Convert Ton of Refrigeration to BTU per Minute
Convert Ton of Refrigeration (RT) to BTU per Minute (BTU/min) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
BTU/min = RT × 200
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.
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
| Ton of Refrigeration (RT) | BTU per Minute (BTU/min) |
|---|---|
| 1 RT | 200 BTU/min |
| 2 RT | 400 BTU/min |
| 5 RT | 1000 BTU/min |
| 10 RT | 2000 BTU/min |
| 25 RT | 5000 BTU/min |
| 50 RT | 10000 BTU/min |
| 100 RT | 20000 BTU/min |