Horsepower (metric) (PS) to British thermal units per second (Btu/s) conversion

1 PS = 0.6971183 Btu/sBtu/sPS
Which horsepower do you mean? “horsepower” can mean more than one unit. This page uses the Horsepower (metric / PS): Horsepower (metric / PS) (735.5 W) — 0.6971183 Btu/s (this page) · Horsepower (mechanical / UK) (745.7 W) — 0.7067871 Btu/s
Formula
1 PS = 0.6971183 Btu/s

Conversion Fundamentals

To convert between metric horsepower and BTU/s, you need to know the conversion factor.

  • 1 horsepower (metric) ≈ 0.9863 horsepower (imperial)
  • 1 horsepower (imperial) ≈ 745.7 watts
  • 1 BTU/s ≈ 1055.06 joules per second (watts)

Combining these, we can derive the direct conversion:

1 metric horsepower735.499 watts1 \text{ metric horsepower} \approx 735.499 \text{ watts}

and

1 BTU/s1055.06 watts1 \text{ BTU/s} \approx 1055.06 \text{ watts}

Converting Horsepower (metric) to BTU/s

To convert 1 metric horsepower to BTU/s, follow these steps:

  1. Convert horsepower to watts:

    1 metric horsepower×735.499wattsmetric horsepower=735.499 watts1 \text{ metric horsepower} \times 735.499 \frac{\text{watts}}{\text{metric horsepower}} = 735.499 \text{ watts}

  2. Convert watts to BTU/s:

    735.499 watts÷1055.06wattsBTU/s0.697 BTU/s735.499 \text{ watts} \div 1055.06 \frac{\text{watts}}{\text{BTU/s}} \approx 0.697 \text{ BTU/s}

Therefore:

1 metric horsepower0.697 BTU/s1 \text{ metric horsepower} \approx 0.697 \text{ BTU/s}

Converting BTU/s to Horsepower (metric)

To convert 1 BTU/s to metric horsepower, reverse the process:

  1. Convert BTU/s to watts:

    1 BTU/s×1055.06wattsBTU/s=1055.06 watts1 \text{ BTU/s} \times 1055.06 \frac{\text{watts}}{\text{BTU/s}} = 1055.06 \text{ watts}

  2. Convert watts to metric horsepower:

    1055.06 watts÷735.499wattsmetric horsepower1.434 metric horsepower1055.06 \text{ watts} \div 735.499 \frac{\text{watts}}{\text{metric horsepower}} \approx 1.434 \text{ metric horsepower}

Therefore:

1 BTU/s1.434 metric horsepower1 \text{ BTU/s} \approx 1.434 \text{ metric horsepower}

Facts and Historical Context

  • James Watt: James Watt, a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer, developed the concept of horsepower in the late 18th century. He needed a way to market the power of his steam engines, so he compared their output to the power of horses, which were a familiar power source at the time. This led to the definition of horsepower.
  • BTU: The British Thermal Unit (BTU) is a traditional unit of energy. It is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. It is commonly used in the United States for heating and cooling systems.

Real-World Examples

Here are some examples of practical conversions involving horsepower (metric) and BTU/s:

  1. Engine Power:
    • A 200 metric horsepower engine is approximately 200×0.697=139.4200 \times 0.697 = 139.4 BTU/s.
  2. Heating Systems:
    • A heating system that outputs 10 BTU/s is equivalent to 10×1.434=14.3410 \times 1.434 = 14.34 metric horsepower.
  3. Industrial Machinery:
    • An industrial pump rated at 50 metric horsepower consumes approximately 50×0.697=34.8550 \times 0.697 = 34.85 BTU/s.
  4. Power Plants:
    • A small-scale power generator producing 500 metric horsepower generates about 500×0.697=348.5500 \times 0.697 = 348.5 BTU/s.

How to Convert Horsepower (metric) to British thermal units per second

To convert Horsepower (metric) (PS) to British thermal units per second (Btu/s), multiply the power value by the conversion factor. In this case, use the factor 1 PS=0.6971182104441 Btu/s1 \text{ PS} = 0.6971182104441 \text{ Btu/s}.

  1. Write the conversion factor:
    Start with the known relationship between the two power units:

    1 PS=0.6971182104441 Btu/s1 \text{ PS} = 0.6971182104441 \text{ Btu/s}

  2. Set up the multiplication:
    Multiply the given value, 25 PS25 \text{ PS}, by the conversion factor:

    25 PS×0.6971182104441Btu/sPS25 \text{ PS} \times 0.6971182104441 \frac{\text{Btu/s}}{\text{PS}}

  3. Cancel the units:
    The PS\text{PS} unit cancels out, leaving only British thermal units per second:

    25×0.6971182104441 Btu/s25 \times 0.6971182104441 \text{ Btu/s}

  4. Calculate the result:
    Perform the multiplication:

    25×0.6971182104441=17.42795526110325 \times 0.6971182104441 = 17.427955261103

  5. Result:

    25 Horsepower (metric)=17.427955261103 British thermal units per second25 \text{ Horsepower (metric)} = 17.427955261103 \text{ British thermal units per second}

For quick conversions, keep the factor 0.69711821044410.6971182104441 handy whenever converting PS to Btu/s. Always double-check that you're using metric horsepower (PS), not mechanical horsepower (hp), since they are different units.

Horsepower (metric) to British thermal units per second conversion table

Horsepower (metric) (PS)British thermal units per second (Btu/s)
00
10.6971183
21.394237
32.091355
42.788473
53.485592
64.18271
74.879828
85.576946
96.274065
106.971183
1510.45677
2013.94237
2517.42796
3020.91355
4027.88473
5034.85592
6041.8271
7048.79828
8055.76946
9062.74065
10069.71183
150104.5677
200139.4237
250174.2796
300209.1355
400278.8473
500348.5592
600418.271
700487.9828
800557.6946
900627.4065
1000697.1183
20001394.237
30002091.355
40002788.473
50003485.592
100006971.183
2500017427.96
5000034855.92
10000069711.83
250000174279.6
500000348559.2
1000000697118.3

What is Horsepower (metric)?

This section will provide a comprehensive overview of metric horsepower, including its definition, origins, calculation, and real-world applications.

Definition and Origin

Metric horsepower (PS, PferdeStärke in German, or cheval-vapeur in French) is a unit of power defined as the power required to raise a mass of 75 kilograms against Earth's gravitational force over a distance of one meter in one second. It is slightly less than the imperial horsepower.

Calculation

The value of one metric horsepower is:

1 PS=75 kg9.80665 m/s21 m1 s735.499 watts1 \text{ PS} = \frac{75 \text{ kg} \cdot 9.80665 \text{ m/s}^2 \cdot 1 \text{ m}}{1 \text{ s}} \approx 735.499 \text{ watts}

Therefore, approximately:

1 PS0.98632 hp1 \text{ PS} \approx 0.98632 \text{ hp} (Imperial Horsepower)

1 hp1.01387 PS1 \text{ hp} \approx 1.01387 \text{ PS}

Historical Context

The term "horsepower" was originally coined by James Watt to compare the output of steam engines to the power of draft horses. While Watt's original definition is related to the imperial horsepower, the metric horsepower evolved separately on the European continent, primarily for similar comparisons involving machinery and animal power.

Real-World Examples

  • Automobiles: Engine power is commonly specified in metric horsepower in many parts of the world. For example, a typical family car might have an engine rated at 150 PS.
  • Motorcycles: Motorcycle engine power is also frequently stated in metric horsepower.
  • Agricultural Machinery: Tractors and other farming equipment often have their power output measured in PS.
  • Industrial Pumps and Motors: The power of pumps, fans, and electric motors used in industrial applications can be rated in metric horsepower. For example a pump may be rated at 5 PS.

Fun fact

While not commonly named after any specific person or law, it's interesting to know how metric horsepower is used across Europe. It gives the user a good understanding of the "power" of a machine.

What is British thermal units per second?

British thermal units per second (BTU/s) is a unit of power representing the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit in one second. It's a measure of the rate at which energy is transferred or consumed. It is commonly used in the United States in power, steam generation, heating, and air conditioning industries.

Understanding British Thermal Units (BTU)

Before diving into BTU/s, let's understand what BTU represents. One BTU is approximately:

  • The energy produced by burning one match.
  • The amount of energy needed to heat about 1 pound (0.45 kg) of water by about 1°F1°F (0.56°C) at its maximum density.
  • About 1055 Joules.

Defining British Thermal Units per Second

British thermal units per second is measurement of Power. As a standard formula power is:

Power=EnergyTimePower = \frac{Energy}{Time}

The formula to calculate BTU/s from BTU is simple, and is shown below:

BTU/s=BTUSecondBTU/s = \frac{BTU}{Second}

Conversion to Other Units

Here's how BTU/s relates to other common power units:

  • 1 BTU/s = 1055.06 Joules/s (Watts)
  • 1 BTU/s ≈ 1.055 Kilowatts (kW)
  • 1 BTU/s ≈ 1.41 Horsepower (hp)

Real-World Examples and Applications

BTU/s is frequently encountered when discussing the power output or consumption of various systems:

  • Heating and Cooling Systems: Large HVAC systems (like those in commercial buildings) are often rated in BTU/s to indicate their heating or cooling capacity.
  • Power Plants: The rate at which a power plant generates energy can be expressed in BTU/s.
  • Industrial Processes: Many industrial processes that involve heat transfer use BTU/s as a measure of power.
  • Geothermal energy: Geothermal gradient is commonly measured in BTU/hr/ftBTU/hr/ft (British thermal units per hour per foot).

Important Considerations

British thermal unit is an imperial unit. Although it is still used in the power industry, It is considered obsolete. SI unit for the same purpose is Watt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the formula to convert Horsepower (metric) to British thermal units per second?

To convert Horsepower (metric) to British thermal units per second, multiply the value in PS by the factor 0.69711821044410.6971182104441. The formula is: Btu/s=PS×0.6971182104441 \text{Btu/s} = \text{PS} \times 0.6971182104441 .

How many British thermal units per second are in 1 Horsepower (metric)?

There are 0.69711821044410.6971182104441 British thermal units per second in 11 Horsepower (metric). This means 1 PS=0.6971182104441 Btu/s1 \text{ PS} = 0.6971182104441 \text{ Btu/s}.

How do I convert a specific PS value to Btu/s?

Take the number of PS and multiply it by 0.69711821044410.6971182104441. For example, if a machine is rated in PS, this factor gives its equivalent rate of energy transfer in Btu/s.

Why would I convert Horsepower (metric) to British thermal units per second?

This conversion is useful when comparing metric power ratings with thermal or imperial engineering data. It can help in HVAC, engine analysis, and equipment specifications where Btu-based units are commonly used.

Is Horsepower (metric) the same as mechanical horsepower?

No, Horsepower (metric), also called PS, is a different unit from mechanical horsepower. When converting PS to Btu/s, use the verified relation 1 PS=0.6971182104441 Btu/s1 \text{ PS} = 0.6971182104441 \text{ Btu/s} specifically for metric horsepower.

Where is PS to Btu/s conversion used in real-world applications?

It is often used in automotive, industrial, and heating-related contexts where equipment may be rated in PS but thermal calculations use Btu/s. This helps engineers and technicians compare power output across different measurement systems.

Complete Horsepower (metric) conversion table

PS
UnitResult
Watts (W)735.4987 W
Milliwatts (mW)735498.8 mW
Kilowatts (kW)0.7354987 kW
Megawatts (MW)0.0007354987 MW
Gigawatts (GW)7.354988e-7 GW
British thermal units per hour (Btu/h)2509.626 Btu/h
Tons of Refrigeration (RT)0.2091355 RT
British thermal units per second (Btu/s)0.6971183 Btu/s
Foot-pounds per second (ft-lb/s)542.476 ft-lb/s
Horsepower (British) (hp)0.9863201 hp