What Is This Tool?
This converter helps you translate power values expressed in tons of refrigeration, commonly used in cooling and HVAC systems, into kilovolt amperes (kV*A), which measure apparent power in electrical systems. It assists professionals in correlating thermal cooling capacity with electrical power requirements.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the power value in tons of refrigeration you want to convert
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Select the target unit as kilovolt ampere (kV*A)
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Click convert to see the equivalent apparent power value
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Use the result to compare HVAC cooling capacity with electrical load requirements
Key Features
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Converts power from ton (refrigeration) to kilovolt ampere (kV*A) easily
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Supports HVAC and electrical power system applications
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Browser-based tool accessible without installation
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Utilizes standardized conversion rate based on cooling and electrical power definitions
Examples
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2 Ton (refrigeration) converts to approximately 7.0337 Kilovolt ampere [kV*A]
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0.5 Ton (refrigeration) converts to about 1.7584 Kilovolt ampere [kV*A]
Common Use Cases
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Sizing and rating residential or commercial air-conditioning systems by correlating cooling capacity with electrical power
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Specifying cooling and electrical capacities in commercial refrigeration and cold-room installations
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Designing power distribution systems in buildings and data centers integrating HVAC and electrical loads
Tips & Best Practices
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Verify the assumptions about power factor when relating cooling capacity to apparent electrical power
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Use the conversion for preliminary sizing and equipment selection, not exact energy consumption calculation
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Consider both thermal and electrical parameters for comprehensive HVAC and power system design
Limitations
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Ton (refrigeration) quantifies thermal cooling power, while kilovolt ampere measures electrical apparent power; the conversion assumes ideal conditions
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This tool does not account for power factor or phase angle—actual usable power may differ
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Conversion yields apparent power, not real power (kW), which affects practical electrical load assessments
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does one ton (refrigeration) represent?
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It represents the rate of heat removal to melt a short ton of ice in 24 hours, equal to 12,000 BTU per hour or about 3.517 kilowatts.
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Why convert ton (refrigeration) to kilovolt ampere?
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To relate HVAC cooling capacity expressed in tons to the electrical apparent power needed, facilitating integrated system design.
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Does this conversion provide the real electrical power consumption?
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No, it only provides apparent power values and does not consider power factor or phase angle.
Key Terminology
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Ton (refrigeration)
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A measure of cooling power defined as the heat removal to melt one short ton of ice in 24 hours, equivalent to 12,000 BTU/h or approximately 3.517 kW.
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Kilovolt ampere (kV*A)
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A unit of apparent power in AC electrical systems equal to 1,000 volt-amperes that quantifies the RMS voltage and current product without considering phase angle.
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Apparent power
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The product of RMS voltage and RMS current in an AC system, expressed in kilovolt amperes, not accounting for power factor.