[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10579]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 3, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Case No. F-071]
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of
the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for
Waiver of DOE Furnace Test Procedures From Rheem Manufacturing Company
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a letter granting an Interim Waiver
to Rheem Manufacturing Company (Rheem) from the existing Department of
Energy (DOE) test procedure regarding blower time delay for the
company's GDG upflow, GLH downflow, GVH horizontal, and GPH upflow/
horizontal gas furnaces.
Today's notice also publishes a ``Petition for Waiver'' from Rheem.
Rheem's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief from the DOE
furnace test procedure relating to the blower time delay specification.
Rheem seeks to test using a blower delay time of 20 seconds for its GDG
upflow, GLH downflow, GVH horizontal, and GPH upflow/horizontal gas
furnaces instead of the specified 1.5-minute delay between burner on-
time and blower on-time. The Department is soliciting comments, data,
and information respecting the Petition for Waiver.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than
June 2, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Case No.
F-071, Mail Stop EE-43, room 5E-066, Forrestal Building, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7140.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, Forrestal
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202)
586-7140.
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer
Products (other than automobiles) was established pursuant to the
Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, 89 Stat.
917, as amended by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA),
Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3266, the National Appliance Energy
Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public Law 100-12, the National
Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Public
Law 100-357, and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), Public Law 102-
486, 106 Stat. 2776, which requires DOE to prescribe standardized test
procedures to measure the energy consumption of certain consumer
products, including furnaces. The intent of the test procedures is to
provide a comparable measure of energy consumption that will assist
consumers in making purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear
at 10 CFR part 430, Subpart B.
The Department amended the prescribed test procedures by adding 10
CFR 430.27 on September 26, 1980, creating the waiver process. 45 FR
64108. Thereafter, DOE further amended the appliance test procedure
waiver process to allow the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver
from test procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned
DOE for a waiver of such prescribed test procedures. 51 FR 42823,
November 26, 1986.
The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to waive
temporarily, test procedures for a particular basic model when a
petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design
characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test
procedures, or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the
basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy
consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data.
Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure
amendments become effective, resolving the problem that is the subject
of the waiver.
The Interim Waiver provisions added by the 1986 amendment allow the
Secretary to grant an Interim Waiver when it is determined that the
applicant will experience economic hardship if the Application for
Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the Petition for
Waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that
it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate
relief pending a determination on the Petition for Waiver. An Interim
Waiver remains in effect for a period of 180 days or until DOE issues
its determination on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and
may be extended for an additional 180 days, if necessary.
On March 23, 1994, Rheem filed an Application for Interim Waiver
regarding blower time delay. Rheem's Application seeks an Interim
Waiver from the DOE test provisions that require a 1.5-minute time
delay between the ignition of the burner and starting of the
circulating air blower. Instead, Rheem requests the allowance to test
using a 20-second blower time delay when testing its GDG upflow, GLH
downflow, GVH horizontal, and GPH upflow/horizontal gas furnaces. Rheem
states that the 20-second delay is indicative of how these furnaces
actually operate. Such a delay results in an average increase in AFUE
of 2.0 percentage points. Since current DOE test procedures do not
address this variable blower time delay, Rheem asks that the Interim
Waiver be granted.
The Department has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on
August 23, 1993, (58 FR 44583) to amend the furnace test procedure,
which addresses the above issue.
Previous waivers for this type of time blower delay control have
been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985;
Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing
Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920, January 25, 1991,
57 FR 10166, March 24, 1992, and 57 FR 34560, August 5, 1992; Trane
Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021, February 14, 1991, 57 FR
10167, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 22222, May 27, 1992, and 58 FR 68138,
December 23, 1993; Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5, 1990, 57
FR 49700, November 3, 1992, 58 FR 68136, December 23, 1993, and 58 FR
68137, December 23, 1993; Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 51487,
December 14, 1990, and 56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991; DMO Industries,
56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019,
February 14, 1991; Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991,
57 FR 38830, August 27, 1992, 58 FR 68131, December 23, 1993, 58 FR
68133, December 23, 1993 and 59 FR 14394, March 28, 1994; Amana
Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940, December
6, 1991, 57 FR 23392, June 3, 1992, and 58 FR 68130, December 23, 1993;
Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 54960, September 9, 1991; Goodman
Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991, 57 FR 27970,
June 23, 1992 and 59 FR 12586, March 17, 1994; The Ducane Company Inc.,
56 FR 63943, December 6, 1991, 57 FR 10163, March 24, 1992, and 58 FR
68134, December 23, 1993; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899,
January 9, 1992, 57 FR 10160, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 10161, March 24,
1992, 57 FR 39193, August 28, 1992, and 57 FR 54230, November 17, 1992;
Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 1992; Consolidated
Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 1992; Evcon Industries,
Inc., 57 FR 47847, October 20, 1992; and Bard Manufacturing Company, 57
FR 53733, November 12, 1992. Thus, it appears likely that the Petition
for Waiver will be granted for blower time delay.
In those instances where the likely success of the Petition for
Waiver has been demonstrated based upon DOE having granted a waiver for
a similar product design, it is in the public interest to have similar
products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis.
Therefore, based on the above, DOE is granting Rheem an Interim
Waiver for its GDG upflow, GLH downflow, GVH horizontal, and GPH
upflow/horizontal gas furnaces. Pursuant to paragraph (e) of
Sec. 430.27 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 430, the following
letter granting the Application for Interim Waiver to Rheem was issued.
Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR 430.27, DOE is hereby
publishing the ``Petition for Waiver'' in its entirety. The petition
contains no confidential information. The Department solicits comments,
data, and information respecting the petition.
Issued in Washington, DC, April 19, 1994.
Frank M. Stewart, Jr.,
Acting Chief of Staff, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
April 19, 1994.
Mr. Daniel J. Canclini,
Vice-President,
Product Development and,
Research Engineering,
Rheem Manufacturing Company,
P.O. Box 17010,
Fort Smith, AR 72917-7010.
Dear Mr. Canclini: This is in response to your March 23, 1994,
Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the
Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure regarding blower time
delay for Rheem Manufacturing Company (Rheem) GDG upflow, GLH
downflow, GVH horizontal, and GPH upflow/horizontal gas furnaces.
Previous waivers for this type of timed blower delay control
have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18,
1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem
Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920,
January 25, 1991, 57 FR 10166, March 24, 1992, and 57 FR 34560,
August 5, 1992; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021,
February 14, 1991, 57 FR 10167, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 22222, May 27,
1992, and 58 FR 68138, December 23, 1993; Lennox Industries, 55 FR
50224, December 5, 1990, 57 FR 49700, November 3, 1992, 58 FR 68136,
December 23, 1993, and 58 FR 68137, December 23, 1993; Inter-City
Products Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14, 1990, and 56 FR
63945, December 6, 1991; DMO Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5,
1991; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019, February 14, 1991;
Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 38830,
August 27, 1992, 58 FR 68131, December 23, 1993, 58 FR 68133,
December 23, 1993 and 59 FR 14394, March 28, 1994; Amana
Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940,
December 6, 1991, 57 FR 23392, June 3, 1992, and 58 FR 68130,
December 23, 1993; Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 54960,
September 9, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713,
October 15, 1991, 57 FR 27970, June 23, 1992 and 59 FR 12586, March
17, 1994; The Ducane Company Inc., 56 FR 63943, December 6, 1991, 57
FR 10163, March 24, 1992, and 58 FR 68134, December 23, 1993;
Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899, January 9, 1992, 57 FR
10160, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 10161, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 39193,
August 28, 1992, and 57 FR 54230, November 17, 1992; Thermo
Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 1992; Consolidated Industries
Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 1992; Evcon Industries, Inc., 57
FR 47847, October 20, 1992; and Bard Manufacturing Company, 57 FR
53733, November 12, 1992. Thus, it appears likely that the Petition
for Waiver will be granted for blower time delay.
Rheem's Application for Interim Waiver does not provide
sufficient information to evaluate what, if any, economic impact or
competitive disadvantage Rheem will likely experience absent a
favorable determination on its application.
However, in those instances where the likely success of the
Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated, based upon DOE having
granted a waiver for a similar product design, it is in the public
interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy
consumption on a comparable basis.
Therefore, Rheem's Application for an Interim Waiver from the
DOE test procedure for its GDG upflow, GLH downflow, GVH horizontal,
and GPH upflow/horizontal gas furnaces regarding blower time delay
is granted.
Rheem shall be permitted to test its GDG upflow, GLH downflow,
GVH horizontal, and GPH upflow/horizontal gas furnaces on the basis
of the test procedures specified in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B,
Appendix N, with the modification set forth below:
(i) Section 3.0 in Appendix N is deleted and replaced with the
following paragraph:
3.0 Test Procedure. Testing and measurements shall be as
specified in Section 9 in ANSI/ASHRAE 103-82 with the exception of
Sections 9.2.2, 9.3.1, and 9.3.2, and the inclusion of the following
additional procedures:
(ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 in Appendix N as follows:
3.10 Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Furnaces. After equilibrium
conditions are achieved following the cool-down test and the
required measurements performed, turn on the furnace and measure the
flue gas temperature, using the thermocouple grid described above,
at 0.5 and 2.5 minutes after the main burner(s) comes on. After the
burner start-up, delay the blower start-up by 1.5 minutes (t-)
unless:
(1) The furnace employs a single motor to drive the power burner
and the indoor air circulation blower, in which case the burner and
blower shall be started together; or
(2) The furnace is designed to operate using an unvarying delay
time that is other than 1.5 minutes, in which case the fan control
shall be permitted to start the blower; or
(3) The delay time results in the activation of a temperature
safety device which shuts off the burner, in which case the fan
control shall be permitted to start the blower. In the latter case,
if the fan control is adjustable, set it to start the blower at the
highest temperature. If the fan control is permitted to start the
blower, measure time delay (t-) using a stop watch. Record the
measured temperatures. During the heat-up test for oil-fueled
furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue pipe within
0.01 inch of water column of the manufacturer's
recommended on-period draft.
This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of
statements and all allegations submitted by the company. This
Interim Waiver may be removed or modified at any time upon a
determination that the factual basis underlying the application is
incorrect.
The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect for a period of 180
days or until DOE acts on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is
sooner, and may be extended for an additional 180-day period, if
necessary.
Sincerely,
Frank M. Stewart, Jr.,
Acting Chief of Staff, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
March 23, 1994.
Mr. Cyrus Nasseri,
Assistant Secretary, Conservation, and Renewable Energy, United
States Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585.
Dear Mr. Nasseri: This is a petition for waiver and application
for interim waiver submitted pursuant to title 10 CFR 430.27. Waiver
is requested from the furnace test procedure as prescribed in
appendix N to Subpart B of Part 430. The test procedure requires a
1.5 minute delay between burner and blower start-up. Rheem is
requesting authorization to use a 20 second delay instead of 1.5
minutes for our series (-)GDG upflow, (-)GLH downflow, (-)GVH
horizontal, and (-)GPH upflow/horizontal residential gas-fired
furnaces.
Rheem will be manufacturing these appliances with an electronic
device that controls the blower operation on a timing sequence as
opposed to temperature.
Improved energy efficiency is achieved by reducing on cycle
losses. Under the Appendix N procedures, the stack temperature is
allowed to climb at a faster rate than it would with a 20 second
blower on time, allowing energy to be lost out of the vent system.
This waste of energy would not occur in actual operation. If this
petition is granted, the true blower on time delay would be used in
the calculations.
The current test procedures do not give Rheem credit for the
energy savings which averages approximately 2%. This improvement is
an average reduction of 20% of the normal on cycle energy losses.
Rheem is of the opinion that a 20% reduction is a worthwhile energy
savings.
Rheem has been granted previous waivers regarding blower on time
to be used in the efficiency calculations for our (-)GEB and (-)GKA
series condensing furnaces and/or (-)GDE, (-)GLE, (-)GDG, (-)GLG and
(-)GVG series furnaces. Several other manufacturers of gas furnaces
have also been granted a waiver to permit calculations based on
timed blower operation. Also, ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, paragraph
9.5.1.2.2 specifically addresses the use of timed blower operation.
Confidential and comparative test data is available to you upon
your request, confirming the above energy savings.
Manufacturers that domestically market similar products are
being sent a copy of this petition for waiver and petition for
interim waiver.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Canclini,
Vice-President, Product Development and Research Engineering.
[FR Doc. 94-10579 Filed 5-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P