What is the definition of sensible heat?

Sensible heat is defined as the amount of heat that causes a change in the temperature of a substance without changing its state. When heat is added or removed and results in a temperature change, it is referred to as sensible heat. This is distinct from latent heat, which involves heat transfer that causes a change in state, such as from liquid to gas or vice versa, without a temperature change at that moment.

In practical applications, when a substance is heated or cooled, the temperature of that substance changes as a result of the sensible heat transfer. For example, when water is heated on a stove, it goes from a lower temperature to a higher temperature due to the addition of sensible heat, until it eventually reaches its boiling point.

Understanding sensible heat is crucial in the context of industrial ammonia refrigeration because it plays a vital role in energy transfer processes within the system. Managing sensible heat effectively helps in maintaining optimal temperatures for the refrigerated products.