What happens to the latent heat of evaporation if an external equalizer line disconnects during operation?

The latent heat of evaporation refers to the amount of heat absorbed or released by a substance during its phase change from liquid to gas or vice versa, without a change in temperature. This property is intrinsic to the fluid and depends on its nature and temperature, rather than the operational conditions surrounding it.

If an external equalizer line disconnects during operation, it disrupts the balance of pressures and possibly the flow of the fluid, but it does not fundamentally alter the latent heat of evaporation for the fluid involved. The latent heat is dictated by the fluid’s physical properties, which do not change simply due to a line being disconnected. The energy required for vaporization, therefore, remains constant, as it is a characteristic of the fluid under specific conditions.

Thus, while operational performance might be affected by the disconnection, leading to potential issues like poor heat exchange or pressure variations, the latent heat itself remains unchanged.