With many advantages, infrared greenhouse heaters can maintain the thermal effect while growing plants. These devices can be used when harvesting exotic fruits or fresh herbs. An infrared heating system is installed to maintain the optimal temperature in the greenhouse for growing plants in the cold season.
To provide heating of the greenhouse with an infrared heater, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the advantages of this type of greenhouse heating technology. They are very popular, therefore, the correct organization of the heating process for greenhouses allows you to use all the advantages of infrared heaters for a greenhouse with great benefit.
Infrared Heaters General Characteristics
You can make the right choice of infrared equipment for greenhouses if you know all the advantages of this heating system, which must be properly organized. Electric heating of greenhouses occurs due to the beams of infrared light emitted by the device, absorbed by various surfaces, as well as by objects that give off all the heat to the air. This infrared heating feature provides the following main characteristics of the devices:
- high level of functionality and practicality;
- the possibility of saving energy costs;
- optimal distribution of the heat effect.
Infrared heating protects the greenhouse from drafts, which is an indisputable advantage of its use, together with its economy and efficiency. If there is no experience in using infrared heaters for a greenhouse, then one can imagine the principle of operation of convective heating devices. This technology is associated with heating the rising layer of air and lowering the cold layer. Such disadvantages do not make convective heating of greenhouses covered with polycarbonate or other material effective, since there will not be enough warm air for the vegetation below in any case.
Operating principle of IR heaters
Among the main advantages of infrared heaters is the uniform temperature distribution in the greenhouse. This reduces heat loss by providing plants with an optimal level of infrared heating.
Since many representatives of the flora are afraid of drafts, the use of infrared devices that provide infrared heating can effectively solve this problem. In this case, place the device in an area with reduced thermal insulation. This may be the area of the window where the movement of the air flow is enhanced by drafts. For this purpose, infrared ceiling heaters are most suitable.
Thanks to the heating of greenhouses with infrared heaters, heat losses are compensated due to the maximum efficiency of the device. In this case, the device does not create an air flow movement, but only distributes the radiation over all zones, setting a certain temperature regime in each of them. This characteristic makes it possible to judge the efficiency of the device. IR heating is not costly. This is due to the fact that energy is not expended on all space at once. Correct installation and application of an infrared heater for greenhouses saves up to 40% of electricity.
Wall devices and ceiling films have a principle of action based on the accumulation of energy, which increases the germination of plants. IR heating, which stimulates plant growth, improves not only germination rates, but also productivity. It does not dry the air in the greenhouse, creating a comfortable indoor climate.
Greenhouse IR Heater Choice Criterias
To install infrared heating for greenhouses, it is necessary to choose the right device, taking into account all its possible disadvantages and advantages. You will get the maximum effect from its use if you know all the nuances of the device.
When choosing a device for infrared heating, you should take into account all the nuances and characteristics of the device. This type of equipment is divided into 2 types:
- light units;
- long-wave devices.
Since these 2 types of devices have their drawbacks, when buying, you need to take into account their power. In the first case, the surface of the device is capable of heating up to 600 ° C at least. So they are suitable for use in rooms with a large area.
The second type of device is convenient to use in greenhouses with a small area, since these types of devices are not able to heat up to such a temperature as lighting devices.
Greenhouse infrared heating and its equipping
Using high-powered units
If you plan to use infrared heating of your greenhouse using a heater with a power of about 500 W, then the distance to plants from the device should be more than 1 m. Such a powerful device will provide your plants with infrared heating where the temperature is coldest.
How to use low-powered infrared heaters
Another option is to use the devices with the lowest power. It is usually 250 watts. If we think logically, then the use of devices in the largest number allows you to get the desired effect. Before choosing the required number of devices for the greenhouse, you should calculate the optimal step of the distance between them, which should be no more than 1.5 m.
Lightweight infrared heaters can be hung on a wire in the greenhouse. Before choosing the height of the heaters, raise and low the wire in order to adjust the location of each device correctly. In order to save energy, devices can be staggered. This will minimize the number of dead spots. Consider this if you want to create even heating of the entire greenhouse area. If heat is needed only for certain areas of the greenhouse, place heaters only above these areas.
