56FR32205

Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 135 / Monday, July 15, 1991 / Notices 32205

Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products; Application for

Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver

of Furnace Test Procedures From

Thermo Products, Inc. (Case No. F034)

AGENCY: Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a

letter granting an Interim Waiver to

Thermo Products, Inc. (Thermo) from the

existing Department of Energy (DOE)

test procedures for furnaces regarding

blower time delay for the company's

GLC and GHC condensing gas furnaces.

Today's notice also publishes a

"Petition for Waiver" from Thermo.

Thermo's Petition for Waiver requests

DOE to grant relief from the DOE test

procedures relating to the blower time

delay specification. Thermo seeks to test

using a blower delay time of 30 seconds

for its GLC and GHC condensing gas

furnaces instead of the specified 1.5-

minute delay between burner on-time

and blower on-time. DOE is soliciting

comments, data, and information

respecting the Petition for Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,

and information not later than August

14,1991.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and

statements shall be sent to: Department

of Energy, Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Case No. F-034, Mail

Stop CE-90, room 6B-025, Forrestal

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-

3012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Mail Station CE43, Forrestal Building, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127.

Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department

of Energy, Office of General Counsel,

Mail Station GC-41, Forrestal

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202)

588-9507.

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),

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 59
'.32206 Federal Register / Vol. 56,'T?`Monday, July 15, 1991 / Notices

Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3266, the

National Appliance Energy

Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA).

Public Law 100-12, and the National

Appliance Energy Conservation

Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988),

Public Law 100-357, 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.

DOE 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 Conservation

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

Assistant 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 May 2, and June 4, 1991. Thermo

filed an Application for an Interim

Waiver regarding blower time delay.

Thermo'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, Thermo requests the allowance

to test using a 30-second blower time

delay when testing its GLC and GIIC

condensing gas furnaces. Thermo states

that the 30-second delay is indicative of

how these furnaces actually operate.

Such a delay results in an energy

savings of approximately 1.5 percent.

Since current DOE test procedures do

not address this variable blower time

delay, Thermo asks that the interim

waiver be granted.

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, and 55 FR 3253,

January 31, 1990; Trane Company, 54 FR

19226, May 4, 1989, and 55 FR 41589,

October 12, 1990; DMO Industries, 55 FR

4004, February 6,1990; Heil-Quaker

Corporation, 55 FR 13184, April 9, 1990;

Carrier Corporation, 55 FR 13182, April

9, 1990; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR

853, January 9, 1991; and Armstrong Air

Conditioning, Inc., 56 FR 10553, March

13, 1991. 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 Thermo an Interim Waiver for

its GLC and GHC condensing gas

furnaces. Pursuant to paragraph (e) of

§ 430.27 of the Code of Federal

Regulations, the following letter granting

the Application for Interim Waiver to

Thermo Products, Inc. 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. DOE solicits comments,

data, and information respecting the

petition.

Issued in Washington, DC, July 9,1991.

1. Michael Davis,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

May 2._1991.

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Resources,

United States Department of Energy. 1000

Independence Ave. SW., Washington,

DC 20585.

Gentlemen: This is a petition for waiver

and application for interim waiver submitted

pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27. Waiver is

requested from the furnace test procedure

found in Appendix N to subpart B of part 430.

The test procedure requires a 1.5 minute

delay between burner on and blower on.

Thermo Products Corporation Is requesting

use of a non-adjustable fan control device

which automatically brings the fan on ahead•

of the 1.5 minutes specified, which prevents

testing the basic models in a manner

representative of their true performance thus

providing inaccurate comparative data.

If this petition Is granted, the fan control

would be allowed to operate in its normal

manner and the resultant true blower on time

delay would be used in the test procedure

and the calculations.

Thermo Products Corporation is using this

fan delay device on our GLC and GHC line of

condensing furnaces and the average energy

savings is 1.5% on our AFUE test results.

Thermo Products Corporation is confident

that this waiver will be granted and is

requesting an interim waiver until the final

ruling is made. Proposed ASIIRAE Standard

103-1988 specifically addresses the use of

timed blower devices. Similar waivers have

been granted to other furnace manufacturers.

Confidential comparative data is available

to you upon your request

Domestic Manufacturers of similar

products have been sent a copy of this

correspondence.

Very truly yours,

Thermo Products, Inc.

Everett E. James,

Director of Engineering.

June 4. 1991. .

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of

Conservation and Renewable Energ}^.

Mail Station CE-42, Forrestal Building.

1000 Independence Ave. SI41,

Washington, DC 20585.

Attn.: Mr. Cyrus H. Hasseri:

Dear Mr. Hasseri: In follow-up to our phone

conversation regarding our May 3. 1991

Petition for Waiver and Application for

Interim Waiver. This waiver is pursuant to 10

CFR 430.27 requested from the furnace test

procedure found in Appendix N to Subpart B.

The test procedure requires a 1.5 minute

delay between burner on and blower on.

Thermo Products Corporation is requesting

use of a non-adjustable fan control device

which automatically brings the fan on at 30

seconds instead of the 1.5 minutes.

Thermo Products Corporation is using this

fan delay device on our GLC and GIIC

product line of condensing furnaces and the

average energy savings is 1.5% on our AFUE

test results.

The current prescribed test procedures

prohibit Thermo Products from taking credit

for the saved energy, thus providing

inaccurate comparative data.

If this petition is granted, the fan control

would be allowed to operate in its normal

manner and the resultant true blower on time

delay of 30 seconds would be used in the test

procedure and the calculations.

Thermo Products is confident that this

waiver will be granted and is requesting an

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 59
56FR32205

Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 135 / Monday, July 15, 1991 / Notices

interim waiver until the final ruling Is made.

Proposed ASHRAE Standard 103--1988

specifically addresses the use of a timed

blower operation.

The confidential comparative data is

available for your review upon request.

Very truly yours,

THERMO PRODUCTS, INC.

Everett E. James,

Director of Engineering.

July 9,1991.

Mr. Everett E. James

Director of Engineering

Thermo Products, Inc.

P.O. Box 217

North Judson,Indiana 46366.

Dear Mr. James: This is in response to your

May 2, and June 4,1991, Application for

Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver from

the Department of Energy (DOE) test

procedures for furnaces regarding blower

time delay for the Thermo Products, Inc.

(Thermo) GLC and GHC condensing gas

furnaces.

Previous waivers for 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, and

55 FR 3253, January 31,1990; Trane Company,

54 FR 19228, May 4,1989, and 55 FR 41589,

October 12,1990; DMO Industries, 55 FR 4004,

February 6,1990; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 55

FR 13184, April 9,1990; Carrier Corporation,

55 FR 13182, April 9, 1990; Amana

Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853, January 9, 1991;

and Armstrong Air Conditioning Inc., 56 FR

10553, March 13,1991.

Thermo's Application for Interim Waiver

does not provide sufficient information to

evaluate what, if any, economic impact or

competitive disadvantage Thermo 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, Themio's Application for an

Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedures

for its GLC and GHC condensing gas

furnaces regarding blower time delay is

granted.

Thermo shall be permitted to test its line of

GLC and GHC condensing 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.

(1) 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 10.01 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 revoked 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,

1. Michael Davis,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 91-16787 Filed 7-12-91; 8:45 am]

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