Enter the airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM) into the calculator to determine the equivalent cooling capacity in tons. This calculator is based on the standard conversion that 1 ton of cooling capacity is equal to an airflow of 400 CFM.
CFM to Tons Formula
The following formula is used to convert CFM to tons of cooling capacity.
Tons = CFM / 400
Variables:
- CFM is the airflow in cubic feet per minute
- Tons is the cooling capacity in tons
To convert CFM to tons, divide the airflow value by 400.
What is CFM?
CFM stands for cubic feet per minute and is a measure of airflow. It is commonly used to specify the performance of air compressors, HVAC systems, and other equipment that moves or processes air. In the context of cooling systems, CFM is used to measure the volume of air that passes through an air conditioning unit, which is directly related to the unit’s cooling capacity.
What is Tons in Cooling Capacity?
In HVAC terms, a “ton” is a unit of measurement that describes the cooling capacity of an air conditioning system. One ton of cooling is defined as the amount of heat required to melt one ton (2000 pounds) of ice in a 24-hour period. This is equivalent to 12,000 BTU/hour or approximately 3.517 kilowatts. The term originated from the use of tons of ice to cool buildings in the past.
How to Calculate CFM to Tons?
The following steps outline how to convert CFM to tons of cooling capacity.
- First, determine the airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM).
- Next, use the formula from above: Tons = CFM / 400.
- Finally, calculate the cooling capacity in tons.
- After inserting the CFM value and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variable as an example problem to test your knowledge.
airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM) = 800 CFM
Using the formula, Tons = 800 CFM / 400 = 2 Tons of cooling capacity.
