- Heating principle and efficiency
- Halogen heating lamps:
- Halogen heating lamps work based on the principle of incandescent radiation. They have a tungsten filament inside a quartz envelope filled with halogen gas (usually iodine or bromine). When an electric current passes through the filament, it heats up and emits infrared radiation. The presence of halogen gas helps to redeposit evaporated tungsten back onto the filament, which allows the filament to operate at a higher temperature and emit more intense infrared radiation. This results in a relatively high heating efficiency in a short range. For example, in a small – area space – heating scenario like a bathroom, a halogen heater can quickly raise the temperature.
- Infrared heating lamps (non – halogen):
- Some infrared heating lamps without halogen use other materials or designs. For example, carbon fiber infrared heating lamps emit infrared radiation through the vibration of carbon fiber molecules. Their heating efficiency may vary. Generally, the wavelength and intensity of infrared radiation they emit can be different from halogen heating lamps. Carbon fiber infrared lamps might have a more focused or different – spectrum radiation, which can affect the heating characteristics and penetration depth into objects.
- Ceramic heating lamps:
- Ceramic heating elements work by passing an electric current through a ceramic material that has a high resistance. The ceramic heats up and radiates heat. They usually have a different heating curve compared to halogen lamps. Ceramic heating lamps may heat up more slowly but can provide more stable and even heat over a longer period. They are often used in applications where a more consistent heat output is required, such as in some industrial drying processes that need a steady temperature for a long time.
- Halogen heating lamps:
- Spectrum of emitted radiation
- Halogen heating lamps:
- Halogen lamps emit a broad spectrum of infrared radiation, with a significant portion in the near – infrared range. The near – infrared radiation has good penetrative power and can effectively heat objects. For example, when used in food warming applications, the near – infrared radiation from halogen lamps can penetrate the food containers to some extent and heat the food from the inside as well as the surface.
- Infrared heating lamps (non – halogen):
- Different types of non – halogen infrared lamps can have different radiation spectra. Some may emit more far – infrared radiation. Far – infrared radiation is more absorbed by water molecules. In applications like drying textiles that have a high water content, lamps that emit far – infrared radiation can be more effective in removing moisture as the water molecules in the fabric can absorb this radiation more easily and turn into vapor.
- Ceramic heating lamps:
- Ceramic heating lamps also emit infrared radiation, but the spectrum can be adjusted during the manufacturing process depending on the ceramic material used. They often have a more stable and somewhat narrower radiation spectrum compared to halogen lamps. This can be beneficial in applications where a specific wavelength of infrared radiation is needed for a particular heating or drying process.
- Halogen heating lamps: