Convert Mechanical Horsepower to BTU per Minute
Convert Mechanical Horsepower (hp) to BTU per Minute (BTU/min) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
BTU/min = hp × 42.40722629
About Mechanical Horsepower
The mechanical horsepower (hp) is exactly 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.7 W - defined by James Watt by timing mine horses to set a comparable steam engine rating. A typical compact car produces 100-150 hp (75-112 kW); a sports car 300-600 hp; an F1 car ~1,000 hp (745 kW). SAE net horsepower is measured at the flywheel with all accessories fitted. Marine diesel engines, aircraft piston engines, and lawn equipment are still rated in hp. 1 hp = 550 ft·lbf/s = 745.6998715822704 W.
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.
Quick Reference Table
| Mechanical Horsepower (hp) | BTU per Minute (BTU/min) |
|---|---|
| 1 hp | 42.4072 BTU/min |
| 2 hp | 84.8145 BTU/min |
| 5 hp | 212.036 BTU/min |
| 10 hp | 424.072 BTU/min |
| 25 hp | 1060.18 BTU/min |
| 50 hp | 2120.36 BTU/min |
| 100 hp | 4240.72 BTU/min |