A ton of refrigeration (RT) is a unit of power commonly used to describe the cooling capacity of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. One RT is defined as the amount of heat removal required to freeze one short ton (2,000 pounds) of water at 0°C (32°F) in 24 hours, which equates to 12,000 British Thermal Units per hour (BTU/h). This means that for every RT, 12,000 BTU/h of heat is extracted. To convert refrigeration tons to BTU/h, multiply the number of tons by 12,000. For example, a 2 RT system has a cooling capacity of 24,000 BTU/h. Conversely, to convert BTU/h to RT, divide the BTU/h value by 12,000. Understanding this conversion is essential for accurately sizing and evaluating cooling systems to ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency.