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Plant Engineering Calculator

Updated Sep 18, 2026

Chiller Annual Energy Cost Calculator — Tons, kW/ton, kWh & Spend

Annualize chiller compressor energy and electricity cost from refrigeration tons, measured or rated kW/ton, operating hours and tariff.

Live calculationWorking shownPrivate in browser

Inputs

Results

Chiller power 300.00 kW
COP 5.86
Annual energy 1200000 kWh
Annual cost $120000
Cost per ton-hour $0.0600
More actions

Shared links reopen these inputs. Recent and saved calculations stay in this browser unless you clear site data.

Formula

P=tons×kW/ton; E=P×hours; cost=E×tariff.

Your calculation, step by step

These steps use the values currently entered above so the result can be checked independently.

  1. 1.Electrical input = 500.00 TR × 0.6000 kW/TR = 300.000 kW.
  2. 2.Equivalent COP = 3.517 kW cooling/TR ÷ 0.6000 kW/TR = 5.8617.
  3. 3.Annual energy = 300.000 × 4000 = 1200000.0 kWh.
  4. 4.Annual cost = 1200000.0 × $0.1000/kWh = $120000.00.
  5. 5.Cost per ton-hour = 0.6000 kWh/ton-hour × $0.1000 = $0.06000.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter measured or design values using the units shown beside each field.
  2. Review the live results and the substituted calculation steps before using the estimate.
  3. Check the assumptions below, then continue to a related calculator when the next engineering decision needs another model.

Worked example

A 500 ton chiller at 0.60 kW/ton draws 300 kW; at 4,000 equivalent hours that is 1.2 GWh before tariff pricing.

Assumptions and limits

  • Use equivalent operating hours or a load-weighted efficiency for seasonal estimates.
  • This excludes chilled/condenser pumps and tower fans unless their power is added separately.

How to interpret the result

Treat the primary result as an engineering screening value, then use the secondary outputs to understand scale, energy or operating impact. Confirm site measurements, equipment limits and applicable standards before making a design or control change.

Questions engineers ask

What does kW/ton include in this annual chiller estimate?

The calculator treats the entered kW/ton as chiller electrical input per refrigeration ton. If the value is compressor-only, condenser/chilled-water pumps and tower fans are not included unless you model them separately.

Why is COP shown from kW/ton?

One refrigeration ton is about 3.517 kW of cooling, so COP = 3.517 ÷ (kW/ton). The displayed COP is a useful normalization check on the entered efficiency, not a seasonal rating by itself.

Should I use nameplate hours or equivalent full-load hours?

For a one-line annual estimate, equivalent operating hours paired with a representative or load-weighted kW/ton is more defensible than multiplying full-load power by every calendar operating hour. Detailed plants need a load-bin model.

Continue the calculation

Use the next calculator in the same engineering workflow instead of restarting from search.

chiller kw per tonchiller plant efficiencychiller iplv nplv
Methodology. MAXScanner shows the governing formula, entered values and calculation outputs so the estimate is auditable. The calculator is a screening aid; assumptions and equipment-specific limits remain part of the engineering review.