Environmental control inside an industrial facility is critical for process and the protection of equipment and products. But industrial facilities present numerous challenges when it comes to percision environmental control, particularly the distribution of heat. Forced-air heating systems (furnaces, rooftop units) often cannot do the job. Radiant heating systems are often the answer, and they offer a number of major industrial benefits.
A brief description of radiant heating
The general term radiant heating refers to a way heat is transferred from one place to another. With convection heating, heat is transferred through the movement of air, such as from a blower fan sending out hot air from a furnace. With conduction heating, heat is transferred through direct contact, such as when you put your hand on a hot surface. Radiant heating is heat transferred from a heated object through infrared waves to another object—without heating the air in between. Direct heat from the sun when outdoors is an example of this.
A radiant heating system in a commercial facility is therefore designed not to raise the temperature of the air in the space, but the temperature of the objects (which may include people) within the space. The radiant heating systems we offer for industrial and commercial use are powerful low-intensity, sealed-combustion radiant tube heaters and in-floor heating systems, most of which run from hydronic systems. In-floor radiant heating is more common for commercial comfort use, however.
The industrial benefits of radiant tube heaters
Installation of radiant tube heaters is beneficial for a number of industrial purposes, replacing more conventional forced-air heating systems such as furnaces or refrigerant-based heat pumps.
- The power of a sealed-combustion radiant heating system is strong enough that it can effectively heat a space that’s often exposed to the outside, such as a building with large bay doors that are often open. Forced-air heating systems are less effective in these situations and are more expensive to run.
- The heat distribution is better. A forced-air system uses convection to spread around heat, and it can take a long time to evenly distribute the heat in a large industrial facility, and it leaves behind cold spots. Radiant heating spreads fast and evenly.
- The general energy efficiency of radiant heating systems is higher, especially for large industrial spaces. You may see up to a 50% drop in energy used compared to forced-air heating.
- Less dust and better indoor air quality. Radiant heating doesn’t blow around dust the way forced-air systems do, and they can be installed with ducting to allow fresh air for better indoor air quality.
If you are looking for the best industrial heating in Whitby, ON, radiant heaters may be the right choice. You’ll need top-tier professionals to install these systems so they work at maximum efficiency and provide the environmental control the facility must have. You can trust this work to us: we personalize every job to see that all our customers receive the exact service their facility needs.
Advantage Airtech Commercial Ltd. has provided the Greater Toronto Area with commercial and industrial HVAC services for more than 30 years.
