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Why AC rated in Tons, Not in kW or

kVA? A Guide about Airconditioner and
Refrigeration
Electrical Technology • November 8th, 2018  57  3 minutes read

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If you pick this article, You will be able understand;

→ Why AC rated in Tons, Not in kW?
→ Definition of Ton

→ How many kW and HP are there in 1 Ton?

→ How to convert Ton to Kw and vice versa?
→ How much Current in Ampere will a 2 Tons AC draw in Single Phase
& Three Phase
System?
→ How many 2 Ton A.C (Air conditioner) can I run on a 25 kVA
Generator?
→ What is the suitable rating of MCB for 2 Ton and 1 Ton AC (Air
conditioner) and why?
and much more…
Click image to enlarge

Why AC rated in Tons, Not in kW?

AC (Air-conditions and Refrigeration are always rated in Tons.
Air conditioners are always rated in Tons capacityinstead of kW
because Air conditioners are designed on the basis of quantity of heat
removal from room, hall or specific area. Quantity of heat is termed in
Tons means if an air conditioner is able to remove 1000 kilocalories of
heat or 4120 kilojoules or 12000 BTU of heat in an hour that AC rated
as 1 Ton of AC because 1000 Kilocalories or 4120 kilojoules or 12000
BTU equal to one Ton of heat. Also, this is the same case for freezer
and refrigerator i.e. refrigeration system.
Good to know:
BTU = British thermal unit. A measurement of heat, specifically, the
amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a pound of water by
1°F.
Definition of Ton
A Ton of refrigeration (RT) is approximately equivalent to 12,000 BTU/h
or 3,516.8528 W or 4.7142Hp.
A Ton of refrigeration (RT) is a unit of power used to describe the heat-
extraction capacity of air conditioning and refrigeration equipments. It
is defined as the heat of fusion absorbed by melting 1 short ton of pure
ice at 0 °C (32 °F) in 24 hours.
How many kW and HP are there in 1 Ton?
1 Ton = 3.5168525 kW = 4.714Hp
Explanation
1 Ton = 12,000 BTU/h
1 Watt = 3.412141633 BTU/h
1 Ton = 12,000 / 3.412141633 = 3,516.8528 Watts = 3.5168528 kW.
1 Ton = 3,516.8528 Watts = 3.516 kW.
Also
1 Ton = 3,516.8528W / 746 = 4.7142798928 Hp →→→ (1 Hp = 746
Watts)
1 Ton = 4.714 Hp
How to convert Ton to Kw and vice versa?
One RT(Refrigeration Ton) = 3.5168528 kW…
1 RT = 3.5168528 kW
1 kW = 0.284345 RT(Refrigeration Ton)
1 kW = 0.28434517 RT
So,
The power P in kW = Power P in RT (Refrigeration Ton) times
3.5168528….
P(kW) = P(RT) × 3.5168528
Example
Convert 3 Ton AC into kW i.e. Convert 3 RT to kW.
Solution:
P(kW) = 3 RT × 3.5168528
P(kW) = 10.55 kW
3 Ton AC = 10.55 kW
How much Current in Ampere will a 2 Tons AC draw in
Single Phase & Three Phase System?
Suppose, There are 230V and Power factor = Cosθ = 0.95 in Single
Phase AC system…
1 Ton = 3,516.8528 Watts = 3.516 kW.
2 Ton = 2 x 3.516 kW = 7.032kW = 7032W
Power in a Single Phase AC System
P = VxI Cosθ and current…
I = P / (V x Cosθ)….. Where Cosθ = Power factor
I = 7032W / (230V x .95)
I = 32.18 A
Therefore, a 2 Ton AC (Air-condition in Single Phase AC system will
take 31.18 Ampere Current
Andin Three Phase System
Suppose, There are 440V and Power factor = Cosθ = 0.85 in Three
Phase AC system…
Power in a Three Phase AC System
P =√3 x VLxIL Cosθ and current….
I = P /( √3xVxCosθ)
I = 7032W / (1.732 x 440V x .85) Where Cosθ = Power factor and √3 =
1.732
I = 10.855 A
Therefore, a 2 Ton AC (Air-condition in Three Phase AC system will take
10.855 Ampere Current
Good to Know:This is just calculation based on Electrical formulas. In
real, Air conditioner current depends a lot on operating conditions such
as ambient temperature, refrigerant pressure, Energy Efficiency Ratio
(EER) etc. for instance, if EER is 6, then input power for 2 Tons Air
conditioner is 24000BTU/ 6 = 4000 watts..
If this is a 230 volt system, then air conditioner load current would be =
4000/(230x.95) = 18.5 A
For More detail…Check the Air conditioner Name plate rating.
Another similar rating is Coefficient of power (COP) which is the output
power in watts divided by input power, so with a COP = 1.8, for
instance, input power for 2 Tons Air conditioner is 7032W / 1.8 = 3906
watts. Now you can find current by using the above method which is
equal to 18A approx.
How many 2 Ton A.C (Air conditioner) can I run on a 25 kVA
Generator?
2 Ton = 2 x 3.516 kW = 7.032kW = 7032W
The Efficiency of Utility Power Generator is 90% approximately.
Efficiency of Generator = 25kVA x (90/100) = 22.5kVA
Now the Number of 2 Ton AC (Air conditioners) which you can run on a
25 kVA Generator smoothly..
22.5kVA / 7032W
=3
So you can run Three Air conditioners of 2 Tons each on a 25kVA
Generator.
What is the suitable rating of MCB for 2 Ton and 1 Ton AC
(Air conditioner) and why?
As we have calculated the load current for 2 Ton AC Air conditioner…
Calculated Current for 2 Ton A.C = I = 32.18 A
Now 40A Class “C” MCB (miniature circuit breaker) would be suitable
for 2 Ton AC (air-condition) because in starting time it takes more
current of the full load current
And 20 A Class “C” MCB would be better for 1 Ton AC (air-condition)
Good to Know:
Class “’C’ Type MCBs
Class “C” Type MCBs are suitable for installations with high inrush of
current at the starting switching time. in other words, equipment and
devices having inductive loads such as air-conditioners, induction
motors, fluorescent lamps, transformersetc.
A general AC (Airconditioner )Name plate rating Data
Click image to enlarge

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