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How does latent heat differ from sensible heat?
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heating
In a thermoelectric generating system a heat source—usually fueled by coal, oil, or gas—is used within a boiler to convert water to high-pressure steam. The steam expands and turns the blades of a turbine, which turns the armature of a generator, producing electric power. A condenser converts any remaining steam to water, and a pump returns the water to the boiler.
In the context of heating and cooling systems, the primary difference between sensible heat and latent heat lies in how the energy affects a substance:
- Sensible heat is thermal energy that, when transferred to or from a substance, results in a measurable change in its temperature. It is the energy required to produce a temperature change without altering the substance's physical state.12
- Latent heat is energy absorbed or released by a substance during a change in its physical state (phase), such as melting, freezing, or vaporizing, which occurs without any change in temperature.32
In HVAC systems, these concepts are critical for controlling indoor environments. For example, when air is cooled, water vapour may condense out of the air as it reaches its dew point; the energy associated with this phase change is latent heat, while the energy removed to simply lower the air's temperature is sensible heat. Understanding this distinction allows systems to effectively manage both the temperature and the humidity of an indoor space.24