A radiant heater, or radiant heating system, is an advanced piece of heating equipment that provides effective and comfortable heating in vast and even open spaces. These devices produce radiant thermal waves to provide uniform and clean heat. To gain maximum benefit from these systems and to ensure their high performance, safety, and long lifespan, following the correct principles of radiant heater installation is of special importance. This article will comprehensively review the method and key points related to radiant heater installation.
Familiarizing Yourself with Components Before Radiant Heater Installation
The first step in radiant heater installation (or tubular heater installation) is to have a precise understanding of each component and its function. Gas radiant heaters come in tubular (U and L-shaped), ceramic, and umbrella models. The U and L-shaped tubular models do not have a significant difference in terms of components and operation. The most important components of these devices include:
- Gas Burner: This component is responsible for creating the necessary combustion. It is placed at the beginning of the tubes to project the flame inside.
- Fire Tubes: After passing through these tubes, the heat produced by the burner is converted into radiant thermal waves. These tubes are made of aluminized steel, which has a high resistance to very high temperatures.
- Exhaust Fan: Installed at the end of the tubes, it has two main functions: pulling heat into the tubes and expelling combustion materials through the chimney. The exhaust fan is connected to the device’s burner using a socket.
- Reflector Panels: These reflective panels play a direct role in transferring heat waves to the ground. They are usually made of steel to ensure maximum wave reflection. These panels can be positioned at an angle or directly facing the ground.
Familiarizing yourself with these components is essential for the correct installation of an electric radiant heater.
Key Locations for Radiant Heater Installation
Given their method of heat distribution, radiant heaters can be used in a variety of places. The most suitable locations for gas radiant heater installation include:
- Poultry and Chick Breeding Halls: Installing a radiant heater in poultry farms is very effective due to the uniform heat distribution and its focused transfer to the birds’ bodies and bedding. Radiant heating doesn’t depend on air currents, and the thermal waves are directly absorbed by the living beings. The best place for radiant heater installation in a poultry farm is in the center of the hall to prevent chicks from gathering in the corners. The installation height in these halls is usually several meters.
- Greenhouses: A radiant heater is an innovative solution for heating greenhouses because it doesn’t create significant temperature differences throughout the hall. The heat is transferred directly to the lower parts, eliminating heat loss caused by hot air accumulating near the ceiling.
- Car Repair Garages: Radiant heater installation has solved the heating problems in these spaces, which constantly face vehicle traffic and open and closing doors. Thermal waves reach the ground directly, so even with constant ventilation fans to remove pollutants, there’s no heat loss, and pollution is not exacerbated.
- Stone Cutting Factories: This device is the best heating method for the fast and proper drying of wet cut stones. In these locations, where heating the entire hall isn’t the goal, radiant heater installation can significantly reduce heating costs.
- Modern Restaurants and Cafes: A radiant heater is a practical and affordable solution for open and semi-open areas of these venues. The quick transfer of natural heat to people’s bodies enhances the feeling of warmth and can be a way to increase revenue.
- Other Locations also include plant and fruit breeding halls, sports hall heating, and public places.
Economic Advantages of Radiant Heaters
In all the locations mentioned, radiant heater installation can optimize fuel and energy costs. Radiant devices produce localized heating that warms only objects, beings, and people upon contact; therefore, there is no heat waste until the heat reaches the ground.
- Reduced Energy Consumption: There is no need to heat the air, and the device doesn’t need to cover a wide area. The heat also reaches the lower levels directly.
- Fast and Uniform Heating: Radiant heater installation at the highest point, under the ceiling, provides full coverage of the environment. The heat is transferred quickly and uniformly, which reduces the time needed for pre-heating the space.
- Resistance to Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions like wind or rain cannot disrupt the heating process because this method is not dependent on air currents.
- Low Startup and Maintenance Costs: Radiant heater installation as a standalone heating solution doesn’t require complex and extensive piping or heat distribution systems. With proper burner adjustment, maintenance costs will also be low.
- Thermostat Connectivity: Radiant heaters can be connected to environmental thermostats to manage fuel and energy consumption, which is very useful in places like multi-purpose greenhouses.
- Low Electricity Consumption: The electricity consumption of a gas radiant heater is approximately 2 amps (single-phase) to run the exhaust fan.
Important Considerations Before Installation
Before radiant heater installation, it is essential to pay attention to the device’s initial parameters and specifications to ensure proper and safe heating. The most important of these include:
- Installation Height: This parameter is entirely dependent on the working conditions and the environment.
- Safety Distance to the Ceiling: Maintaining this distance is vital for the safety of the device and the surrounding area.
- Electricity and Gas Consumption: This must be proportional to the device’s capacity.
- Heating Capacity: Choosing the appropriate heating capacity for the space’s size and conditions is a crucial point.
For example, for 6-meter tubular models, the heating capacity is 45,000 kilocalories, the safety distance above the device to the ceiling is 50 to 80 centimeters, the electricity consumption is 2 amps single-phase, and the maximum gas consumption is 3 cubic meters. For 8-meter models, the heating capacity is 55,000 kilocalories, with the same electricity, gas, and safety distance specifications.
How to Install a Gas Radiant Heater
Installing a gas radiant heater requires following specific technical steps and guidelines. These devices are usually shipped to the buyer in pieces and need to be correctly assembled and connected.
Gas Piping and Burner Adjustment
The first step in a radiant heater’s setup is to run the gas piping and properly adjust the burner. The burner’s settings are very sensitive, and any carelessness could lead to gas buildup and increased pressure, creating a risk of explosion and fire. The size of the gas pipe must match the technical specifications and national gas standards to ensure sufficient gas pressure and flow. The required gas pressure is usually between 20 and 25 millibars. The gas line should be run to within half a meter of the radiant heater’s burner. Additionally, a shut-off valve is recommended for each heater, located one meter from the burner, and another valve 70 centimeters from the floor of the installation site.
Installation Methods
Radiant heaters can be installed in two ways: suspended from the ceiling or angled on a wall. For ceiling installations, the devices are typically produced with chains and must be hoisted using suitable and safe lifters. In halls where a crane operates or for outdoor radiant heaters without a ceiling, an angled installation is a better option. For smaller spaces like restaurants and cafes, wall-mounted radiant heaters can be used, which don’t need to be suspended from the ceiling. Decorative radiant heaters are also typically installed on walls.
Installation Height
The installation height depends on the environment. In halls where people and equipment are present, it’s usually 2 meters, while in greenhouses and poultry farms, it’s considered to be 3.5 meters or higher. The minimum recommended height for a ceiling installation varies from 3.6 to 5.7 meters, and for an angled installation, it’s from 3 to 5 meters, depending on the device model.
Electrical Connection
The device’s power consumption is single-phase and about half an amp (40 to 100 watts – 220 volts). A ground wire is essential for running the exhaust fan and for the device’s safety. A three-core cable with a thickness of 1.5 mm (or 2.5 mm for long distances), including a phase, neutral, and ground, should be run from a miniature circuit breaker to the device’s burner. A 2-amp miniature circuit breaker and the corresponding electrical panel are usually provided and should be located near the devices for easy on/off operation. Using a surge protector is recommended to prevent the device’s relay from burning out.
Safety and Operational Tips
To ensure the safe and optimal operation of a radiant heater, you must follow these guidelines:
Chimney
Using a chimney next to the radiant heater is essential for expelling combustion products. Special attention must be paid to the appropriate size of the chimney to ensure that gases are completely expelled and do not enter the environment.
Oxygen Supply
The necessary air for gas combustion must reach the device’s burner. According to standards, 10 cubic meters of natural ventilation is needed for every kilowatt of the device’s power consumption.
Burner Safety Components
The radiant heater’s burner has components like an air pressure switch (which prevents the device from turning on if the chimney is blocked) and a gas solenoid valve (which controls the flow and pressure of the incoming gas). The main relay is also located inside the burner and sends all the necessary commands to the device.
Adhering to Safety Distances
You must follow the safety distances specified in the device’s technical catalog. This includes the distance from the top of the device to the ceiling, below the fire tubes, and beside the device.
Special Environments
In high-humidity environments, use moisture-resistant fans and fully aluminized or all-steel tubes. In sports halls, it is essential to install a protective guard to prevent impact from balls.
Warnings
Avoid touching the device’s tubes when it’s on. When installing an industrial radiant heater in an industrial warehouse, prevent the crane from hitting the device.
After-Sales Service
The assembly and startup of the device must be performed exclusively by specialized technical personnel; otherwise, the device’s warranty will be voided.
Service and Maintenance
Annual service and inspection, as well as ensuring the correct adjustment of the radiant heater’s burner, are essential for increasing the device’s efficiency.
Temperature Management
Each radiant heating device can be equipped with a thermostat or provide the option to be turned on and off with a remote control.
Conclusion
Choosing the correct location and height for radiant heater installation can best meet the heating needs of any space. However, before installation and startup, it is essential to pay attention to the device’s operational specifications and its suitable capacity. Additionally, following safety guidelines during installation is crucial for maximizing the device’s special features. Today, radiant heater installation has gained a strong foothold in halls, open and semi-open centers, and even breeding facilities as the most economical heating device, providing rapid heating with reduced costs.