What does latent heat refer to?

Latent heat refers to the heat energy required to change the state of a substance without changing its temperature. This concept is crucial in understanding phase changes, such as melting, boiling, or sublimation. During these processes, the temperature of the substance remains constant even though energy is being added or removed.

For example, when ice melts into water, it absorbs heat (the latent heat of fusion) without a rise in temperature until the phase change is complete. This characteristic of latent heat plays a vital role in HVACR applications, especially in cooling systems and refrigeration, where phase change is essential for heat transfer and energy efficiency.

Understanding latent heat helps in optimizing systems that rely on these phase changes, thereby supporting energy conservation and effective thermal management.