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Sensible Heat v Latent HeatQ - What is a Phase Change in this context?
There are three variations of phase change caused when thermal energy / heat is added to a
substance which causes the atoms to change the substance between solid, liquid or gas as the atoms
are loosened with this additional heat. The additional heat then triggers a phase change.
Q - Sensible heat refers to the heat transfer associated with changes in temperature without a
phase change. Sensible heat is a crucial factor in maintaining comfort and controlling temperature
within buildings. Give examples of sensible heat in buildings:
Sensible heat refers to heat that can be felt and/or measured by a thermometer. Examples of this
could be from; central heating, whereby radiators get hot and cause sensible heat, heat coming from
a boiler, from a cooking appliance such as an oven or hob, a lightbulb (just to name a few). All of the
mentioned examples of sensible heat will cause a room to change in temperature which can be both
felt and measured.
Q - Latent heat refers to the heat energy associated with phase changes. While latent heat is not
typically a primary consideration in building design, it does play a role in certain aspects of building
systems and energy management. Give some examples of how latent heat is used to control
temperature in buildings:
Latent heat on the other hand, cannot be measured or necessarily felt. Latent heat refers to the
release of heat with a phase change of a substance. It can come and go without being detected as
such. Phase changes that are caused by latent heat could be; vaporisation, where a liquid becomes a
gas through methods such as evaporation like the scent that comes off of a candle or boiling (a
kettle), another example would be melting where a solid becomes a liquid. Because latent heat is
hidden and can be undetected, it means that there is a danger associated with it when it comes to
buildings. For example, if a water system was to get too hot / boiling it would evaporate latent heat
or in context, steam.
Q - Give examples where latent heat may be problematic in buildings:
Steam burns are said to be even more dangerous because of the how much energy is used when the
phase change occurs to the water (liquid into gas), a way to avoid this instance in a building or a
block of flats, for example, would be by installing safety devices to limit any stored water from being
able to increase to a dangerous temperature, therefore reducing the latent heat and steam caused
by the phase change in water due to latent heat- making it safer and considerably cutting down the
chance of a resident being scalded or injured by the phase change of the water.
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