Chiller Tonnage Calculator
Calculate chiller capacity in tons of refrigeration from water flow rate and supply/return temperature difference.
Chiller Inputs
Water = 1.00. 30% ethylene glycol ≈ 0.89.
Enter flow rate and temperatures, then click Calculate.
Required Chiller Capacity
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Tons of Refrigeration (TR)
Cooling Load
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kW
Cooling Load
—
BTU/hr
Calculation Breakdown
Sizing note: Add 10–15% to the calculated load for safety margin and future growth. The result above is the theoretical minimum — always specify the next standard chiller size above this value.
Summary
Calculate chiller capacity in tons of refrigeration from water flow rate and supply/return temperature difference.
How it works
- Enter the chilled water flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM) or liters per second (L/s).
- Input the chilled water return temperature (entering the chiller).
- Input the chilled water supply temperature (leaving the chiller).
- The calculator applies Q = Flow × Cp × ΔT to compute the cooling load.
- Results are shown in tons of refrigeration (TR), kilowatts (kW), and BTU/hr.
Use cases
- Size a new chiller plant for a commercial building.
- Verify existing chiller capacity against actual load.
- Cross-check HVAC design drawings against measured flow and temperatures.
- Audit chiller efficiency during commissioning or energy retrofits.
- Estimate cooling needs for data center chilled water systems.
- Convert between tons of refrigeration, kW, and BTU/hr for specs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: 2026-06-11 ·
Reviewed by Nham Vu