its applications. You can also visit Energy Technologies.