About

Converting electrical or mechanical power (kW) into thermal transfer rates (kcal/h) is fundamental in the design of refrigeration cycles and hydronic heating. While modern physics prefers the Watt, legacy equipment and Asian/European markets heavily rely on kilocalories per hour. This tool allows for precise conversion and includes a "Water Heating Visualization" feature. This bridges the gap between abstract numbers and practical application by calculating how much water a given power source could heat by a specific temperature delta in one hour.

Formulas

The standard conversion factor derived from the specific heat of water:

Pkcal/h = PkW × 859.8452

For Water Heating potential (V in Liters) with a temperature rise (ΔT) in 1 hour:

Vliters = Pkcal/hΔT°C

Reference Data

Power (kW)	Thermal Rate (kcal/h)	Refrigeration Tons (RT)
1	859.8	0.28
3.5 (1 AC Ton)	3,024	1.00
5	4,299	1.42
10	8,598	2.84
24	20,636	6.82
50	42,992	14.2
100	85,984	28.4
500	429,922	142.2

Frequently Asked Questions

kcal is a unit of Energy (Total Heat), while kcal/h is a unit of Power (Rate of Heat Transfer). This tool converts Power (kW) to Power (kcal/h).

In the HVAC industry, equipment is often labeled in RT, kW, or kcal/h depending on the manufacturer and region. Providing RT helps cross-reference chiller specifications.

It assumes 100% efficiency and perfect insulation, which is theoretical. In reality, you would apply an efficiency factor (e.g., 0.9 for electric heaters, 0.8 for gas boilers) to find the actual water volume heated.

Yes. The math is symmetrical. The "Water Heating Example" also applies to cooling: it represents how many liters of water can be cooled by X degrees in one hour.