Radiant Infrared Greenhouse Low Intensity Heater

Combustion Research Corporation manufactures and develops gas-fired low-intensity infrared heating equipment that can be used for greenhouse applications. Low-intensity infrared energy is ideal for heating plants grown in greenhouses.

Why Low Intensity Infrared Heaters for Greenhouses?

Low-intensity infrared heaters emit energy with wavelengths ranging from about 2,000 nm to 10,000 nm. The part of the light spectrum that plants respond to for photosynthesis is referred to as photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). PAR has a wavelength range of about 380 – 740 nm — shorter than the 2,000 nm – 10,000 nm range for low-intensity infrared). Electromagnetic energy in the 380 nm to 740 nm range makes up the visible light spectrum.

Why not to Choose High Intensity Ceramic Heaters?

High intensity infrared is often associated with electric infrared heaters and gas-fired infrared heaters with ceramic grids, which glow red. High-intensity infrared heaters can be used to provide work space spot heating, but are not desirable for heating plants. Some plants respond to the red glow of high intensity heaters in a way undesirable to the growers of the plants. Many plants initiate and develop flowers based on the ratio of uninterrupted darkness to the length of the day in a 24-hour cycle. Interrupting the dark cycle with red light from a high intensity heater may have an undesirable effect in flower formation and development. Since the heat exchanger tube on gas fired, low-intensity infrared heaters does not give off light in this way, it has not shown to have this effect on plants.