About Kilowatts (kW) to BTU/hr Conversion

What are Kilowatts and BTU/hr?

Kilowatts (kW) and British Thermal Units per hour (BTU/hr) are both units used to measure power or energy transfer rate.

• Kilowatt (kW): A unit of power in the International System of Units (SI). It's equal to 1,000 watts and is commonly used to measure electrical power, heating, and cooling system capacities.
• BTU/hr: A traditional unit of power, defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit in one hour. It's widely used in the HVAC industry and for rating heating and cooling systems.

Formula for Kilowatts to BTU/hr Conversion

The formula to convert kilowatts to BTU/hr is:

\[BTU/hr = kW \times 3412.14\]

Where:

• \(BTU/hr\) is the power in British Thermal Units per hour
• \(kW\) is the power in kilowatts
• \(3412.14\) is the conversion factor

Calculation Steps

1. Identify the power in kilowatts.
2. Multiply the kilowatt value by 3412.14.
3. The result is the equivalent power in BTU/hr.

Example

Let's convert 5 kilowatts to BTU/hr:

1. Given: \(kW = 5\)
2. Apply the formula: \(BTU/hr = 5 \times 3412.14\)
3. Calculate: \(BTU/hr = 17,060.7\)

Visual representation:

Therefore, 5 kilowatts is equivalent to 17,060.7 BTU/hr.