Last updated on October 31st, 2022 at 06:55 pm

Mining operations require a significant amount of heating and ventilation, especially in colder climates. It’s not uncommon for heating systems to add up to 50% of ventilating costs and almost 40% of total energy costs.

The challenge for mining companies is to find industrial units that are cost-efficient yet effective. That’s where infrared radiant heaters come in. These industrial units carry numerous benefits that reduce the burdens of mining jobs.

High Energy Efficiency

The key to keeping energy costs in mining operations low is to use energy-efficient heating systems. Infrared radiant heaters offer a high level of energy efficiency since they use almost 100% of the heat they produce. The heating element in an industrial radiant heater converts electricity into radiant heat, which transfers to the liquid (or air) to maintain a high temperature. The heat they generate is sufficient for mining jobs such as cleaning oil-laced sand from crude oil tanks.

Minimal Maintenance

Traditional heaters may require significant upkeep because they have several components. If one of these components blows out or malfunctions, you will need to replace them, which takes time, effort and money.

An infrared radiant heater, on the other hand, requires minimal maintenance. These heaters don’t have moving parts such as motors or filters found in other industrial heating units. At most, all that’s needed is the replacement of reflectors to maintain heating efficiency.

Reduced Operating Costs

Heat transfer in mining often requires a robust distribution system. Generally, that means a system can heat low-to-medium temperature water and air from geothermal extraction points. These systems tend to produce significant amounts of energy that get wasted, increasing the project’s overall cost.

Infrared radiant heaters only need to generate low wattages to produce adequate heat and use virtually 100% of their electricity. That means little or no wasting of energy, meaning more energy use per dollar spent. That makes infrared radiant heaters much more cost-efficient than other heaters.

Lower Carbon Footprint

It is no surprise that heaters place considerable demand on the environment – they leave a heavy carbon footprint. Fuel-based heating solutions are still the most common method to generate heat for mining applications. Unfortunately, these heating units contribute to much of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Industrial infrared radiant heaters use pure electricity to generate heat, so they don’t produce harmful emissions. They also generate substantial heat using low wattage, reducing their carbon footprint. That’s why infrared heaters are at the forefront of renewable solutions for heating needs in the future.

Improved Safety Conditions

Many industrial heating units pose safety risks to miners (as well as other occupations). Their heating methods come with a chance of combustion and explosion, the circulation of flammable vapours, toxic gases and more. These conditions are hazardous in enclosed spaces, common in many mining operations.

Infrared radiant heaters produce ample heat without many of these risks. First and foremost, they use pure electricity to generate heat, so they don’t circulate flammable or toxic gases. Also, infrared radiation is safe for human exposure compared to other types such as UV rays.

With that said, infrared heaters can cause burns in the case of prolonged, direct contact. But these risks are rare and avoidable.

Consider Infrared Radiant Heaters for Your Mining Operations

The mining industry is very demanding for various reasons, one of them being heating and energy costs. Technology has improved over the decades, giving rise to more efficient methods of heating and infrared radiant heaters are among them. They are a safe, efficient, low-cost and low-maintenance solution to keep mining operations in motion.

Are you interested in using infrared radiant heaters for your mining needs? Get in touch with us for a quote.