Enter the cooling capacity in BTU/hr into the calculator to determine the tonnage (cooling capacity) in tons of refrigeration (TR), or enter the tonnage to calculate the cooling capacity in BTU/hr.
Btu To Tonnage Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the tonnage (cooling capacity) in tons of refrigeration (TR) based on the cooling capacity in BTU/hr (British Thermal Units per hour):
Tonnage (TR) = (BTU/hr) / 12000
Variables:
- Tonnage is the cooling capacity in tons of refrigeration (TR)
- BTU/hr is the cooling capacity in British Thermal Units per hour
To calculate the tonnage (TR), divide the cooling capacity in BTU/hr by 12,000.
| BTU/hr | Tonnage (TR) |
|---|---|
| 6,000 | 0.5 |
| 9,000 | 0.75 |
| 12,000 | 1 |
| 18,000 | 1.5 |
| 24,000 | 2 |
| 30,000 | 2.5 |
| 36,000 | 3 |
| 42,000 | 3.5 |
| 48,000 | 4 |
| 54,000 | 4.5 |
| 60,000 | 5 |
| 72,000 | 6 |
| 84,000 | 7 |
| 96,000 | 8 |
| 120,000 | 10 |
| 150,000 | 12.5 |
| 180,000 | 15 |
| 240,000 | 20 |
| 300,000 | 25 |
| 360,000 | 30 |
| *Assumes 1 ton of refrigeration (TR) = 12,000 BTU/hr. | |
What is a Btu To Tonnage?
BTU (British Thermal Unit) and tonnage are both units used in the heating and cooling industry. A BTU is a unit of heat energy (approximately the energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit). In HVAC, equipment capacity is typically expressed as a rate, such as BTU per hour (BTU/hr). On the other hand, tonnage usually refers to tons of refrigeration (TR), a unit of cooling capacity. One ton of refrigeration is equivalent to 12,000 BTU/hr. Therefore, the conversion from BTU/hr to tonnage (TR) involves dividing the number of BTU/hr by 12,000. For example, an air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 24,000 BTU/hr would be equivalent to a 2-ton (2 TR) unit. This conversion is important in the HVAC industry to ensure that the correct size of air conditioning or heating unit is installed in a building. Too large a unit can result in inefficient operation and wasted energy, while too small a unit may not adequately cool or heat the space.
How to Calculate Btu To Tonnage?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Btu to Tonnage conversion.
- First, determine the cooling capacity in BTU/hr.
- Next, divide the BTU/hr value by 12,000 to convert it to tons of refrigeration (TR).
- Finally, calculate the tonnage (TR).
- After inserting the BTU/hr value and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
BTU/hr value = 36,000
