How Infrared Heat Transfers to the Body

Heat

Heat transfer is the process of heat energy flowing from a source at a high temperature to a load at a lower temperature. The three forms of heat transfer are conduction, convection, and radiation (infrared.) Conduction occurs when there is a transfer of heat energy due to a temperature difference within an object or between objects in direct physical contact. Convection is the result of a transfer of heat energy from one object to another via a moving fluid or gas. Radiation heat transfer can occur by infrared, ultraviolet, microwave and radio waves. Infrared (electromagnetic radiant infrared energy) is the transfer of heat energy via invisible electromagnetic energy waves that can be felt as the warmth from the sun or a downwind fire or other hot object.

Electromagnetic

Infrared rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum:

Infrared energy travels at the speed of light without heating the air it passes through, (the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by carbon dioxide, water vapor and other particles in the air typically is negligible) and gets absorbed or reflected by objects it strikes. Any object with a surface temperature above absolute zero, - 460 ° F (-273 °C) will emit infrared radiation. The temperature of the object as well as its physical properties will dictate the radiant efficiency and wavelengths emitted. Infrared radiation can be compared to radio waves, visible light, ultraviolet, microwaves, and x-rays. They are all electromagnetic waves that travel through space at the speed of light. The difference between them is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave. Infrared radiation is measured in microns (mm) and starts at .70 mm and extends to 1000 mm. Although the useful range of wavelengths for infrared heating applications occurs between .70 mm to 10 mm. .

What exactly is Infrared Heat?

Infrared heating is the transfer of thermal energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. True infrared heat should have one common characteristic: that the transfer of heat is emitted or radiated from the heated object or substance. The source emits radiation at a peak wavelength towards an object. The object can absorb the radiation at some wavelength, reflect radiation at other wavelengths, and re-radiate wavelengths. It is the absorbed radiation that creates the heat within the object.

Infrared heating varies by efficiency, wavelength and reflectivity. It is these characteristics that set them apart and make some more effective for certain applications than others. Varying levels of efficiency are possible within IR heating and often depend on the material of the heat source. The basic measure of efficiency lays in the ratio between the energy emitted and the energy absorbed, but other considerations may affect this measurement. One is the emissivity value of the heat source as based on the perfect 'black body" emissivity level of 1.0. Ceramic heaters are capable of 90% or better emissions as opposed to the lower values of other heater substances.

The useful range of wavelengths for infrared heating applications fall within the range of 0.7 to 10 microns (mm) on the electromagnetic spectrum and are termed short-wave, medium-wave or long-wave. The medium to long range wavelengths are most advantageous to industrial applications since almost all materials to be heated or dried provide maximum absorption in the 3 to 10 mm region. Energy from an infrared heat source that also emits light (short-wave) will typically emit 80% of its energy around the 1mm wavelength; where as the ceramic infrared heater emits 80% of its energy around the 3 mm wavelength.

Properties of Infrared Radiation

There are several physical laws that explain the properties of infrared radiation. The first and probably most important of these laws states that there is a positive relationship between radiant efficiency and the temperature of an infrared source. (Radiant efficiency is the percentage of radiant output from a heat source).

The proportion of energy transmitted from a heat source by each of the three heat source methods is dependent on the physical and ambient characteristics surrounding the heat source, and in particular the source's temperature.

The Stefan-Boltzman Law of Radiation states that as the temperature of a heat source is increased, the radiant output increases to the fourth power of its temperature. The conduction and convection components increase only in direct proportion with the temperature changes. In other words, as the temperature of a heat source is increased, a much greater percentage of the total energy output is converted into radiant energy.

The wavelength of infrared radiation is dependent upon the temperature of the heat source. A source temperature of 3600 °F will produce a short-wave of approximately 1mm, while a source temperature of 1000 °F will produce a long-wave of approximately 3.6 mm. The wave-length dramatically impacts the intensity of radiation at the subject.

A critical function of the wavelength of infrared radiation is its ability to penetrate an object.

The penetration of infrared energy is a function of its wavelength. The higher the temperature the shorter the wavelength and the shorter the wavelength, the greater its penetrating power. For example, a tungsten filament quartz lamp operating at 4000 °F., has a greater ability to penetrate into a product than a nickel chrome filament quartz tube operating at 1800 °F.

There are certain advantages gained in industrial processing by using the penetrating capabilities of short-wave infrared. For example, short-wave radiation can be effectively used for faster baking of certain paints since the infrared radiation penetrates into the paint surface and flows out solvents from within. Conventional drying methods can form a paint skin and trap solvents. Some other applications of short-wave infrared include heat shrinking, water dry-off, and preheating of objects prior to further processes. ]

Color sensitivity is another characteristic of infrared radiation that is related to source temperature and wavelength. The general rule is the higher the temperature of the source, the higher the rate of heat absorption of darker colors. For example, water and glass (which are colorless) are virtually transparent to short-wave radiation, but are very strong absorbers of long wave radiation above 2.

Another characteristic of infrared that is not dependent upon temperature or wavelength is response time. Sources with heavier mass take longer to heat to the desired temperature. For example, a tungsten filament has a very low mass, and achieves 80% radiant efficiency within microseconds. A coiled nickel chrome filament in a quartz tube acquires 80% of its radiant efficiency in approximately 75 seconds and metal sheathed rods require approximately 3 minutes.

The rate of response becomes an important consideration especially when applying infrared to delicate and flammable materials.

Theory of Infrared Heating

Infrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation which is generated in a hot source (quartz lamp, quartz tube, or metal rod) by vibration and rotation of molecules. The resulting energy is controlled and directed specifically to and on people or objects. This energy is not absorbed by air, and does not create heat until it is absorbed by an opaque object.

The sun is the basic energy source. Energy is projected 93,000,000 miles through space to heat the earth by the infrared process. This infrared energy travels at the speed of light, and converts to heat upon contact with a person, a building, the floor, the ground or any other opaque object. There is, however, no ultraviolet component (sun tanning rays) in Electric infrared.

Electric infrared energy travels in straight lines from the heat source. This energy is directed into specific patterns by optically designed reflectors, Infrared, like light, travels outward from the heat source, and diffuses as a function of the square of the distance. Intensity, therefore, would decrease in a proportional manner. So, at 20' from the heat source, intensity of the energy concentration is ¼ the intensity developed at 10' distance.

For comfort heating, there must be reasonably even accumulated values of heat throughout the comfort zone. Proper mounting heights of the individual heaters, fixture spacing, reflector beam patterns, and heat source wattage must be specified to generate the proper heating levels at the task area. The amount of heat delivered is also adjusted by input controllers or by thermostats which respond to surrounding temperature levels and provide ON-OFF or PROPORTIONAL inputs.

Advantages of Infrared Heating

1. Heats People without Heating Air - Infrared travels through space and is absorbed by people and objects in its path. Infrared is not absorbed by the air. With convection heating the air itself is warmed and circulated ... however, warm air always rises to the highest point of a building. With Infrared heating, the warmth is directed and concentrated at the floor and people level where it is really needed.

2. Zone Control Flexibility - Infrared heating is not dependent upon air movement like convection heat. Infrared energy is absorbed solely at the area it is directed. Therefore it is possible to divide any area into separate smaller zones and maintain a different comfort level in each zone. For example, Zone A, with a high concentration of people, could be maintained at a 70 degree comfort level while at the same time Zone B. a storage area, could be kept at 55 degrees or even turned off completely.

3. Staging - Another unique control feature of electric infrared that increases comfort conditions and saves energy consumption is staging. Where most systems are either "fully ON" or "fully OFF" the staging feature also allows only a portion of the equipment's total capacity to be used. For example, a two- stage control would work as follows: During the first stage, one heat source in every fixture would be energized. During the second stage, two heat sources in every fixture would be energized. For further control sophistication, a large area can be both zoned and staged. These systems, then, allow a more consistent and uniform means of maintaining a specific comfort level and avoid the "peak & valley" syndrome.

4. Instant Heat - Electric infrared produces virtually instant heat. There is no need to wait for heat buildup. Turn the heaters on just prior to heating requirements.

5. Negligible Maintenance - Electric infrared is strictly a resistance type heat. There are no moving parts or motors to wear out; no air filters or lubrication required. Periodic cleaning of the reflectors and heat source replacement is all that will be required.

6. Clean - Electric infrared, like other forms of electric heating, is the cleanest method of heating. There are no by-products of combustion as with fossil fuel burning units. Electric infrared adds nothing to the air nor takes anything from it.

7. Safe - UL listed
   • No open flame
   • No moving parts to malfunction
   • No fuel lines to leak
   • No toxic by-products of combustion

8. Efficient - All Infrared Heaters convert energy to heat at 100% efficiency