Patio heater

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A gas-burning patio heater Patio heater.jpg
A gas-burning patio heater

A patio heater, also called a mushroom heater or umbrella heater, is a radiant heating appliance for generating thermal radiation for outdoor use.

Contents

Types of heater

A burner on top of a pole, it burns natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), propane or butane, and directs the flames against a perforated metal screen. Heat is radiated from the surface of the screen in a circular pattern around the appliance. A reflector a top the burner reflects heat that would be otherwise lost upwards. This is because the reflecting hood is usually silvered which makes it a poor absorber of heat but excellent at reflecting infrared radiation back. This reduces the amount of heat lost by conduction as silvered surfaces will not absorb infrared light. The chimenea is an alternative to the patio heater for home use, which burns wood instead of gas.

Some newer types of patio heaters are electrically powered radiative heaters that emit infrared energy onto nearby surfaces, which in turn heat up the surrounding air.

Other styles of outdoor patio heaters include:

Patio heaters have become popular with bars and restaurants, since they extend the day and the season for their customers to sit outdoors. This increase in the popularity of the patio heater has led to concerns over their environmental effects. One patio heater can produce four tons of carbon dioxide annually. [1]

Climate issues

The use of external heaters outside cafes has been banned in various cities in France & Germany, due to environmental concerns, starting with Rennes. [2] Previous attempts were overturned in the courts. [3] Alternative sustainable solar solutions have been proposed. [3]

Propane coverage

The below table correlates to the approximate power (BTU / Watts) required. Results may vary based on the outside temperature, obstructions and wind.
AreaDistance from heaterPropane and natural gas heatersElectric heaters
4 sq ft1 foot10,000 BTUs1,000 Watts
16 sq ft2 feet
36 sq ft3 feet
64 sq ft4 feet
100 sq ft5 feet46,000 BTUs
144 sq ft6 feet1,500 Watts
196 sq ft7 feet
256 sq ft8 feet
324 sq ft9 feetRequires additional heater
400 sq ft10 feetRequires additional heater

Fuel types

Propane fuel

Propane patio heaters are the most popular type, as they are portable and easy to find refill locations such as gas stations or convenience stores. The downside to propane is that you need to purchase a separate tank for each heater you own and can be more costly to operate than electric or natural gas.

Natural gas fuel

Natural gas patio heaters are great solution, as more and more houses come outfitted with natural gas lines. This makes it very convenient to hook into; however, it is less portable than propane. Extension hoses are available but can be a tripping hazard, especially after the sun has gone down.

Electric

Electric patio heaters are a great choice for easy setup, and has indoor applications as well, for partially enclosed indoor-outdoor space. Electric heaters are typically generally a bit weaker; therefore, it’s best for a small group of people.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thermal radiation</span> Electromagnetic radiation generated by the thermal motion of particles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbecue grill</span> Device for barbecueing or grilling

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gas heater</span> Space heater powered by combustion of gas

A gas heater is a space heater used to heat a room or outdoor area by burning natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, propane, or butane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilot light</span> Small gas flame used to light larger gas burner

A pilot light is a small gas flame, usually natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas, which serves as an ignition source for a more powerful gas burner. Originally a pilot light was kept permanently alight, but this wastes gas. Now it is more common to light a burner electrically, but gas pilot lights are still used when a high energy ignition source is necessary, as in when lighting a large burner.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooktop</span> Device that applies heat to the base of cookware

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerosene heater</span> Typically a portable, unvented, kerosene-fueled, space-heating device

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">LO-NOx burner</span>

A LO NOx burner is a type of burner that is typically used in utility boilers to produce steam and electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space heater</span> Household appliance that heats a single room or other small area

A space heater is a device used to heat a single, small- to medium-sized area. This type of heater can be contrasted with central heating, which distributes heat to multiple areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infrared heater</span> Device designed to create radiative heat

An infrared heater or heat lamp is a heating appliance containing a high-temperature emitter that transfers energy to a cooler object through electromagnetic radiation. Depending on the temperature of the emitter, the wavelength of the peak of the infrared radiation ranges from 750 nm to 1 mm. No contact or medium between the emitter and cool object is needed for the energy transfer. Infrared heaters can be operated in vacuum or atmosphere.

Infrared lamps are electrical devices which emit infrared radiation. Infrared lamps are commonly used in radiant heating for industrial processes and building heating. Infrared LEDs are used for communication over optical fibers and in remote control devices. Infrared lamps are also used for some night vision devices where visible light would be objectionable. Infrared lamp sources are used in certain scientific and industrial instrument for chemical analysis of liquids and gases; for example, the pollutant sulfur dioxide in air can be measured using its infrared absorption characteristics. IR radiant energy emitted by lamps cover a wide spectrum of wavelengths, ranging from 0.7 μm (micrometers) to a longer wavelength of 400 μm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tankless water heating</span> Water heaters that instantly heat water as it flows through the device

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radiant heating and cooling</span> Category of HVAC technologies

Radiant heating and cooling is a category of HVAC technologies that exchange heat by both convection and radiation with the environments they are designed to heat or cool. There are many subcategories of radiant heating and cooling, including: "radiant ceiling panels", "embedded surface systems", "thermally active building systems", and infrared heaters. According to some definitions, a technology is only included in this category if radiation comprises more than 50% of its heat exchange with the environment; therefore technologies such as radiators and chilled beams are usually not considered radiant heating or cooling. Within this category, it is practical to distinguish between high temperature radiant heating, and radiant heating or cooling with more moderate source temperatures. This article mainly addresses radiant heating and cooling with moderate source temperatures, used to heat or cool indoor environments. Moderate temperature radiant heating and cooling is usually composed of relatively large surfaces that are internally heated or cooled using hydronic or electrical sources. For high temperature indoor or outdoor radiant heating, see: Infrared heater. For snow melt applications see: Snowmelt system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Industrial furnace</span> Device used for providing heat in industrial applications

An industrial furnace, also known as a direct heater or a direct fired heater, is a device used to provide heat for an industrial process, typically higher than 400 degrees Celsius. They are used to provide heat for a process or can serve as reactor which provides heats of reaction. Furnace designs vary as to its function, heating duty, type of fuel and method of introducing combustion air. Heat is generated by an industrial furnace by mixing fuel with air or oxygen, or from electrical energy. The residual heat will exit the furnace as flue gas. These are designed as per international codes and standards the most common of which are ISO 13705 / American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard 560. Types of industrial furnaces include batch ovens, metallurgical furnaces, vacuum furnaces, and solar furnaces. Industrial furnaces are used in applications such as chemical reactions, cremation, oil refining, and glasswork.

References

  1. Macbride, Peter (24 June 2011). Get an Ethical Life: Flash. Hachette UK. p. 3. ISBN   9781444141344 . Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  2. Chazan, David (7 October 2020). "Outdoor heaters banned in French city to tackle climate change". The Telegraph.
  3. 1 2 "Paris finds a Sustainable Alternative to the Gas Patio Heater | Smart Cities Dive".