Modelling of an electric IR heater at transient and steady state conditions Part I: model and validation

A model for an electric infrared (IR) heater has been developed. The model includes non-grey radiative heat transfer between the different parts of th e IR heater, as well as conduction in reflector material and convective coo ling of surfaces. The geometry is simplified into one dimension. Using IR m odule voltage, as the only input, the model predicts the temperature of hea ter components and cooling air, as well as the net radiation heat transfer to the surroundings at steady state and transient conditions. The model has been validated against both steady state and transient experimental result s from a small electric IR heater. The model predictions are in good agreem ent with experimental data both regarding steady state results and the tran sient response over a wide range of voltages. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.