Industrial Radiant Heating

Functioning Principle of Tube Heaters

Although a tube heater, as a decentralised infrared heating solution, uses the same physical principles as a luminous (or plaque) gas radiant heater, its functioning principle is different. In the case of tube heaters, the combustion of the gas-air mixture takes place within a long steel tube. This tube heats up to approximately 580 °C and subsequently emits the infrared radiation.

Decentralised radiant heating systems offer a high degree of flexibility as well as energy efficiency. For instance, separate temperature zones can be created for work stations and employee areas in warehouses while other parts of the building remain unheated.

The flexibility of radiant heating can therefore have a significant cost reduction benefit.

The principle of infrared heating has been adopted from nature, because the heat rays of the sun travel through the air without heating it and emit their energy – in other words, heat – only when they fall on surfaces. A great example of these are the Schwank infrared heaters that use the same natural technology to heat buildings in an energy-efficient manner. The infrared rays are converted into heat at the points where they fall.

With infrared gas radiant heaters, heating therefore takes place where it is required. The surfaces absorb the thermal energy and, in turn, re-emit it into the environment. This results in a balanced micro-climate made up of air and radiation heat. This reduces energy costs significantly and improves the people’s sensation of warmth. As compared to conventional systems, savings from using radiant heating generally amount to between 30%-50%.