1. What is Latent Heat in HVAC?

Latent heat refers to the energy absorbed or released during a phase change (like water vapor condensing) without a temperature change. In HVAC systems, this is crucial for understanding moisture removal and humidification processes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the latent heat formula:

Where:

• \( Q_l \) — Latent heat (W)
• \( m \) — Mass flow rate (kg/s)
• \( L \) — Latent heat of vaporization/condensation (J/kg)

Explanation: The equation calculates the energy transfer associated with phase changes in HVAC systems, important for sizing equipment and understanding system performance.

3. Importance of Latent Heat Calculation

Details: Accurate latent heat calculation is essential for proper HVAC system design, especially in humid climates where moisture removal is a significant part of the cooling load.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass flow rate in kg/s and latent heat in J/kg. Typical values for water's latent heat of vaporization at room temperature is about 2,450,000 J/kg.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between latent and sensible heat?
A: Sensible heat changes temperature, latent heat changes phase without temperature change.

Q2: Why is latent heat important in air conditioning?
A: A significant portion of cooling energy goes to condensing moisture from the air (latent cooling).

Q3: How does this relate to SEER ratings?
A: Systems with better latent heat removal capabilities often have higher efficiency ratings in humid climates.

Q4: What's a typical latent heat ratio?
A: In humid climates, latent heat can account for 20-30% of total cooling load.

Q5: How to measure mass flow rate in practice?
A: Can be calculated from air flow rate (m³/s) multiplied by air density (kg/m³).