Convert BTU to Ton

Please provide values below to convert Btu (IT)/hour [Btu/h] to ton (refrigeration), or vice versa.

From:		Btu (IT)/hour
To:		ton (refrigeration)

British thermal unit per hour

Definition: The British thermal unit per hour (symbol: Btu/h) is a United States customary system unit of power. This unit is often abbreviated as simply "Btu," which is the same abbreviation used for British thermal units, a measurement of heat. One watt, the International System of Units derived unit of power, is equal to approximately 3.41214 Btu/h.

History/origin: The British thermal unit per hour is based on the British thermal unit (symbol: Btu or BTU), a traditional United States customary unit of heat, where heat is a type of energy transfer in which energy moves from a hotter to a colder substance. The BTU is specifically defined as the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one °F. It has a number of different definitions all of which equate to approximately 1,055 joules.

Current use: The British thermal unit per hour is not a widely used unit. Multiples of the watt hour, often the kilowatt hour, are more frequently used than Btu/h, even in the United States.

Ton of refrigeration

Definition: A ton of refrigeration (TR) is a unit of power. It is defined as the power required to melt or freeze 2000 pounds, also known as one short ton, of ice per day. The ton is more often a unit of mass. A ton of refrigeration is approximately equal to 12,000 BTU/h or 3.5 kW.

History/origin: The ton of refrigeration originated around the 1880s during the transition from stored natural ice to mechanical refrigeration. It became an industry standard in 1903 when Thomas Shipley pushed for the formation of an industry association as well as for standardization of a number of equipment specifications. This eventually led to the founding of the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers in 1904.

Current use: The ton of refrigeration is mostly used in North America, specifically within the context of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. It is often displayed alongside BTU/h specifications.

Btu (IT)/hour to Ton (refrigeration) Conversion Table

How to Convert Btu (IT)/hour to Ton (refrigeration)

1 Btu/h = 8.33333E-5 ton (refrigeration)
1 ton (refrigeration) = 12000 Btu/h

Example: convert 15 Btu/h to ton (refrigeration):
15 Btu/h = 15 × 8.33333E-5 ton (refrigeration) = 0.00125 ton (refrigeration)

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