British thermal units per hour (Btu/h) to Tons of Refrigeration (RT) conversion

Understanding British thermal units per hour to Tons of Refrigeration Conversion

The British thermal unit per hour (Btu/h) is the standard US/Imperial rating for heating and cooling capacity. The ton of refrigeration (RT) is a legacy cooling unit defined as the rate of heat removal needed to freeze one short ton of water into ice in 24 hours, equal to exactly 12,000 Btu/h. This conversion is central to HVAC design, where a "3-ton" air conditioner simply means 36,000 Btu/h of cooling capacity.

Conversion Formula

$$1\ \text{Btu/h} = 8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵\ \text{RT}$$

To convert British thermal units per hour to Tons of Refrigeration, multiply the number of British thermal units per hour by this factor:

$$\text{RT} = \text{Btu/h} \times 8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵$$

Step-by-Step Example

Convert 25 British thermal units per hour to Tons of Refrigeration.

Write the formula:

$$\text{RT} = \text{Btu/h} \times 8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵$$

Substitute the value:

$$\text{RT} = 25 \times 8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵$$

Calculate the result:

$$25\ \text{Btu/h} \approx 0.00208333\ \text{RT}$$

How to Convert British thermal units per hour to Tons of Refrigeration

Convert an HVAC Btu/h rating into cooling tons with these steps.

1. Take the Btu/h capacity: Start with the cooling capacity in British thermal units per hour.
2. Divide by 12,000: This is the same as multiplying by $8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵$, the tons of refrigeration in one Btu/h.
3. Report the tonnage: The result is the capacity in tons of refrigeration. For example, 25 Btu/h × $8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵$ ≈ 0.00208333 RT.

What is the formula to convert British thermal units per hour to Tons of Refrigeration?

Multiply the Btu/h value by $8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵$, or equivalently divide by 12,000. In symbols, $\text{RT} = \text{Btu/h} \times 8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵$.

How many Tons of Refrigeration are in 1 British thermal unit per hour?

One Btu/h equals about $8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵$ RT, since a ton of refrigeration is 12,000 Btu/h.

How many British thermal units per hour equal 1 Ton of Refrigeration?

Exactly 12,000 Btu/h make one ton of refrigeration.

How do I convert a 36000 Btu/h air conditioner to Tons of Refrigeration?

Multiply 36,000 by $8.33333 \times 10⁻⁵$ (or divide by 12,000) to get 3 tons of refrigeration.

What does a ton of refrigeration actually measure?

It measures cooling rate, defined as the heat that must be removed to freeze one short ton of water in 24 hours, standardized as 12,000 Btu/h.