[GreenKeys] Way-off topic

[Roy Morgan]

At 08:49 AM 8/19/02 -0700, gil smith wrote:
>Hi folks:
>
>To go totally off-topic today, does anyone know what one-ton of
>air-conditioning equals in BTUs (or any other unit of measurement)?  I have
>peeked in a couple of hvac books, and have yet to find out what an a/c ton
>is defined to be.


The unit "ton" as used in air conditioning refers to the heat needed to 
melt one ton of ice that is at 32 degrees F.

The BTU is the energy needed to raise on pound of water one degree Farenheight.


From:
<http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213563,00.html>

British thermal unit (Btu)

  A British thermal unit (Btu) is an English standard unit of energy. One 
Btu is the amount of thermal energy  necessary to raise the temperature of 
one pound of pure liquid water by one degree Fahrenheit at the  temperature 
at which water has its greatest density (39 degrees Fahrenheit). This is 
equivalent to  approximately 1055 joule (or 1055 watt-seconds).

  The Btu is often used as a quantitative specification for the 
energy-producing or energy-transferring
  capability of heating and cooling systems such as furnaces, ovens, 
refrigerators, and air conditioners. The  heat output of computer equipment 
is often specified so that it can be considered when planning the size  of 
climate control systems in buildings. Computer device heat output is 
expressed in Btus per hour. 3.7  Btus per hour is equivalent to 1 watt of 
heat dissipation.

At
<http://www.amstd-comfort.com/buyer/glossary.html> we learn:
"Ton: A unit of measurement used for determining cooling capacity. One ton 
is the equivalent of 12,000 BTU's per hour."

  Roy

- Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing!
7130 Panorama Drive, Derwood MD 20855
Home: 301-330-8828 Work: Voice: 301-975-3254,  Fax: 301-948-6213
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