1. What is Ton to BTU/h Conversion?

Ton to BTU/h conversion is used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to convert cooling capacity from tons to British Thermal Units per hour. One ton of cooling capacity equals 12,000 BTU/h.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the conversion formula:

Where:

• \( BTU/h \) — British Thermal Units per hour
• \( Ton \) — Tons of cooling capacity

Explanation: This conversion is standard in the HVAC industry where 1 ton of refrigeration equals the heat absorption of melting 1 ton of ice in 24 hours, which equals 12,000 BTU/h.

3. Importance of Ton to BTU/h Conversion

Details: Accurate conversion between tons and BTU/h is essential for proper HVAC system sizing, equipment selection, energy efficiency calculations, and compliance with building codes and standards.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the cooling capacity in tons. The value must be greater than 0. The calculator will automatically convert it to BTU/h using the standard conversion factor of 12,000.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is 1 ton equal to 12,000 BTU/h?
A: This comes from the historical definition where 1 ton of refrigeration equals the heat absorption of melting 1 ton (2000 lbs) of ice in 24 hours, which calculates to 12,000 BTU/h.

Q2: What are common tonnage sizes for residential AC units?
A: Common residential sizes range from 1.5 to 5 tons, with 2-3 tons being typical for average-sized homes.

Q3: How accurate is this conversion?
A: The conversion is mathematically exact since 1 ton is defined as exactly 12,000 BTU/h in HVAC applications.

Q4: Can this calculator be used for heating systems?
A: While primarily used for cooling capacity, the same conversion applies when expressing heating capacity in equivalent tons, though heating is typically measured directly in BTU/h.

Q5: What's the difference between BTU and BTU/h?
A: BTU is a unit of energy, while BTU/h is a unit of power (energy per unit time). HVAC capacity is measured in BTU/h, not BTU.