True or False: 1 ton of refrigeration equals 4.713 horsepower?

One ton of refrigeration is defined as the amount of heat absorption required to freeze one ton of water (approximately 2000 pounds) at 32 degrees Fahrenheit in a 24-hour period. This amount equates to 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour.

When it comes to horsepower, 1 mechanical horsepower is equivalent to approximately 2,545 BTUs per hour. Therefore, if you take the 12,000 BTUs for one ton of refrigeration and divide it by the BTUs that equal one horsepower (2,545 BTUs), you find that 1 ton of refrigeration is roughly equivalent to about 4.7 horsepower. This value aligns closely with the statement that 1 ton of refrigeration equals 4.713 horsepower, confirming that the answer is accurate.

Understanding this conversion is essential for HVAC professionals as it allows them to better size compressor units and understand the relationship between cooling capacity and energy consumption in HVAC systems.