How is sensible heat defined in refrigeration practice?

Sensible heat is defined as the heat that changes the temperature of a substance without causing a phase change. This means that when heat is added or removed from a substance, its temperature will increase or decrease accordingly, while the substance remains in the same state (solid, liquid, or gas).

In refrigeration practice, understanding sensible heat is crucial because it helps technicians determine how much energy is required to effectively cool or heat a space. For instance, when a refrigerant passes through the evaporator coil, it absorbs sensible heat from the environment, which lowers the temperature of the surrounding air or surface.

The other definitions focus on specific processes or conditions related to heat transfer, such as phase changes or specific states of matter. These aspects are important in their own contexts, but they do not capture the broader concept of sensible heat, which is fundamentally tied to changes in temperature without altering the state of the substance involved.