The watt (\\(W\\)) is the SI unit of power, representing the rate of energy transfer equal to one joule per second. It is widely used to quantify electrical and mechanical power in everything from household appliances to industrial machinery.
What is a Ton of Refrigeration (TR)?
A ton of refrigeration (\\(TR\\)) is a legacy unit that describes the cooling capacity required to melt one ton (2000 lb) of ice at 0 °C in 24 hours. By definition, 1 TR = 12,000 BTU/h ≈ 3.517 kW.
Why Convert Between W and TR?
Engineers often need to translate between modern SI power units and traditional HVAC specifications. Converting watts to tons of refrigeration helps compare equipment ratings, size chillers, and perform energy‑efficiency analyses.
The conversion factor is:
1 W = 0.00028434536588139953 TR
Watt to Ton of refrigeration Conversion Reference Table
By definition 1 TR = 12,000 BTU/h. Converting BTU/h to watts (1 BTU/h ≈ 0.293071 W) gives 12,000 × 0.293071 ≈ 3,516.85 W. Using the inverse of our factor, 1 TR ≈ 1 / 0.00028434536588139953 ≈ 3,517 W.
No. The factor 0.00028434536588139953 TR per watt is derived from the fixed definition of a ton of refrigeration (12,000 BTU/h) and the SI conversion of BTU to joules. It remains constant regardless of operating temperature.
"On fait la science avec des faits, comme on fait une maison avec des pierres ; mais une accumulation de faits n'est pas plus une science qu'un tas de pierres n'est une maison." "Science is built up of facts, as a house is built of stones; but an accumulation of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house." — Henri Poincaré (French Mathematician, Theoretical Physicist & Mining Engineer)