Convection heater

Short description: Type of heating device

A convection heater for single-room use Illustration of the Model "S" Convection Heater by Sala Heater & Mantel, 1924

A convection heater, also known as a convector heater, is a type of heater that utilizes convection currents[1] to heat and circulate air. These currents move through the appliance and across its heating element,[2] using thermal conduction[3] to warm the air and decrease its density relative to colder air, causing it to rise.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Types
* 2.1 Panel heater
* 2.2 Fan heater
* 2.3 Institutional convector heater
* 2.4 Oil heater
* 2.5 Gas-fired convection heater
* 3 See also
* 4 References

## History

Ancient heating systems, including hearths, furnaces, and stoves, operated primarily through convection. Fixed central hearths, which were first excavated and retrieved in Greece, date back to 2500 BC, whereas crude fireplaces were used as early as the 800s AD and in the 13th century, when castles in Europe were built with fireplaces with a crude form of chimney.[4]

Developments in convection heating technology included the publication of the very first manual on fireplace design called Mechanique du Feu in 1713, the creation of stoves with thermostatic control in 1849, and the rise of numerous cast iron stove manufacturers during the American Civil War.[4]

The Model "S", illustrated by the Sala Heater & Mantel Co. in Dallas, Texas in 1924, is an example of an early model of a convection space heater. This model consisted of three stoves and was considered to be a highly efficient radiant type of gas heater at the time. It utilized radiant heat, and supplemented its power by drawing cold air through the facing, heating it, and forcing it out through the register. This allowed air circulation while maintaining a cool exterior on the appliance.Cite error: Invalid parameter in `<ref>` tag These early developments, along with the technological advancements made possible by electricity and inventions of tools like thermostats, gave way for the design of modern convection heaters.

## Types

Convection heaters are commonly classified according to their power source. Electric convection heaters use electricity, while combustion or gas-fired heaters use gas, propane, or any other type of fuel. For the heating element, convection heaters usually use metal coils, nickel-chromium, resistance wire, thermal fluids, or ceramic.[5]

### Panel heater

A panel heater is a type of electric convection heater commonly used for heating rooms in residential and small commercial settings. They are often mistaken for electric radiators, which are devices that use radiant heating and transfer heat directly to objects rather than using the air as a medium. Panel heaters are typically used in complement to some other primary or central heating system. They are usually fitted with time and temperature controls.[6]

### Fan heater

Fan heaters combine the warming capability of a heater and air distribution capacity of a fan. The earliest fan heaters became available in the 1950s, right after the invention of tangential fans.[6] Modern fan heaters have variable-speed fans that can work independently from the heating element.[6]

### Institutional convector heater

Institutional convector heaters are heavy-duty heaters designed strictly for commercial and industrial use.[5] Their construction is designed to reach a broad surface area.

### Oil heater

An oil heater, also called a column heater, is electrically heated and uses oil as a heat reservoir. Because oil has a high heat capacity and a high boiling point, it is a suitable heat pathway between the heating element and the cavities of the heater unit.[5]

### Gas-fired convection heater

Gas-fired convection heaters use a gas supply instead of electricity. These heaters consist of a gas burner, an air filter, gas valves, a blower, and a thermostat.[6]

## See also

* Radiator
* Electric heating

## References

1. ↑ Shah, Yatish T. (2018-01-12) (in en). Thermal Energy: Sources, Recovery, and Applications. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-315-30593-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=QdArDwAAQBAJ.
2. ↑ "Heating element" (in en), Wikipedia, 2024-04-26, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heating_element&oldid=1220913763, retrieved 2024-06-12
3. ↑ "Thermal conduction" (in en), Wikipedia, 2024-06-06, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thermal_conduction&oldid=1227526589, retrieved 2024-06-12
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nagengast (2001). "An early history of comfort heating". https://www.achrnews.com/articles/87035-an-early-history-of-comfort-heating.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 dela Cruz, R. (n.d.). "Convection heaters: Everything you need to know". https://engineerwarehouse.com/blogs/everything-you-need-to-know/convection-heaters-everything-you-need-to-know.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Smith, C. (2007). This cold house: The simple science of energy efficiency. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

* v
* t
* e

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

Fundamental concepts|

* Air changes per hour
* Bake-out
* Building envelope
* Convection
* Dilution
* Domestic energy consumption
* Enthalpy
* Fluid dynamics
* Gas compressor
* Heat pump and refrigeration cycle
* Heat transfer
* Humidity
* Infiltration
* Latent heat
* Noise control
* Outgassing
* Particulates
* Psychrometrics
* Sensible heat
* Stack effect
* Thermal comfort
* Thermal destratification
* Thermal mass
* Thermodynamics
* Vapour pressure of water

Technology|

* Absorption refrigerator
* Air barrier
* Air conditioning
* Antifreeze
* Automobile air conditioning
* Autonomous building
* Building insulation materials
* Central heating
* Central solar heating
* Chilled beam
* Chilled water
* Constant air volume (CAV)
* Coolant
* Dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS)
* Deep water source cooling
* Demand-controlled ventilation (DCV)
* Displacement ventilation
* District cooling
* District heating
* Electric heating
* Energy recovery ventilation (ERV)
* Firestop
* Forced-air
* Forced-air gas
* Free cooling
* Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
* Hybrid heat
* Hydronics
* HVAC
* Ice storage air conditioning
* Kitchen ventilation
* Mixed-mode ventilation
* Microgeneration
* Natural ventilation
* Passive cooling
* Passive house
* Radiant heating and cooling system
* Radiant cooling
* Radiant heating
* Radon mitigation
* Refrigeration
* Renewable heat
* Room air distribution
* Solar air heat
* Solar combisystem
* Solar cooling
* Solar heating
* Thermal insulation
* Underfloor air distribution
* Underfloor heating
* Vapor barrier
* Vapor-compression refrigeration (VCRS)
* Variable air volume (VAV)
* Variable refrigerant flow (VRF)
* Ventilation

Components|

* Air conditioner inverter
* Air door
* Air filter
* Air handler
* Air ionizer
* Air-mixing plenum
* Air purifier
* Air source heat pumps
* Automatic balancing valve
* Back boiler
* Barrier pipe
* Blast damper
* Boiler
* Centrifugal fan
* Ceramic heater
* Chiller
* Condensate pump
* Condenser
* Condensing boiler
* Convection heater
* Compressor
* Cooling tower
* Damper
* Dehumidifier
* Duct
* Economizer
* Electrostatic precipitator
* Evaporative cooler
* Evaporator
* Exhaust hood
* Expansion tank
* Fan coil unit
* Fan filter unit
* Fan heater
* Fire damper
* Fireplace
* Fireplace insert
* Freeze stat
* Flue
* Freon
* Fume hood
* Furnace
* Furnace room
* Gas compressor
* Gas heater
* Gasoline heater
* Geothermal heat pump
* Grease duct
* Grille
* Ground-coupled heat exchanger
* Heat exchanger
* Heat pipe
* Heat pump
* Heating film
* Heating system
* High efficiency glandless circulating pump
* High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
* High pressure cut off switch
* Humidifier
* Infrared heater
* Inverter compressor
* Kerosene heater
* Louver
* Mechanical fan
* Mechanical room
* Oil heater
* Packaged terminal air conditioner
* Plenum space
* Pressurisation ductwork
* Process duct work
* Radiator
* Radiator reflector
* Recuperator
* Refrigerant
* Register
* Reversing valve
* Run-around coil
* Scroll compressor
* Solar chimney
* Solar-assisted heat pump
* Space heater
* Smoke exhaust ductwork
* Thermal expansion valve
* Thermal wheel
* Thermosiphon
* Thermostatic radiator valve
* Trickle vent
* Trombe wall
* Turning vanes
* Ultra-low particulate air (ULPA)
* Whole-house fan
* Windcatcher
* Wood-burning stove

Measurement
and control|

* Air flow meter
* Aquastat
* BACnet
* Blower door
* Building automation
* Carbon dioxide sensor
* Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
* Gas sensor
* Home energy monitor
* Humidistat
* HVAC control system
* Intelligent buildings
* LonWorks
* Minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV)
* OpenTherm
* Programmable communicating thermostat
* Programmable thermostat
* Psychrometrics
* Room temperature
* Smart thermostat
* Thermostat
* Thermostatic radiator valve

Professions, trades,
and services|

* Architectural acoustics
* Architectural engineering
* Architectural technologist
* Building services engineering
* Building information modeling (BIM)
* Deep energy retrofit
* Duct leakage testing
* Environmental engineering
* Hydronic balancing
* Kitchen exhaust cleaning
* Mechanical engineering
* Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
* Mold growth, assessment, and remediation
* Refrigerant reclamation
* Testing, adjusting, balancing

Industry organizations|

* ACCA
* AHRI
* AMCA
* ASHRAE
* ASTM International
* BRE
* BSRIA
* CIBSE
* Institute of Refrigeration
* IIR
* LEED
* SMACNA

Health and safety|

* Indoor air quality (IAQ)
* Passive smoking
* Sick building syndrome (SBS)
* Volatile organic compound (VOC)

See also|

* ASHRAE Handbook
* Building science
* Fireproofing
* Glossary of HVAC terms
* World Refrigeration Day

* Template:Home automation
* Template:Solar energy

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