How do you convert BTU per hour to Ton of refrigeration?

Multiply the value in BTU per hour (BTU/hr) by the conversion factor to get the result in Ton of refrigeration (TR).

Convert BTU per hour to Ton of refrigeration (BTU/hr to TR)

Reference ID: EC-POWE-BTTR | EngConverter Calculation Guide

Convert From (BTU per hour):

BTU/hr

Result To (Ton of refrigeration):

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Understanding BTU per hour (BTU/h)

BTU/h stands for British Thermal Units per hour, a unit of power that quantifies the rate of heat transfer. One BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. In engineering, BTU/h is commonly used to size heating, ventilation, and air‑conditioning (HVAC) equipment, boilers, and industrial furnaces.

What is a Ton of Refrigeration (TR)?

A Ton of Refrigeration is a legacy unit that originated from the cooling capacity of one ton of ice melting over a 24‑hour period. It is defined as 12,000 BTU per hour. TR is the standard unit for rating air‑conditioners, chillers, and large‑scale refrigeration systems.

Why Convert Between BTU/h and TR?

Many specifications and datasheets present cooling loads in BTU/h, while equipment catalogs list capacities in tons. Converting between the two allows engineers to:

Compare system requirements with available equipment.
Perform load calculations in the unit most convenient for the project.
Communicate clearly with manufacturers and clients who may use different conventions.

The exact conversion factor is: \(1\,\text{BTU/h}=8.333338072422765\times10^{-5}\,\text{TR}\). This factor is derived from the definition that 1 TR = 12,000 BTU/h.

BTU per hour to Ton of refrigeration Conversion Reference Table

BTU per hour (BTU/hr)	Ton of refrigeration (TR)
0.1	8.3333e-06
0.5	4.1667e-05
1.0	8.3333e-05
2.0	1.6667e-04
5.0	4.1667e-04
10.0	8.3333e-04
20.0	0.0017
50.0	0.0042
100.0	0.0083
500.0	0.0417
1000.0	0.0833

Step‑by‑Step Conversion Example

Convert 10 BTU/h to Tons of Refrigeration.

Write down the known value and the conversion factor. \[10\,\text{BTU/h}\times8.333338072422765\times10^{-5}\,\frac{\text{TR}}{\text{BTU/h}}\]
Perform the multiplication. \[10\times8.333338072422765\times10^{-5}=8.333338072422765\times10^{-4}\,\text{TR}\]
Express the result in a more readable form. \[8.333338072422765\times10^{-4}\,\text{TR}\approx0.000833\,\text{TR}\]

Therefore, 10 BTU/h is approximately 0.000833 TR.

One Ton of Refrigeration equals 12,000 BTU/h by definition. Using the conversion factor, 12,000 BTU/h × 8.333338072422765×10⁻⁵ TR/BTU/h = 1 TR.

The factor 8.333338072422765×10⁻⁵ results from dividing 1 TR (12,000 BTU/h) by 1 BTU/h. The extended precision ensures accurate calculations for large‑scale systems where small rounding errors could accumulate.

"On fait la science avec des faits, comme on fait une maison avec des pierres ; mais une accumulation de faits n'est pas plus une science qu'un tas de pierres n'est une maison."
"Science is built up of facts, as a house is built of stones; but an accumulation of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house."
— Henri Poincaré (French Mathematician, Theoretical Physicist & Mining Engineer)