Convert BTU per Minute to Ton of Refrigeration
Convert BTU per Minute (BTU/min) to Ton of Refrigeration (RT) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
RT = BTU/min × 0.005
About BTU per Minute
One BTU per minute (BTU/min) ≈ 17.58 W. Fire engineering uses BTU/min for heat release rate (HRR): a burning sofa releases 500-5,000 BTU/min; a flashover room fire 50,000-500,000 BTU/min. US commercial gas burners are rated 500-2,000 BTU/min. NFPA fire suppression standards use BTU/min to match sprinkler flow to HRR. Industrial furnace heating cycles also use this unit. 1 BTU/min = 17.584 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
| BTU per Minute (BTU/min) | Ton of Refrigeration (RT) |
|---|---|
| 1 BTU/min | 0.005 RT |
| 2 BTU/min | 0.01 RT |
| 5 BTU/min | 0.025 RT |
| 10 BTU/min | 0.05 RT |
| 25 BTU/min | 0.125 RT |
| 50 BTU/min | 0.25 RT |
| 100 BTU/min | 0.5 RT |