Warm Air or Radiant Heating?

Abstract

The different characteristics of the two forms of heating are well documented, hut there is a supposition that radiant heating offers more polential for energy saving because of the lower air temperatures needed for comfort. The issue has been studied at the UK Electricity Council Research Centre at Capenhurst, using both the simplified procedure in the CIBS Guide and a more detailed computer program. The results suggest that in a well insulated room there is little to choose between the two types of heating system. Concentrating more heat radiation on the occupants rapidly leads to high temperature asymmetries, while a high-temperature warm air source leads to vertical air temperature gradients. Forced warm air may increase the convective transfer coefficient, thus increasing the rate of heat flow into the surface. However, in large, highly ventilated spaces, such as factories, there are definite energy savings to be made by the use of radiant heaters.