High-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater

A high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater is formed within a housing having a bottom and at least one side lined with a refractory material. The burner includes a burner surface area and is positioned within the housing. A re-radiating surface is positioned above the burner and comprises a mesh having a re-radiating surface area greater than the burner surface area with the re-radiating surface operating between approximately 400.degree. F. and 2200.degree. F.

We claim:

1. A high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater comprising:

a housing having a bottom and at least one side;

a burner positioned in the bottom of the housing, the burner having a natural gas supply and a burner surface area, the burner operating between approximately 1400.degree. F. and 2200.degree. F.;

a re-radiating surface positioned above the burner, the re-radiating surface having a re-radiating surface area greater than the burner surface area, the re-radiating surface operating between approximately 400.degree. F. and 2200.degree. F.

2. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 1 wherein the housing is lined with a refractory material.

3. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 1 wherein the re-radiating surface comprises a mesh.

4. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 3 wherein the mesh comprises a variable mesh size across the re-radiating surface area.

5. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 3 wherein the mesh comprises a variable mesh configuration across the re-radiating surface area.

6. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 1 wherein the re-radiating surface comprises a perforated plate.

7. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 1 further comprising a second burner positioned in the bottom of the housing.

8. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 1 wherein the re-radiating surface area is approximately five times larger than the burner surface area.

9. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 1 wherein the re-radiating surface area is approximately five times greater than a burner surface area.

10. A high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater comprising:

a housing having a bottom and at least one side lined with a refractory material;

a burner positioned in the bottom of the housing, the burner having a burner surface area;

a re-radiating surface positioned above the burner, the re-radiating surface comprising a mesh of an irregular pattern having a re-radiating surface area greater than the burner surface area, the re-radiating surface operating between 400.degree. F. and 2200.degree. F.

11. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 10 wherein the mesh comprises a variable mesh size across the re-radiating surface area.

12. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 10 wherein the mesh comprises a variable mesh configuration across the re-radiating surface area.

13. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 10 further comprising a second burner positioned in the bottom of the housing.

14. A high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater comprising:

a housing lined with a refractory material;

a burner positioned within the housing, the burner having a burner surface area;

a re-radiating surface positioned above the burner, the re-radiating surface comprising a mesh of an irregular pattern and having a re-radiating surface area approximately five times greater than the burner surface area, the re-radiating surface operating between 600.degree. F. and 1400.degree. F.

15. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 14 further comprising a second burner positioned within the housing.

16. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 14 wherein the burner operates between 1400.degree. F. and 2200.degree. F.

17. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 14 having a firing rate range of approximately 2,000 to 20,000 BTU/hr.

18. The high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater of claim 14 wherein the burner is convex.