Tiivistymislämpö

Tiivistymislämpö, or condensation heat, refers to the amount of thermal energy released by a gas when it changes state into a liquid at a constant temperature and pressure. This process is the reverse of vaporization, where heat is absorbed by a liquid to become a gas. The quantity of heat released during condensation is exactly equal to the amount of heat absorbed during vaporization for the same substance under the same conditions. This energy transfer is a fundamental aspect of phase transitions.

When a gas cools down to its dew point, its molecules lose kinetic energy and their intermolecular forces become strong enough to pull them together, forming liquid droplets. This transition releases the latent heat of vaporization, now referred to as the latent heat of condensation. This released heat can significantly influence the surrounding environment. For instance, in weather phenomena, condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere releases substantial amounts of energy, powering storms.

The specific value of tiivistymislämpö is dependent on the substance and the pressure at which condensation occurs. For water, the latent heat of condensation is approximately 2,260 kilojoules per kilogram at standard atmospheric pressure. Understanding condensation heat is crucial in various engineering applications, including refrigeration, power generation, and climate control systems, where managing heat transfer during phase changes is essential for efficiency and functionality.