One ton of refrigeration equals?

One ton of refrigeration is defined as the amount of heat absorbed to melt one ton of ice in a 24-hour period. This quantity translates to the rate of cooling power that can remove heat at the rate of 12,000 British thermal units (Btu) per hour. The concept originated from the refrigeration industry, where the efficiency of cooling processes was measured in relation to ice making, as ice was historically a primary means of refrigeration.

The calculation stems from the fact that to melt one ton (2,000 pounds) of ice, it takes a significant amount of energy—specifically, around 288,000 Btu over a full day (24 hours). When you divide this total by the number of hours in a day (24), you arrive at the figure of 12,000 Btu/hr. This standard measurement continues to be widely used in the HVAC and refrigeration fields, making it essential for anyone working within these industries to understand the basis of this unit of measurement.