Why AC rated in Tons, Not in kW or kVA?

A Guide about Airconditioner and Refrigeration

Posted by: Electrical Technology 02/01/2014


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 1F.

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 = Cos = 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 = V x I Cos and current
I = P / (V x Cos ) Where Cos = 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

And in Three Phase System:

Suppose, There are 440V and Power factor = Cos = 0.85 in Three Phase AC
system

Power in a Three Phase AC System:

P =3 x VL x IL Cos and current
I = P/( 3xVxCos)
I = 7032W / (1.732 x 440V x .85) Where Cos = 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 detailCheck 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,
transformers, etc.

A general AC (Airconditioner) Name plate rating Data: