Radiant energy source systems, devices, and methods capturing, controlling, or recycling gas flows

A method comprising:

• producing radiant heat and convected hot air using a primary radiant element;
• and
• receiving the convected hot air to produce additional radiant heat using at least one secondary radiant heating element, the receiving carried out in multiple stages operating at different temperatures.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for producing radiant heat and convected hot air using a primary radiant element;
• and
• means for receiving the convected hot air to produce additional radiant heat using at least one secondary radiant heating element, the receiving carried out in multiple stages operating at different temperatures.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first radiant heating element that, in operation, produces radiant heat;
• and
• a second radiant heating element that is positioned with respect to the first radiant heating element such that the second radiant heating element is heated by the radiant heat from the first radiant heating element to produce additional radiant heat, and the second radiant heating element is positioned to act as a barrier to block exhaust to help guide exhaust toward a collector.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one first radiant heating element that, in operation, produces radiant heat at a face of the first radiant heating element and also produces hot air that moves in a convection current;
• and
• an airflow inhibitor, positioned near the face of the first radiant heating element, the airflow inhibitor configured to inhibit movement of the hot air convected near the face of the first radiant heating element, and the airflow inhibitor also configured to pass therethrough, re-radiated or substantially unimpeded, the radiant heat produced by the first radiant heating element.

A method comprising:

• producing radiant heat at a first radiant energy source;
• and
• inhibiting convective airflow near the first radiant energy source by placing an airflow inhibiting structure in a path of the radiant heat, in which the airflow inhibiting structure used passes radiant heat re-radiated or substantially unimpeded.