Convert Boiler Horsepower to Ton of Refrigeration
Convert Boiler Horsepower (BHP) to Ton of Refrigeration (RT) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
RT = BHP × 2.789583333
About Boiler Horsepower
One boiler horsepower (BHP) ≈ 9,810 W = 33,475 BTU/h - the power to evaporate 34.5 lb of water per hour at 212°F, standardised by ASME for rating steam boilers. A small office building needs 10-50 BHP; a hospital or large plant 200-2,000 BHP. Critically, 1 BHP is ~13.1× larger than 1 mechanical horsepower (746 W) - a dangerous confusion when specifying heating equipment. 1 BHP ≈ 9,810.6 W.
About Ton of Refrigeration
One ton of refrigeration (RT) = 12,000 BTU/h ≈ 3,517 W - the cooling rate to freeze 1 short ton (2,000 lb) of water in 24 hours. This follows from water's latent heat: 144 BTU/lb × 2,000 lb ÷ 24 h = 12,000 BTU/h. US residential AC is 1.5-5 tons; a large commercial building 500-2,000 tons; a hyperscale data centre 50,000-100,000 tons. The RT is deeply embedded in North American HVAC catalogs, load calculation software, and contractor pricing. 1 RT = 3,516.85 W.
Quick Reference Table
| Boiler Horsepower (BHP) | Ton of Refrigeration (RT) |
|---|---|
| 1 BHP | 2.78958 RT |
| 2 BHP | 5.57917 RT |
| 5 BHP | 13.9479 RT |
| 10 BHP | 27.8958 RT |
| 25 BHP | 69.7396 RT |
| 50 BHP | 139.479 RT |
| 100 BHP | 278.958 RT |