Infrared Unit Heater Fundamentals
Presented by:
November 13, 2014
Shonda Biddle, energySMART
Jamie Tuinstra, Modine Manufacturing Company
Special guest: Modine
Infrared Unit Heaters - Fundamentals • energySMART overview
• Rebates for your infrared unit heaters • Rebates and incentives for energy efficiency upgrades
• Special Guest: Jamie Tuinstra, Product Manager,
Modine Manufacturing Company • What are infrared unit heaters? • What are ideal applications? • How do they save energy?
• Nicor Gas serves over 2 million customers in 643 communities.
Nicor Gas service area
How are the programs funded?
Residential and commercial Nicor Gas customers, based on consumption
About energySMART
energySMART rebates are available through May 31, 2015* or until funds are exhausted. Please Note: Rebate must be submitted within 90 days of installation date or by June 30, 2015, whichever comes first.
energySMART dates
Rebates available Project Rebate
Steam traps commercial (<15 psig)
$50 per trap
Steam traps industrial/process (≥15 psig)
$300 per trap
Boiler controls $0.50 per MBH, up to $1,500
Boiler tune-ups
$0.40 - $0.50 per MBH up to $1,500
Pipe insulation
$4.00 / linear foot – indoor $8.00 / linear foot - outdoor
Ozone laundry
$25 per pound of washer capacity
Pool / spa covers $0.75 - $1.25 per sq. ft.
Rebates available Project Rebate Programmable thermostats $50 per unit
Condensing boilers (AFUE/TE ≥90%)
$500 - $7,500
Non-condensing boilers (AFUE/TE ≥85%)
$400 - $2,500
Furnaces (≥92%) $300 - $400
Storage water heaters
$150 - $200
Condensing unit heaters
$325
Infrared heaters
$700
Rebates available – Commercial Food Services Project Rebate Pre-rinse spray valves $50 per unit
Fryers
$500 - $550
Ovens $400 - $1,400
Conveyor oven $500 – 1,000 per deck
Infrared charbroiler $500
Other commercial food service equipment
Varies
• For natural gas-saving projects not addressed by rebates.
• Incentives based on the amount of natural gas (in therms) saved in first year by completing the project.
• Maximum incentive per project is $500,000 (cannot exceed 50% of the installed project cost).
• Pre-approval required before any work starts
Custom incentive
Project Savings Incentive Amount Incentive Cap 2,500 – 15,000 therms saved / year
$0.75 / therm saved
$500,000 / year > 15,000 therms saved / year $1.00 / therm saved
Opportunity Assessments Targeted assessment for
specific energy saving opportunities
Facility Assessments Complete analysis and
report of energy-saving opportunities
Includes prioritized savings opportunities and incentives available
Other technical assistance available
Technical assistance
Jamie Tuinstra, Modine Manufacturing Company
Infrared unit heaters
Infrared unit heaters
•Basics – What is infrared – Why use infrared
•Product features and benefits – High-intensity heaters – Low-intensity heaters
•Design & applications
Infrared unit heaters
Types of heat transfer
•Conduction - no motion – Handle on a pan
•Convection - currents – Boiling water
•Radiation - rays – Campfire
Infrared unit heaters
What is infrared?
• Radiant energy travels in line-of-sight
– Heats upon striking object – If not line-of-sight, object won’t be
heated
• Objects warmed by IR provide heat
– Secondary effects • Conduction to other objects • Convection to air
Infrared unit heaters
Benefits
•Quiet/clean – No air movement / blowing of dirt or dust
•Low maintenance – Few moving parts
•Installation – No ductwork
•Excellent for zone or spot heating
Infrared unit heaters
Benefits
• Energy cost reduction – Objects are heated, not the surrounding air – No air mover energy costs – Lower thermostat settings
• Quick temperature recovery – Continues to heat objects when doors are open
Infrared unit heaters
Unit Specifics
Infrared unit heaters
Model MHR - Features
• Natural or Propane Gas • 30,000 to 200,000 Btu/hr • Unvented Operation • Direct Spark and Millivolt • 1- and 2-Stage Gas Controls • Tile temperatures Up To 1850°F • 115V or 24V Supply (Except Millivolt) • Indoor use only!
High intensity infrared
Note: Units must always be installed with controls on the bottom.
16 Gauge Aluminized Steel
Frame
Polished Aluminum Reflector
Ceramic Burner
Spark Electrode
Model MHR - Features High intensity infrared
Full Perimeter Tile Retention
Frame
Ignition Control & Gas Valve
Serial Plate
Ignition Controller
Manifold
Gas Orifices
Burner Assembly
Gas Valve
Model MHR - Features High intensity infrared
Spark Electrode
Model MHR – Unit Mounting
• Rigid mounting • 3/8” threaded rods • Where code allows,
chain mounting • 0°-30° mounting
angle • Manifold at bottom • Utilities not to cross
over top
High intensity infrared
0° to 30°
• Pressurized system • Natural or propane • 50,000 to 200,000 Btu/hr Input • Indoor or outdoor • Straight or U-tube systems (20-70’) • Vented • 115 V supply & 24 V controls • Service friendly • Conversion kits
Model TLP - Features
Low intensity infrared
Hot Surface Igniter & Flame
Sensor
Enclosed Burner
Compartment
180° Rotate-able Gas Valve
Terminal Board
Combustion Blower
Flame Sight Glass
Hanging Access Doors
Model TLP – Burner Features
Low intensity infrared
20 gauge aluminized steel casing, baked-on polyester powder
coat paint
Combustion Airflow Indicator
Light
• 16 Ga. darkened aluminized steel* tubes – Improved corrosion resistance for longer life – Heat treated for darkness (better heat transfer) – Doesn’t flake or scratch like painted tubes
*For units rated 150,000 Btu/hr and up: – First tube is 16 Ga. Titanium Aluminized Steel (not heat
treated) with stainless steel clamps
Low intensity infrared LOW INTENSITY INFRARED Model TLP – Tube System Features
•Chain Mounting Sets with “S” Hooks – 20’ chain (MHR & TLP) – 40’ chain (TLP)
Low intensity infrared Model TLP – Unit Mounting
High & low intensity infrared
•Applications •Selection •Additional Considerations
Design and application
•When to use infrared: if impractical/costly to heat large air volumes
– Where only people need to be warm
– Small section within a large building
– Near frequently opened doors
– High ceilings
Design and application
Typical applications
Our focus: • Partial building heat
• Assembly line
• Spot/area heating • Single work cell • Door coverage
• Commercial/industrial
Not our focus – will not discuss (See 9-200) • Total building heat
• Entire space
Design and application
Typical applications
• Aircraft hangars • High ceilings/air changes
• Loading docks
• Spot heating/open doors
• Warehouses
• High ceilings/limited occupancy
• Manufacturing areas
Design and application
Typical applications
• Fire stations • Open doors/air changes
• Automotive service stations • Open doors/air changes
• Car washes • Open doors/air changes
Design and application
Typical applications •Service counters
•Outdoor Restaurant Seating •**Big Opportunity**
Design and application
Typical applications
•Airplane hangers
Design and application
Typical applications
•Factories (especially old drafty w/high ceilings)
Design and application
Typical Applications
•Warehouses/cold storage
Design and application
Typical applications
•Service bays
Design and application
Typical (Mis) applications
Design and application
Typical misapplication
Greenhouses: • Dirt floors • Plants may be
intolerant to infrared heat
• Lack of uniform heat distribution
• Clearance issues to house materials
Design and application
Typical misapplications
Animal shelters/barns: • Animals cannot voice discomfort • May stress animals • Poor production
Design and application
High & low intensity infrared
•Applications •Selection •Additional considerations
Design and application
Criteria for proper selections
Application • Indoor or outdoor?
– High intensity is indoor only • Spot heating or partial building area heating
– Typical: spot=high intensity, area=low intensity Mounting height • Clearance to combustibles
– Typical: more=high intensity, less=low intensity Building layout
Design and application
Criteria for proper selection •Area of coverage
– High Intensity
Design and application
30°
30°
Criteria for proper selection
•Area of coverage – Low intensity
Design and application
Criteria for proper selection
• Understanding tube temperature profile • Typically around 1000°F at burner • Typically around 350 to 400°F at vent end • Radiant output is directly proportional to (∆T)4
Design and application
Approximate Tube Temp Across Tube System30 Foot Straight Tube
200
400
600
800
1000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Feet from Burner
°F
Approximate Tube Temp Across Tube System60 Foot Straight Tube
200
400
600
800
1000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Feet from Burner
°F
Selection & layout
• Partial building heating • Low intensity best suited • Mount within recommended mounting height • U-tube system recommended: Why?
Let’s look at a 60’l assembly line example:
Design and application
Selection & layout
• Using a 60 foot straight tube system:
Design and application
Approximate Tube Temp Across Tube System60 Foot Straight Tube
200
400
600
800
1000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Feet from Burner
°F
I agree, it’s so nice, I feel productive.
It’s so freaking cold over here, that heater above is junk.
It’s so nice and warm at work, I could handle cold fish all day.
Not a good application Be prepared for service calls!
Selection & layout
• Using (2) – 30 foot straight tube systems:
Design and application
A fairly good application
It’s not bad, but I wish that heater worked better.
I’m really happy my employee cares enough to keep me warm.
It’s so nice and warm at work, I could handle cold fish all day.
Approximate Tube Temp Across Tube SystemQty (2) - 30 Foot Straight Tubes
200
400
600
800
1000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Feet from Burner
°F
Selection & Layout
• Using (2) – 60 foot u-tube systems:
DESIGN AND APPLICATION
A very good application
Approximate Tube Temp Across Tube SystemQty (2) - 60 Foot U-Tubes
200400600
8001000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Feet from Burner
°F
It’s really comfortable in here, I feel so productive.
I’m really happy my employee cares enough to keep me warm.
It’s so nice and warm at work, I could handle cold fish all day.
Selection & Layout
•Spot heating – High intensity @ 30° mounting angle – Low intensity u-tube @ 45° mounting angle – Typically uses 2 units where practical
DESIGN AND APPLICATION
MHR 30
MHR 60
MHR100
MHR160
MHR120
Criteria for proper selection
• Building layout – Lighting – Racked/stacked combustible material – Clearance to combustibles based on 90°F over ambient – Sprinkler heads – watch clearances!!! – Overhead cranes – Utility location
Design and application
High & low intensity infrared
•Applications •Selection •Additional considerations
Design and application
Additional considerations
• Low-intensity tube system expansion – Systems can expand/contract by 1-6” – Installation must accommodate to avoid alignment
issues
• Expansion remedies – Chain-mounting (min. Length per I&S manual) – Flexible gas connectors – Tighten tube clamps to 50 ft-lb. – Overlap reflectors by 4” – Every other joint screwed
Design and application
Additional considerations
•Thermostat location – Never in line-of-sight – Can also use simple on/off switch
•Multiple unit wiring to one thermostat (9-410) •Contaminated atmospheres
– Never for hazardous areas!!
•Negative pressure in space – High intensity – Low intensity with outside combustion air
Design and application
Additional considerations
• Indoor vs. Outdoor defined – Outdoor: area ALWAYS exposed to outdoor ambient
conditions (i.e. no door to structure) – Indoor: area SOMETIMES or NEVER exposed to
outdoor ambient conditions (i.e. opening/closing door)
Design and application
Additional considerations
•Indoor or outdoor?
Design and application
Shonda Biddle Nicor Gas energySMART [email protected] 312.607.3978
Questions?
nicorgasrebates.com 877.886.4239
Jamie Tuinstra Product Manager [email protected] 262-636-1850
Thank you!
Shonda Biddle Nicor Gas energySMART [email protected] 312.607.3978 Jamie Tuinstra Product Manager [email protected] 262-636-1850.