[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:
michael.raymond@ee.doe.gov 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
