[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 189 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50813-50815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24808]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of
the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for
Waiver of Rheem Manufacturing Company from the DOE Furnace Test
Procedure. (Case No. F-087)
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Today's notice grants an Interim Waiver to Rheem Manufacturing
Company (Rheem) from the existing Department of Energy (DOE or
Department) test procedure regarding blower time delay for the
company's GLH downflow and GPH upflow/horizontal series 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 12 seconds for its GLH
downflow and GPH upflow/horizontal series 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
October 28, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department
of Energy, Office of Codes and Standards, Case No. F-087, Mail Stop EE-
43, Room 1J-018, Forestall Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, D.C. 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, Forestall
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20585-0121,
(202) 586-9138.
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forestall Building, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20585-0103, (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 (EPCA), which requires
DOE to prescribe standardized test
[[Page 50814]]
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 Title 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B.
The Department amended the test procedure rules to provide for a
waiver process by adding Section 430.27 to Title 10 CFR Part 430. 45 FR
64108, September 26, 1980. Subsequently, DOE 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. Title 10 CFR Part 430,
Section 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.
An Interim Waiver will be granted if 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. Title 10 CFR
Part 430, Section 430.27 (g). 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 August 28, 1996, Rheem filed an Application for Interim Waiver
and a Petition for 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 12-second blower time delay when testing its
GLH downflow and GPH upflow/horizontal series furnaces. Rheem states
that the 12-second delay is indicative of how these furnaces actually
operate. Such a delay results in an average 2.0 percent increase in
AFUE. 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 Petitions for Waiver 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, 57 FR 34560, August 5,
1992; 59 FR 30577, June 14, 1994, and 59 FR 55470, November 7, 1994;
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, 58 FR
68138, December 23, 1993, and 60 FR 62835, December 7, 1995; 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,
56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991 and 61 FR 27057, May 30, 1996; DMO
Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991, and 59 FR 30579, June 14,
1994; 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,
59 FR 14394, March 28, 1994, and 60 FR 62832, December 7, 1995; 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, 59 FR 12586, March 17, 1994 and 61 FR 17289, April 19,
1996; 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, 57
FR 54230, November 17, 1992, and 59 FR 30575, June 14, 1994; Thermo
Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 1992, and 61 FR 17887, April 23,
1996; Consolidated Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 1992,
and 61 FR 4262, February 5, 1996; Evcon Industries, Inc., 57 FR 47847,
October 20, 1992, and 59 FR 46968, September 13, 1994; Bard
Manufacturing Company, 57 FR 53733, November 12, 1992, and 59 FR 30578,
June 14, 1994; and York International Corporation, 59 FR 46969,
September 13, 1994, 60 FR 100, January 3, 1995, 60 FR 62834, December
7, 1995, and 60 FR 62837, December 7, 1995.
Thus, it appears likely that this Petition for Waiver for blower
time delay will be granted. 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 GLH downflow and GPH upflow/horizontal series furnaces.
Rheem shall be permitted to test its GLH downflow and GPM upflow/
horizontal series furnaces on the basis of the test procedures
specified in Title 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
[[Page 50815]]
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.
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 12
seconds for its GLH downflow and GPH upflow/horizontal series furnaces
instead of the specified 1.5-minute delay between burner on-time and
blower on-time. Pursuant to paragraph (b) of Title 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, September 19, 1996.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Rheem Manufacturing Company
August 28, 1996.
Mr. Cyrus Nasseri,
Assistant Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Energy, United
States Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, D.C. 20585.
Dear Mr. Nasseri: This is a petition for waiver and application
for interim waiver submitted pursuant to title 10 CFR Part 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 12 second delay instead of 1.5
minutes for our series (-)GLH downflow, and (-)GPH upflow/horizontal
residential gas-fired furnaces utilizing General Electric type ICM2+
main blower motors.
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 12 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% Annual Fuel
Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). 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,
(-)GPH, (-)GLH, (-)GVH, 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 a 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.
bcc: B.A. Cook, K.W. Kleman, R.W. Willis
[FR Doc. 96-24808 Filed 9-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
