Latent heat

This research investigates the significance of the moisture buffering and latent heat capacities in exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls with the respect to indoor climate and energy consumption. Hygroscopic materials have the ability to accumulate and release moisture due to change in the surrounding humidity. The moisture buffer capacity is regarded as this ability to moderate, or buffer, the indoor humidity variations. Latent heat refers to the heat of sorption due to the phase change from vapour to bound water in the material and the other way around.

Convective heat transfer coefficient on the air side of direct expansion evaporator under low airpressure is studied by theory and experiment respectively. Results show the convective heat transfercoefficient will diminish along with the density of air under low-pressure. The lower absolute humidity ofair under lower pressure will reduce the difference of water vapor pressure between the air supply andair return. And the quantity of latent heat transfer between the evaporator and the air will decreaseaccordingly.