[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66146-66147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32008]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Petition for 
Waiver of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., From the Department of Energy 
Central Air Conditioner and Central Air Conditioning Heat Pump Test 
Procedure. (Case No. CAC-009)

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a ``Petition for Waiver'' from Sanyo. 
Sanyo's Petition for Waiver requests the Department of Energy 
(Department or DOE) to grant relief from the DOE heat pump test 
procedure for the Sanyo lines of gas source heat pumps, which operate 
in both the cooling and heating modes. Sanyo requests that the heating 
mode tests be waived for its gas burner-assisted heat pumps because the 
DOE procedure has no provision for testing gas burner-assisted heat 
pumps. The Department is soliciting comments, data, and information 
respecting the Petition for Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than 
December 31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
Case No. CAC-009, Mail Stop EE-43, Room

[[Page 66147]]

1J-018, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 
DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9145.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael G. Raymond, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station 
EE-43, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 
20585-0121, Telephone: (202) 586-9611, E-mail: 
[email protected] or Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of General Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forrestal 
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, 
Telephone: (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, as amended, which requires DOE to 
prescribe standardized test procedures to measure the energy 
consumption of certain consumer products, including heat pumps. The 
intent of the test procedures is to provide a comparable measure of 
energy consumption that will assist consumers in making purchasing 
decisions, and will determine whether a product complies with the 
applicable energy conservation standard. The test procedures appear at 
10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix M.
    The Department amended the prescribed test procedures by adding 10 
CFR 430.27 on September 26, 1980, creating the waiver process. 45 FR 
64108. Subsequently, DOE further amended the 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. 10 CFR Part 430, Sec. 430.27(a)(2).
    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.
    On March 3, 1998, Sanyo filed a Petition for Waiver and an 
Application for Interim Waiver regarding the heat pump tests. On July 
21, 1998, Sanyo withdrew its request for an interim waiver. Sanyo's 
application seeks a Waiver from the DOE test of heating mode operation 
for its burner-assisted heat pumps because the current DOE test 
procedure does not address burner-assisted heat pumps.
    The Department has granted a waiver to Kool-Fire (Division of 
Friedrich Corporation) for a burner assisted heat pump product similar 
to Sanyo's. Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR Part 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, on November 23, 1998.
Dan W. Reicher,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

March 3, 1998
ATTN: Ms. Christine Ervin, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Mail Station EE-1, 
Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 
20585
CC: Mr. T. Hada (Gas Appliances), Mr. W. C. Ryan (Ryan Co., Inc.)
RE: Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver for Sanyo 
Gas Source Heat Pump

    Dear Ms. Ervin: Sanyo described a gas source heat pump product 
to your Mr. Mike Raymond and Mr. Ed. Pollock during a meeting on 
June 24, 1997. The recommendation from this meeting was for Sanyo to 
submit an application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver 
from the Department of Energy central air conditioning heat pump 
test procedure for Sanyo's gas source heat pump. Sanyo's business 
plan is to provide our unique cooling and heating design for the 
United States domestic market. Our business will suffer economic 
hardship without a waiver from Department of Energy heating 
operation test procedures and efficiency standard for this product 
line.
    Sanyo's ductless split type air conditioner-gas source heat pump 
product operates as a conventional air conditioner for cooling. 
Cooling efficiency is to be evaluated under DOE test procedures for 
the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) product rating. The 
cooling mode test procedure is specified in 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart 
B, Appendix M, Section 2.1.
    For heating operation this product employs a fuel gas burner to 
apply heat to the interior wall of a second heat exchanger located 
in the outdoor section. The exterior wall of this heat exchanger is 
in close contact with tubing containing a refrigerant. Refrigerant 
is heated through intimate contact with the exterior wall of this 
heat exchanger and circulated by the refrigerant compressor from the 
outdoor tubing to the indoor tubing of the evaporator coil. The 
indoor fan motor and blower system extracts heat from the circulated 
refrigerant into the conditioned space. During heating operation the 
outdoor fan motor and air conditioning heat transfer tubing are 
isolated from the active circuit by valves and electrical controls.
    Accordingly, a DOE test procedure for heating mode of such a gas 
source heat pump is not developed. Sanyo has no knowledge of an 
industry standard or test method for evaluating heating efficiency 
of this type of product. Requirements in 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, 
Appendix M, Section 2.3 do not apply for gas source heat pump units.
    In order for this product to comply with the requirements of the 
Energy Policy and Conservation Act (Pub. L. 94-163) and amendments, 
Sanyo's business needs require that DOE favorably consider our 
application for an interim waiver and petition for waiver from the 
heating efficiency requirements for our combination ductless split 
air conditioner and gas-source heat pump product line.
    Your review and consideration is appreciated. If more 
information is needed, we will be pleased to provide what you need.
      Truly yours,
S. Ukai,
Engineer.
K. Mori,
Manager, International Operation, Air Conditioning Division, 
Environmental Systems, Business Head Quarter, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
Mike Raymond, U.S. Department of Energy

    Sanyo's letter dated March 3, 1998 was a request for a waiver 
and interim waiver of DOE heating test procedures for their gas 
source heat pump products.
    Sanyo requests you disregard their request for an interim waiver 
and proceed to extend the final waiver in response to their letter 
request.
    This modification is due to Sanyo's product introduction 
schedule having sufficient time to allow for completion of the final 
ruling.
    If you have questions or need more information please contact 
me.
      Sincerely,
W. C. Ryan,
Ryan Company, Inc.
[FR Doc. 98-32008 Filed 11-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P