Convert Ton of Refrigeration to Picowatts
Convert Ton of Refrigeration (RT) to Picowatts (pW) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
pW = RT × 3.516852842e+15
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 Picowatts
A picowatt (pW) is 10⁻¹² W - the power scale of the most sensitive radio receivers. GPS satellites transmit 20-50 W; by the time that signal spans 20,000 km, the received power is ~0.1 pW (−130 dBm). Radio telescopes routinely detect cosmic signals in the picowatt range. Qubit control electronics in quantum computers must resolve energy differences at picowatt scales. Photodetectors in single-photon counting mode, hard drive head read-back signals at idle, and deep-shadow solar cells also operate at picowatt levels. 1 pW = 10⁻¹² W.
Quick Reference Table
| Ton of Refrigeration (RT) | Picowatts (pW) |
|---|---|
| 1 RT | 3.517 × 1015 pW |
| 2 RT | 7.034 × 1015 pW |
| 5 RT | 1.758 × 1016 pW |
| 10 RT | 3.517 × 1016 pW |
| 25 RT | 8.792 × 1016 pW |
| 50 RT | 1.758 × 1017 pW |
| 100 RT | 3.517 × 1017 pW |