Kilowatts to Refrigeration Tons Calculator
A kW to refrigeration tons (RT) calculator converts power measurements between kilowatts (kW) and tons of refrigeration (RT). This conversion is critical for:
✅ HVAC system design (air conditioning capacity)
✅ Industrial cooling (refrigeration plants)
✅ Commercial refrigeration (supermarket cold rooms)
✅ Chiller specifications (cooling capacity ratings)
Key Definitions
Kilowatt (kW): Metric unit of power (1 kW = 1,000 watts)
Ton of Refrigeration (RT): Cooling capacity needed to melt 1 ton of ice in 24 hours (1 RT ≈ 3.51685 kW)
Conversion Formulas
1. kW to Refrigeration Tons
Example:
Convert 35 kW to RT:
2. Refrigeration Tons to kW
Example:
Convert 5 RT to kW:
Conversion Table (kW ⇆ RT)
Kilowatts (kW) | Refrigeration Tons (RT) |
---|---|
3.51685 kW | 1 RT |
7 kW | ≈ 1.99 RT |
10.55 kW | ≈ 3 RT |
17.58 kW | ≈ 5 RT |
35.17 kW | ≈ 10 RT |
70.34 kW | ≈ 20 RT |
105.5 kW | ≈ 30 RT |
How to Use the Calculator
Enter kW → Get RT (Divide by 3.51685)
Enter RT → Get kW (Multiply by 3.51685)
Example Calculations:
50 kW to RT:
25 RT to kW:
Practical Applications
Air Conditioners: A 5 RT unit ≈ 17.58 kW cooling capacity
Data Center Cooling: A 200 RT chiller ≈ 703.37 kW
Industrial Freezers: A 1,000 RT system ≈ 3,516.85 kW
Comparison of Cooling Units
Unit | Kilowatts (kW) | Refrigeration Tons (RT) |
---|---|---|
1 RT | 3.51685 kW | 1 RT |
1 kW | 1 kW | ≈ 0.284 RT |
1 BTU/hr | 0.000293 kW | ≈ 0.000083 RT |
FAQ
1. Why is refrigeration measured in "tons"?
🔹 Historic term from ice melting capacity (1 RT = 288,000 BTU/24h)
2. How many kW is 1 ton of refrigeration?
✅ 1 RT = 3.51685 kW
3. What's the difference between RT and kW?
🔹 RT measures cooling capacity, kW measures power (both can represent the same energy)
4. How to convert 100 kW to RT?
5. Is higher RT always better?
❌ No - must match the cooling load requirements