Here too, ECOFLOOR electric heating cables and ECOSUN radiant heating Panels – which we have been manufacturing and supplying to markets worldwide for 30 years – have proven their worth. Our heating systems are used in various applications in plant cultivation and livestock farming. They help to optimise crop production, protect crops from adverse weather conditions and provide thermal comfort for both the animals themselves and their keepers.
ECOSUN radiant panels are manufactured in two basic versions: high-temperature and low-temperature panels.
High-temperature panels are fitted with a flat radiating surface that provides radiation at an angle of up to 180° (known as hemispherical radiation). The temperature on the surface of the radiant slats is approximately
350 °C. This high temperature ensures a relatively high radiant flux density. These panels are therefore designed to be suspended at greater heights of 5–8 metres above the ground.
Low-temperature panels also have a flat radiating surface. Unlike high-temperature panels, the surface temperature of the radiating surface is a maximum of 110 °C. The radiant flux density is lower. The recommended installation height for the panels is 2.5–3 m above the ground.
ECOSUN radiant heating Panels are therefore particularly suitable for heating livestock buildings. Such buildings are often too large and poorly (or not at all) insulated; in many cases, the indoor temperatures do not differ significantly from those outdoor. Heating the entire space would therefore be very costly from an economic point of view. However, if it is possible to heat the areas where the animals spend most of their time only locally, radiant heating Panels can be used to great advantage as heat sources. Their main advantage is undoubtedly the transfer of heat by radiation, specifically in the infrared part of the spectrum, which is largely absorbed by objects and the body’s surface. It is therefore possible to create a pleasant sensation of warmth using appropriately positioned radiant heating sources, whilst maintaining lower air temperatures in the space. Compared to conventional convection heating, so-called ‘zonal heating’ can achieve savings of more than 50 per cent on heating costs. As a result of reduced airflow (air turbulence in the room), dust circulation is also minimised.
Unlike panels, ECOFLOOR heating cables are actively used for growing fruit and vegetables in greenhouses. Heated soil promotes faster and earlier germination of seedlings, whilst the harvest itself can then last longer. A power output of 100 W/m² has proven effective for this method of heating; higher outputs are undesirable. The heating cable is laid deep enough into the soil to ensure it cannot be damaged during planting or harvesting. Cables in a sand bed must not cross over one another, and the sand or soil in the immediate vicinity of the cable should not contain any stone chips or similar materials that could damage the cable’s outer sheath. Garden peat must not come into contact with the cable either, as it could easily act as an insulator and cause the cable to overheat. In practice, the ECOFLOOR ADPSV heating cable with a power consumption of 10 W/m has proven to be the most effective.
Our team of experienced technicians will assist you in selecting suitable heaters, heating cables and the appropriate regulation for your specific application.
You can also read more in our specialist catalogue, which is dedicated exclusively to Outdoor applications.
