1. What is Cooling Tower Tonnage?

Cooling tower tonnage is a measure of the cooling capacity of a tower, representing how much heat it can remove from water. One ton of cooling equals 12,000 BTU per hour of heat removal.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the cooling tower tonnage formula:

Where:

• \( GPM \) — Water flow rate in gallons per minute
• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature difference between inlet and outlet water in °F
• 24 — Conversion factor (1 ton = 24,000 BTU/hr = 500 GPM × 1°F)

Explanation: The formula calculates how many tons of cooling capacity are needed based on water flow and temperature difference.

3. Importance of Tonnage Calculation

Details: Proper tonnage calculation ensures your cooling tower is correctly sized for your application, preventing undercooling or excessive energy use.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter water flow rate in GPM and temperature difference in °F. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between cooling tower tons and refrigeration tons?
A: They're equivalent - both represent 12,000 BTU/hr of heat removal capacity.

Q2: How do I measure ΔT for my cooling tower?
A: Subtract the outlet water temperature from the inlet water temperature while the system is operating.

Q3: What's a typical ΔT for cooling towers?
A: Most cooling towers operate with ΔT between 10-30°F depending on design and load.

Q4: How does GPM affect cooling tower performance?
A: Higher flow rates increase heat transfer but also increase pumping energy and may reduce efficiency.

Q5: Can I use this for chiller tonnage calculations?
A: While similar, chiller calculations may require additional factors like refrigerant type and compressor efficiency.