It is not always easy to know which device is best suited for which heating application, given the large selection of different devices. Therefore we would like to give you an overview of the individual technologies and thus also an orientation which is the best heating solution for you. So this is meant to be a guide by introducing infra-red oil heaters, gas heaters and indirect oil heaters with chimney plus electric heaters and infra-red radiant heaters in a quick comparison!
Infra-red oil heater
Infra-red oil heaters are ideally suited for use in well ventilated indoor spaces, whereby the total generated heat is actually available as 100% output. For example, machines or pipelines can be de-iced, frozen heating systems can be thawed to save energy, paintwork or wall coatings can be dried and work areas can be heated in a targeted manner and completely draft-free. The infra-red rays heat the affected areas directly and not the ambient air.
Important to know
- Besides heat, infra-red oil heaters also release combustion exhaust gases directly into the room. They are therefore unsuitable for closed rooms without good ventilation (oxygen supply) in case persons or animals are inside.
- Moreover, they also generate approx. 1.6 kg of water vapour per litre of fuel during combustion and are thus not suitable for drying the building structure.
- Infra-red oil heaters must not be used in fire-endangered rooms in which flammable substances are stored.
Direct gas heaters from 10 kW to 30 kW
Gas heaters are recommended for use in well-ventilated indoor spaces and in covered outdoor areas, where the total heat developed is in fact actually available as 100% output. When it comes to affordable instant heat for construction sites, workshops, stables or greenhouses, there is really no getting around a gas heater. Because gas is a cheap energy source – and in combination with the inexpensive fan heaters of the TGH-E series it is one of the most cost-effective solutions for effective immediate heating.
Important to know
- Besides providing heat, gas fan heaters release combustion exhaust gases directly into the room as well. They are therefore unsuitable for closed rooms without good ventilation in case persons or animals are inside.
- What’s more, during combustion approx. 1.6 kg of water vapour is produced per litre of fuel. Direct gas heating devices are therefore not suitable for construction drying. When using gas fan heaters for construction drying, the building would, in the worst case, thus be more humid than it was before!
- Gas heaters must not be use in rooms subject to potential fire hazards, e.g. by storing flammable substances.
Indirect oil heaters with chimney from 20 kW to 375 kW
In order to generate clean and dry heat without allowing combustion products or water vapour to be released into the room air at the same time, indirect heaters (with chimney) are required. The indirect oil heaters from the IDE series are ideal for rooms where only limited ventilation is possible, but which are nevertheless to be used by people and animals. They are also a good choice for accelerating the drying of buildings and in rooms where there is a fire hazard due to the presence of flammable materials.
Important to know
- When it comes to indirect oil heaters, the air to be heated is completely disconnected from the combustion chamber and can be directed into the respective rooms either directly or using hoses.
- The combustion exhaust gases, in contrast, are discharged into the open by the chimney. As a result, the heat output efficiency is not 100%, as is the case with direct oil heaters, but only approx. 92 to 95%, since one part of the hot air is lost through the chimney with the exhaust gases.
- Indirect heaters are therefore ideal for rooms with persons or animals inside and where only limited ventilation is possible.
Indirect oil heaters without chimney from 20 kW to 100 kW
Direct oil heaters are ideally suited for use outdoors, for heating external construction sites, agricultural areas or in well-ventilated interiors, because they make all the generated heat available. That’s why direct heaters don’t have a chimney. This process is therefore also referred to as 100% output, since the heating power has an efficiency of 100%.
Important to know
- In a directly heated system, the fan that blows out the heated air also provides the combustion air.
- Fuel is first atomised, ignited and burnt in the combustion chamber. The hot gases are then mixed with the main air flow of the blower in a precise dosage
- Besides heat, direct heaters also release combustion exhaust gases directly into the room. They are therefore unsuitable for closed rooms without good ventilation if there are people or animals in them.
- Because a lot of moisture is released during combustion, direct heaters should never be used to dry buildings.
Electric heaters (2 kW to 120 kW) and infra-red radiant heaters (1200 watts to 3,000 watts)
Electric heaters and infra-red radiant heaters are recommended as a safe, fast and convenient heating solution. All you need is a corresponding power connection and no additional handling effort is involved, as in the case of oil or gas heaters. They provide, just like direct oil or gas fan heaters,100% heat output efficiency.
Important to know
- When heating, neither combustion exhaust gases nor water vapour is generated and no oxygen is consumed. Therefore, any use in rooms with people or animals inside is not a problem.
- Electric heaters are widely used in construction projects, in party tents, warehouses and workshops, on ships, in switching stations, stables, garages and in temporary accommodation. Moreover, electric heat fans are suitable for supporting dehumidifiers during construction drying, as no condensate (water vapour) is released. When it comes to infra-red heaters, IR heating panels are recommended for construction drying.
- Electric heaters generally have, depending on the electricity rate, higher operating costs per kW heat output than oil or gas operated heating devices
All you can heat by Trotec
Regardless of which heating technology is right for you, we have the right device in our range for every application and every performance requirement and at unbeatable prices.
