About Refrigeration Tons (RT) to BTU/hr Conversion

What are Refrigeration Tons and BTU/hr?

Refrigeration Tons (RT) and British Thermal Units per hour (BTU/hr) are both units used to measure cooling capacity:

• Refrigeration Ton (RT): A unit of cooling capacity equal to the rate of heat transfer that results in the freezing of 1 short ton (2,000 pounds) of pure water at 0°C (32°F) in 24 hours.
• British Thermal Unit per hour (BTU/hr): A unit of power, specifically the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit in one hour.

Formula for Refrigeration Tons to BTU/hr Conversion

The formula to convert refrigeration tons to BTU/hr is:

\[BTU/hr = RT \times 12,000\]

Where:

• \(BTU/hr\) is the cooling capacity in British Thermal Units per hour
• \(RT\) is the cooling capacity in Refrigeration Tons
• 12,000 is the conversion factor (1 RT = 12,000 BTU/hr)

Calculation Steps

1. Identify the cooling capacity in refrigeration tons.
2. Multiply this value by 12,000 (since 1 RT = 12,000 BTU/hr).
3. The result is the equivalent cooling capacity in BTU/hr.

Example

Let's convert 5 refrigeration tons to BTU/hr:

1. Given: \(RT = 5\)
2. Apply the formula: \(BTU/hr = 5 \times 12,000\)
3. Calculate: \(BTU/hr = 60,000\)

Visual representation:

Therefore, 5 refrigeration tons is equivalent to 60,000 BTU/hr.