[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 249 (Thursday, December 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-32113]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: December 29, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
[Case No. F-076]
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Denial of
Glowcore Corporation's Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing
the Company's Petition for Waiver From the DOE Furnace Test Procedure.
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a letter denying an Interim Waiver to
GlowCore Corporation (GlowCore) from the existing Department of Energy
(DOE) test procedure regarding the measurement of hot water boiler
energy consumption for the company's GB series of condensing boilers.
Today's notice also publishes a ``Petition for Waiver'' from
GlowCore. GlowCore's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief
from the DOE furnace test procedure relating to the measurement of hot
water boiler energy consumption. GlowCore states that because of a
special design feature on the heat exchanger, burner, and combustion
blower, its GB series of condensing hot water boilers can withstand the
corrosive effects of condensate, and can be operated at a hot water
return temperature of 80 deg.F, instead of the 120 deg.F specified in
the DOE Furnaces/Boilers Test procedure, resulting in an efficiency
improvement of 5 percent.
DOE is soliciting comments, data, and information respecting the
Petition for Waiver.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than
January 30, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Case No.
F-076, Mail Stop EE-43, Room 5E-066, Forrestal Building, 1000
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7574.
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, S.W., Washington,
DC 20585, (202) 586-9138.
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence
Avenue, S.W., 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 April 4, 1994, GlowCore filed an Application for Interim Waiver
regarding measurement of hot water boiler energy consumption.
GlowCore's application seeks an Interim Waiver from the DOE test
provisions that require a boiler return temperature of 120 deg.F.
Instead, GlowCore requests the allowance to test using 80 deg.F hot
water return temperature when testing its GB series of condensing
boilers. GlowCore states that the 80 deg.F return temperature fits
radiant in-floor heating systems that require less than 100 deg.F floor
temperatures and 80 deg.F return temperatures. Glowcore claims that the
120 deg.F specified by the DOE test procedure is too high for this
application. Glowcore claims that the return temperature of 80 deg.F
results in an efficiency improvement of approximately 5 percentage
points. Since the current DOE test procedure does not address a water
return temperature of 80 deg.F, GlowCore asks that the Interim Waiver
be granted.
The Department's regulations allow for a manufacturer to receive an
interim waiver if it is determined that economic hardship will result,
it is likely that the Petition for Waiver will be granted, and/or it is
desirable from a public policy perspective. Based on the Department's
review of GlowCore's request, DOE believes that none of these
conditions exist. In its Application, Glowcore seeks an Interim Waiver
from the existing test procedure which requires a hot water boiler
return temperature of 120 deg.F. Glowcore did not provide sufficient
information for the Department to evaluate what, if any, economic
hardship the company will likely experience absent a favorable
determination on the Application. The company stated that the GB series
boilers can be listed with an asterisk with the higher AFUE when used
as sources for in-floor radiant heat, and other low temperature heat
usages at 80 deg.F return water temperatures. Based on this statement,
DOE cannot determine whether Glowcore will experience competitive
hardship if the Application is denied. Further, the Department cannot
state at this time the likelihood that the Petition for Waiver will be
granted based on the facts presented since this is a matter of first
impression. Also, there are no public policy reasons put forth by
applicant to cause DOE to grant immediate relief.
Therefore, Glowcore's Application for an Interim Waiver regarding
return hot water temperature for its GB series of condensing boilers is
denied.
Pursuant to paragraph (e) of Sec. 430.27 of the Code of Federal
Regulations Part 430, the following letter denying the Application for
Interim Waiver was sent to GlowCore.
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. DOE solicits comments, data, and
information respecting the petition. In particular, DOE is interested
in obtaining information on the following:
The particular design feature of the heat exchanger,
burner, and combustion blower which allows Glowcore's GB series boilers
to operate at lower water temperatures (80 deg.F), and withstand the
corrosive effects of the condensate from the burning of natural and
L.P. gases;
The particular market niche for this type of boiler.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 21, 1994.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Department of Energy
Washington, DC, December 21, 1994.
Mr. Dave Lackstrom, Product Engineer, GlowCore Corporation, P.O. Box
360591, Cleveland, OH 44136-0010
Dear Mr. Lackstrom: This is in response to your letter of April
4, 1994, regarding an Application for Interim Waiver, and Petition
for Waiver from the Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure
concerning measurement of hot water boiler energy consumption for
the GlowCore Corporation (GlowCore) GB series of condensing boilers.
In the Application, GlowCore seeks an Interim Waiver from the
existing test procedure which requires a hot water boiler return
temperature of 120 deg.F. GlowCore did not provide sufficient
information for the Department to evaluate what, if any, economic
hardship it will likely experience absent a favorable determination
on the Application. The company stated that GB series boilers can be
listed with an asterisk with the higher AFUE when used as sources
for in-floor radiant heat, and other low temperature heat usages at
80 deg.F return water temperatures. Based on this statement, DOE
cannot determine whether GlowCore will experience competitive
hardship if the Application is denied. Further, the Department
cannot state at this time the likelihood that the Petition for
Waiver will be granted based on the facts presented since this is a
matter of first impression. Also, there are no public policy reason
put forth by GlowCore to cause DOE to grant immediate relief.
Therefore, GlowCore's Application for an Interim Waiver
regarding return hot water temperature for its GB series of
condensing boilers is denied.
Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR Part 430.27, DOE will
publish the ``Petition for Waiver'' in the Federal Register, and
solicit comment, data, and information concerning the Petition. In
particular, DOE is interested in obtaining information on the
following:
The particular design feature of the heat exchanger,
burner, and combustion blower which allows GlowCore's GB series
boilers to operate at lower water temperatures (80 deg.F), and
withstand the corrosive effects of the condensate from the burning
of natural and L.P. gases;
The particular market niche for this type of boiler.
Best regards,
Christine A. Ervin, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy.
GlowCore Corporation
Cleveland OH, April 4, 1994.
Assistant Secretary, Conservation & Renewable Energy, United States
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., S.W.; Washington, D.C.
20585
SUBJECT: PETITION FOR WAIVER AND APPLICATION OF INTERIM WAIVER
Gentlemen: This is a petition for waiver and application of
interim waiver submitted pursuant to Title CFR 430.27. Waiver is
requested from the test procedures for measuring hot water boiler
energy consumption.
The current test procedures for condensing hot water boilers
states that the flow rate shall be adjusted to produce a water
temperature rise during the steady state test which is between 19.5
and 20.5 F. During the steady state and heat up tests, the
condensing boiler shall be supplied with return water having a
temperature of 120 F. The maximum permissible variation of the
return water temperature from the required value during the steady
state and heat up tests shall not exceed plus or minus 2 F., except
during the first 30 seconds after start up when it shall not exceed
plus or minus 10 F., and between 30 and 60 seconds after start up it
shall not exceed plus or minus 5 F. (8.4.2.3.2 of ANSI 103-1988).
GlowCore's GB series boilers are class IV, Condensing, Direct
Vent, with Forced Air Combustion. They produce low NOx values
and high efficiencies. Many years of development time and money was
required so all components of the heat exchanger, burner, and
combustion blowers can withstand the corrosive effects of the
condensate from the burning of Natural and L.P. gasses. These
boilers can operate at the lower water temperatures that would
destroy typical cast iron, steel, or cooper heat exchangers and
combustion chambers.
These boilers therefore have a particular niche application for
radiant in-floor heating systems that require less than 100 F. floor
temperatures with 80 F. return water temperature. The test specified
120 F. return water temperature is too high for this application.
All other types of boiler construction must use thermal by-passes to
insure that their heat exchangers do not condense and corrode.
We petition that our GB series boilers can be listed with an
asterisk with the higher AFUE, when used a sources for in-floor
radiant heat and other low temperature heat usages at 80 F. return
water temperatures.
An Engineering Report No. 109-ANSI-ASHRAE/103-1988 was prepared
for us by AGA Laboratories, Cleveland, Ohio 44136, with 80 F. return
water temperatures. It was determined that 80 F. return water
temperature increases the efficiency approximately 5% from that of
120 F. return water. Report enclosed.
Sincerely,
Dave Lackstrom, Product Engineer, GlowCore Corporation
Enclosure.
[FR Doc. 94-32113 Filed 12-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
