From ancient times in the cold season, people were looking for a way to warm their home. For this, heat from burning firewood, peat and coal was used. With the development of the steam era, coal boilers and steam heating appeared. There was an opportunity to spread the place of fuel combustion and the place of heating in space, this significantly increased comfort in residential premises. The next revolution in heating occurred with the development of domestic gas. And finally, electric heaters appeared - the most efficient converters of electricity to heat to date. One of the latest inventions is infrared heaters and their variety - micatermic.
Operating principle
The main difference between the mycothermal heater and the oil, convector, and ceramic heaters is that it heats not the air in the room, but material objects falling into their area of effect:
- walls;
- floor;
- furniture.
Heating occurs due to radiation of energy in the infrared light range. Infrared waves are invisible to the human eye, but they can be felt by the skin as a stream of heat. It feels like a bright sun in calm weather. Calculations show that the device converts up to 80% of the consumed electricity into radiation. The remaining 20% are not lost, they are spent on heating the air near the device. So each infrared heater is also a little convection.
Principle of operation of the mycothermal heater
Convection heaters primarily heat their surface, which transfers heat to the air in contact with it. The heated air rises, it gradually cools down, giving off heat to the ceiling and walls, and drops down. There it again heats up from the surface of the radiator, rises, the cycle repeats. Thus, the natural circulation of air is established, and all the air in the room warms up. If the convection heater is equipped with a fan, the heating rate from several hours is reduced to 15-30 minutes.
The mycothermal heater also copes with heating the room during this time, but next to it it becomes comfortable from the first minutes of switching on.
Device and features
The main working body in the device is a plate of non-metallic material that emits infrared rays when an electric current is passed through it. At the same time, the surface temperature of the plate does not rise above 35-40 ° C, which eliminates the possibility of burns or fire if accidentally touched.
On both sides of the plate is covered with a layer of mica - a natural transparent mineral. It transmits infrared rays well and serves as an excellent insulator. The device does not have moving parts and any coolant. The heating element is practically not subject to wear. The manufacturing process for such heating plates was patented by Micatherm, which gave its name to a whole class of heating devices
IR rays pass through a protective grill and heat walls and furniture
The plate heater is fixed in a metal casing with a protective grill that does not interfere with thermal radiation. Lattices, as a rule, are placed on both sides, since the plate emits infrared rays from both sides.
In an improved plate design, a metallized layer is added on one side.It almost completely reflects the radiation from one side of the plate, directing it to the other side.
Such an improvement made it possible to produce single-sided heaters - ceiling, wall, and cylindrical.
Cylindrical models do not have “dead zones”; they warm up all directions at the same time.
Each heater is equipped with a switch and a power cord. On the simplest models, the power is not adjustable. They are designed to work as part of a building-wide "reasonable" heating systems. On most entry-level models, there is a power regulator - step or smooth.
More advanced devices are equipped with a thermostat, which allows you to maintain the set temperature near the heater.
Cylindrical heater
Top models are equipped with a display showing the operating mode and current temperature and on-time programming systems.
A feature of the operation of this type of heaters is that they heat objects and surfaces only in the area of infrared rays. It is there that the fastest heating is possible. Parts of the room that do not fall into the infrared radiation zone will warm up much more slowly due to normal convection, air circulation and re-emission of heat rays from heated surfaces of the walls of the floor and furniture.
Advantages and disadvantages
The mycothermal heater has both advantages and some disadvantages, like any real-life device.
The obvious advantages of this class of heating devices include:
- Energy efficiency. Electric energy consumption per thermal kilocalorie is up to 30% less than that of convection heaters. In models with a thermostat there is an “Eco” function to protect the room from freezing. The heater will periodically turn on and maintain a positive temperature in the room.
- Quick warm-up of the premises.
- Uniform heating of the room in height, especially when using ceiling emitters. This is especially important for children playing on the floor and pets. This property is also useful for farm animals and birds placed in cages in several tiers.
- Instant start to work. The device does not need time for its own warm-up and exit to the operating mode.
- Security. The case temperature, even with continuous continuous operation, will not rise above 50aboutC, making it harmless to children and pets.
- Absolute noiselessness. The absence of coolant and any moving parts makes micathermic devices an ideal choice for heating rooms in which children or people with very sensitive sleeps.
- Compactness and small weight allow to move a heater to children, elderly people and persons with limited abilities.
The "experts", who slept through school lessons in physics and chemistry, repeat one after another that a working mycothermal heater also "does not burn oxygen." This is true, but oxygen does not burn any type of heater with a closed heating element. For oxygen to “burn out,” something must burn. Such a process occurs only in open-fire heaters, gas heat guns. There gas really burns, and the concentration of oxygen in the room decreases. In ancient heaters with an open nichrome spiral, dust particles can burn on it. Such devices are not used for heating residential premises.
The micathermic heater also has disadvantages:
- Uneven heating of the room. The zone directly irradiated by the device is best warmed up. The rest of the room will heat up much more slowly due to convection and air circulation.
- A large number of small holes in the protective grill will serve as a dust collector. Regular cleaning with a vacuum cleaner will improve the overall quality of life and extend the life of the appliance.
- If you cover the device with a cloth, plastic wrap, etc., there is a danger of overheating and fire. The device should be installed away from the curtain curtains to prevent contact.It is unacceptable to dry clothes, shoes, other objects on it.
Another disadvantage is the rather high price of heaters.
Popular models with brief specifications and prices
GoldStar EPH-7101
GoldStar EPH-7101
A well-known Korean company assembles this model in factories in China. Traditional quality is complemented by a relatively low price. For it you can get a two-stage power controller and a mechanical thermostat. The power of the device is 1 kW, this is enough to heat 12 square meters. Price - 3 740 rubles.
Polaris PMH 0115 5E
Polaris PMH 0115 5E
A more powerful (1.5 kilowatts) model of the American manufacturer is also being assembled in China. It is made in a horizontal design, equipped with a two-stage mode selector and a mechanical temperature regulator. The device will be able to heat an area of 15m2. Heater costs 4,299 rubles.
Polaris PMH 1584
Polaris PMH 1584
A more advanced device with a power of 1.5 kW is equipped with a smooth electronic power controller. Due to the improved design, the heater will cope with an area of up to 18 m2. The scope of delivery includes wheels for convenient movement around the room. The heater will cost 4,799 rubles.
Galaxy GL 8228
Galaxy GL 8228
Budget mikatermichesky heater of the Chinese brand Galaxy has a decent power of 2.2 kW. It is equipped with a mechanical switch and thermostat and will heat the room up to 22 m2. It costs a simple and reliable device 2 659 rubles.
De Longhi HMP1500
De Longhi HMP1500
Despite the big name, the device combines high quality and efficiency with a relatively affordable price. It is equipped with an electronic system for maintaining the set temperature, which controls the device with high accuracy and allows you not to waste excess electricity.
Special attention during the design was given to security systems. The controller constantly monitors the surface temperature of the casing and the position of the device in space. When the surface overheats or when the device capsizes, it automatically turns off.
The scope of delivery includes brackets for wall mounting and castors for floor mounting. They allow you to move the heater to the right place, without putting extra effort. The power of the unit is 1,500 watts, the price is 4,790 rubles. The manufacturer recommends using it for heating rooms up to 18 m2.
