Infra-Red Heating for Comfort and Fuel Saving.
Re-Verber-Ray radiant heaters are engineered to maximize infra-red directed radiant heat
downward while minimizing convection heat rising off the top. Optimum placement of the
radiant heaters in the building are critical to improve Fuel Savings & Comfort
Conditions. The purpose of this article is to give you some guidelines to layout radiant
heaters to maximize heating performance.How Radiant Heaters Function. Like the
sun, radiant heaters generate infra-red energy that is converted into heat when absorbed
by floors, objects and people. Absorbed heat is then "re-radiated" to warm the
surroundings through natural air convection.
Application Situations
The idea is to select, size and place the radiant heaters in the building with the
following objectives in mind:
- Economic Installation Cost & Qualify for Utility Rebates
- Even, Steady, Quiet, No Draft, Comfortable Heat ...with no cold spots
- Long-life guaranteed with Low Maintenance Costs
- Product Features to Maximize Radiant and Combustion Efficiency
- Assure Annual Fuel Saving and Minimize Gas Operating Costs
Re-Verber-Ray heaters are fully certified with AGA & UL and tested as part of an
extensive quality control program, integrated safety and gas controls. Re-Verber-Ray
heaters are built with high quality features such as High temperature (1600F) radiating
tubes, corrosion guaranteed 5-year alloy steel tubes, solar-black painted radiant tubes,
flue gas turbulators and heat-equalizing burners. These are a few unique high quality
items supplied standard ...check competitive literature to see if they include any
of these extra features.
An EER Products Layout Form is available here...
which you can print out, fill in the missing information and fax the completed data to EER
Products. We will calculate, select the heaters required, lay the heaters out on a scale
drawing and send you a quotation....all free of charge. Make sure you include your phone
and fax number so we can contact you.
Follow These Guidelines to Optimize First Cost, Comfort & Fuel Saving.
- Calculate the Maximum Heat Loss of the Building on a Winter Design Day with Plenty of
Wind Blowing in through Overhead Doors and Cracks. (Don't forget Infiltration! ) Note
from your calculations what percent of heat loss came from each of walls and roof.
Experience shows that about 90% comes through the perimeter at the outer wall with most of
that through open overhead doors and infiltration.
- Decide on the Burner Size to Use. Big burners can be used on higher buildings.
Smaller burner size must be used for lower heater mounting heights. Examine the Detroit
Radiant product brochures to see what the "Radiant Clearance" is underneath each
burner size. Assume a 6' person and add the "Radiant Clearance" distance to
estimate the minimum hanging height of that size burner. Select burner sizes as
large as possible but that will mount high enough to meet all clearance safety distances
including those to the top and sides. High bay areas can use larger burners than lower
areas.
- Calculate the Number of Burners Required. The total heat load calculated in
"A" above divided by the BTU size of burner selected will give you the minimum
number of burners required.
- Place the Burners at the Heat Loss Location. Locate the heaters near the outdoor
walls (away from the center) to stop the cold before it can get further in. Examine the
heat load locations that you calculated in "A" above and proportion the burner
sizes to determine where to place the burners. Start placing burners about 5' from the
outside wall next to one side of each frequently used overhead door with tubes running
parallel to the overhead door (should not be placed above the pathway of the vehicles).
Where convenient, locate other burners about 8-10' in from the outside wall and run the
tubing parallel to this wall. If there are extra burners to place, add them where the
local heat load is not yet satisfied. Add burners to the periphery as necessary to make-up
the total heat load requirements. In all cases, run the tubes parallel to outside walls or
overhead door opening. Tubes can use 90 degree elbows every 10' to turn the tube.
- Select Tube/Reflector Length for Each Burner Size. Tube lengths can be selected
to match burner capacity beginning at 20' and running to a maximum of 70' total each. Tube
lengths must be at least as long as that size burner requires as seen in the product
literature. Practically, the tube/ reflector length should be long enough to give adequate
physical coverage to the outside wall. Higher efficiency heaters have longer tubes; lower
first costs result by decreasing tube lengths and increasing burner sizes.
- Use Hi/Lo Models whenever Possible. All the design guidelines can be followed
when using these modulating gas burners by Re-Verber-Ray. Two-Stage Hi/Lo/Off thermostats
automatically regulate whether the 2-Stage Burner is set for High fire, Low fire or Off.
The cost add for 2-stage thermostat and burner is only about the same as for a 10'
tube/reflector addition. Chances are your heaters will be running 90% of the fire time on
Low fire (66% of gas usage)...saving all that fuel and heating more softly and steadily to
provide more comfort.
Ask for the Detroit Radiant Engineering Catalog |
