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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50145-50148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20604]

========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 156 / Friday, August 12, 2011 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 50145]]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket Number EERE-2011-BT-TP-0054]
RIN 1904-AC63

Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential 
Clothes Dryers

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

ACTION: Request for information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated a test 
procedure rulemaking for residential clothes dryers to further 
investigate the effects of automatic cycle termination on the energy 
efficiency. DOE specifically is seeking information, data, and comments 
regarding methods for more accurately measuring the effects of 
automatic cycle termination in the residential clothes dryer test 
procedure. DOE will address the issues surrounding testing of automatic 
cycle termination sensors in this rulemaking prior to the compliance 
date of amended energy conservation standards recently adopted for 
residential clothes dryers. To the extent required by the statute, DOE 
will also address any potential impacts on the amended energy 
conservation standards resulting from these test procedure amendments 
during the rulemaking process.

DATES: Written comments and information are requested on or before 
September 12, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested 
persons may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2011-BT-
TP-0054 and/or RIN 1904-AC63, by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: RCDAT-2011-TP-0054@ee.doe.gov. Include docket 
number EERE-2011-BT-TP-0054 and/or RIN 1904-AC63 in the subject line of 
the message. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, 
PDF, or ASCII file format and avoid the use of special characters or 
any form of encryption.
     Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 
586-2945. Please submit one signed original paper copy.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th 
Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed original paper 
copy.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, or 
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
may be sent to Mr. Stephen Witkowski, U.S. Department of Energy, Office 
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies 
Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: 202-586-7463. E-mail: Stephen.Witkowski@ee.doe.gov.
    In the Office of the General Counsel, contact Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, 
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, Room 6A-179, 
Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 202-586-7796; E-mail: 
Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 6, 2011, DOE published in the 
Federal Register a final rule for the residential clothes dryer and 
room air conditioner test procedure rulemaking (76 FR 972) (January TP 
final rule), in which it (1) adopted the provisions for the measurement 
of standby mode and off mode power use for those products; and (2) 
adopted several amendments to the clothes dryer and room air 
conditioner test procedures concerning the active mode for these 
products. 76 FR 972 (Jan. 6, 2011). In the January TP final rule, DOE 
declined to adopt the amendments to more accurately measure automatic 
cycle termination that were originally proposed in the test procedure 
supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (June TP SNOPR) (75 FR 
37594, 37612-37620 (June 29, 2010)). As further discussed in the 
January TP final rule, DOE conducted testing of representative 
residential clothes dryers using the automatic cycle termination test 
procedure proposed in the June TP SNOPR. The results of the testing 
revealed that all of the clothes dryers tested significantly over-dried 
the DOE test load to near bone dry and, as a result, the measured 
energy factor (EF) values were significantly lower than EF values 
obtained using the existing DOE test procedure. The test data also 
indicated that clothes dryers equipped with automatic termination 
controls would be considered less efficient than timer dryers. 76 FR 
977.
    As noted in the January TP final rule, DOE believes the test 
procedure amendments for automatic cycle termination proposed in the 
June TP SNOPR do not adequately measure the energy consumption of 
clothes dryers equipped with such systems using the test load specified 
in the DOE test procedure. DOE believes that clothes dryers with 
automatic termination sensing control systems, which infer the 
remaining moisture content (RMC) of the load from the properties of the 
exhaust air such as temperature and humidity, may be designed 
differently than the procedures in the June TP SNOPR considered. 
Specifically, DOE believes these types of dryers are designed to stop 
the cycle when the consumer load has a higher RMC than the RMC obtained 
using the proposed automatic cycle termination test procedure in 
conjunction with the existing test load. However, in considering 
whether other test loads would be appropriate to incorporate into the 
DOE test procedure to produce both representative and repeatable test 
results, DOE notes that manufacturers have also indicated that test 
load types and test cloth materials different than those specified in 
the DOE test procedure do not produce results as repeatable as those 
obtained using the test load as currently specified. 76 FR 977.
    In support of its test procedure rulemaking, DOE conducts in-depth 
technical analyses of publicly available test standards and other 
relevant information. DOE continually seeks data and public input to 
improve its testing methodologies to more accurately reflect consumer 
use. In general, DOE is requesting comment and supporting

[[Page 50146]]

data regarding methods for more accurately measuring the effects of 
automatic cycle termination. Additionally, DOE seeks comment and 
information on the specific topics below:

Test Load Characteristics

    DOE notes that the current test procedure specifies that tests be 
conducted using a cotton momie test cloths that are each 24 inches by 
36 inches in dimensions and are a blend of 50-percent cotton and 50-
percent polyester. DOE recognizes that this test load may not be 
representative of real-world laundry loads dried by consumers and that 
manufacturers may be designing their automatic cycle termination 
control systems to achieve higher final moisture contents closer to 5-
percent RMC when drying real-world laundry loads even though the same 
drying process conducted with the DOE test cloth would result in a much 
lower RMC. However, DOE also notes that manufacturers have indicated 
that test load types and test cloth materials different than those 
specified in the DOE test procedure do not produce results as 
repeatable as those obtained using the test load as currently 
specified. DOE has requested information on the characteristics of 
real-world laundry loads dried by consumers from a laundry detergent 
manufacturer that develops a significant amount of consumer usage data, 
but has not yet received any such data.
    DOE notes that the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers 
(AHAM) clothes dryer test standard HLD-1-2009, ``Household Tumble Type 
Clothes Dryers,'' and the International Electrotechnical Commission 
(IEC) test standard 61121, ``Tumble dryers for household use--Methods 
for measuring the performance,'' Edition 3 (2005) both specify a test 
load consisting of cotton bed sheets, towels, and pillowcases. As noted 
in the January TP final rule, DOE believes that clothes dryers with 
automatic termination sensing control systems, which infer the RMC of 
the load from the properties of the exhaust air such as temperature and 
humidity, may be designed to stop the cycle when the consumer load has 
a higher RMC than the RMC obtained using the automatic cycle 
termination test procedure proposed in the June TP SNOPR in conjunction 
with the existing test load. To investigate this, DOE conducted limited 
additional testing using a test load similar to that specified in AHAM 
Standard HLD-1-2009. For tests on two clothes dryers using the same 
automatic cycle termination settings (i.e., normal cycle setting and 
highest temperature setting), the alternate test load was dried to 1.7 
to 2.2 percent final RMC, with an average RMC of 2.0 percent. In 
comparison, the same clothes dryer under the same cycle settings dried 
the DOE test load to 0.3 to 1.2 percent RMC, with an average RMC of 0.7 
percent.
     DOE requests consumer usage data on the characteristics of 
laundry loads dried by consumers, including material (i.e., cotton, 
polyester, etc.), type (i.e., t-shirts, towels, bed sheets, jeans, 
etc.), and quantity.
     DOE seeks comment on its limited testing comparing the 
current DOE test load to one similar to the AHAM and IEC test standard 
loads, described above. DOE also requests information and test data 
comparing the measured energy use of different test loads, including 
the AHAM and IEC test standard loads, to the DOE test load using the 
same automatic cycle termination settings. Please indicate the cycle 
settings used when providing data (when possible use the ``normal'' 
cycle or the cycle recommended by manufacturers for drying cotton or 
linen clothes). Please also indicate the type of sensor technology used 
for the clothes dryers under test (e.g., temperature sensors or 
moisture sensors) and the starting and final moisture content of the 
test load (when possible use the starting moisture content of 57.5 
percent with an 8.45 pound (lb) test load for standard size dryers and 
3.00 lb test load for compact dryers).
     DOE requests test data on the repeatability of alternate 
test loads using automatic cycle termination, including those specified 
in the AHAM test standard HLD-1-2009 and other real-world loads.

Accuracy of Different Automatic Cycle Termination Sensors and Controls

    DOE recognizes that different automatic cycle termination sensor 
technologies and control strategies may measure the remaining moisture 
content in a laundry load during the drying cycle to varying accuracy. 
However, through DOE's testing conducted for the January TP final rule 
using the DOE test cloth, shown in the table below, DOE was unable to 
determine whether certain sensor technologies more accurately measure 
the moisture content of the laundry load during the drying cycle (i.e., 
DOE was unable to distinguish between sensor technologies).

   Table 1--DOE Clothes Dryer Automatic Cycle Termination Tests (Table III.8 in Final Rule Notice With Sensor
                                             Technology Identified)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Current DOE      June TP SNOPR automatic cycle
                                                                  test             termination procedure
                                                 Current DOE  procedure w/--------------------------------------
          Test unit                 Sensor           test       modified
                                  technology      procedure    field use                  Percent     Final RMC
                                                 EF lb/kWh *   factor **    EF lb/kWh      change     (percent)
                                                               EF lb/kWh
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vented Electric Standard:
    Unit 3...................  Moisture + Temp.         3.20         2.82         2.59        -19.1          1.0
    Unit 4...................  Temperature.....         3.28         2.89         2.59        -21.2          0.6
Vented Gas:
    Unit 8...................  Temperature.....         2.83         2.50         2.42        -14.5          0.4
    Unit 9...................  Temperature.....         2.85         2.51         2.38        -16.3          0.9
    Unit 11..................  Moisture + Temp.         2.98         2.63         2.40        -19.5          0.9
Vented Electric Compact 240V:
    Unit 12..................  Moisture + Temp.         3.19         2.81         2.64        -17.3          0.5
    Unit 13..................  Temperature.....         2.93         2.59         2.27        -22.7          1.4
Vented Electric Compact 120V:
    Unit 14..................  Moisture + Temp.         3.23         2.85         1.98        -38.8          0.7
Ventless Electric Compact
 240V:

[[Page 50147]]

 
    Unit 15..................  Moisture + Temp.         2.37         2.09         2.07        -12.4          1.1
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* Tests use the appropriate field use factor of 1.04 for clothes dryers with automatic termination.
** Field use factor changed from the nominal 1.04 for clothes dryers with automatic termination to 1.18, which
  is normally for timer dryers.

     DOE requests information and data on the accuracy of 
different sensor technologies and control strategies (e.g., temperature 
sensors, moisture sensors, or a combination of both) in their ability 
to measure the remaining moisture content of the laundry load. Please 
indicate the cycle settings used when providing data (when possible use 
the ``normal'' cycle or the cycle recommended by manufacturers for 
drying cotton or linen clothes). Please also indicate the type of 
sensor technology used for the clothes dryers under test (e.g., 
temperature sensors or moisture sensors) and the starting and final 
moisture content of the test load (when possible use the starting 
moisture content of 57.5 percent with an 8.45 pound (lb) test load for 
standard size dryers and 3.00 lb test load for compact dryers).
     DOE requests data on the target RMC used by manufacturers 
when designing and programming automatic cycle termination controls 
that maintains consumer satisfaction. DOE also requests information on 
how the target RMC varies by clothes dryer capacity. As noted in the 
table above, the final measured RMC from testing of DOE's sample ranged 
from 0.4 percent to 1.4 percent, with an average of 0.8 percent.

Water Conditions

    DOE notes that the IEC is currently revising its test standard for 
clothes dryers, that is, IEC Standard 61121. As part of its revised 
draft, the IEC notes that the characteristics of the water used for 
wetting the test load prior to the test, particularly the conductivity, 
can have a large influence on test results when testing automatic cycle 
termination clothes dryers with moisture sensors. Clothes dryers with 
moisture sensors use conductivity sensor bars to determine the amount 
of moisture in the load when the load comes in contact with the 
sensors. The following table provides the characteristics of either 
soft or hard water to be used for appliance testing under IEC Standard 
61121.

                        Table 2--Composition of Soft and Hard Water for Appliance Testing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Water type
                                                                                 -------------------------------
                   Property                                   Unit                Standard  soft  Standard  hard
                                                                                       water           water
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total hardness................................  mmol/l (Ca\2+\/Mg\2+\)..........     0.50  0.20     minus> 0.20
Conductivity (at 20 [deg]C)...................  [micro]S/cm.....................      150  50      minus> 150
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE is not aware of any data regarding the effects of conductivity 
of the water used to wet the test load on the measured efficiency.
     DOE requests information and data on the effects of 
conductivity of the water supply used to wet the test load prior to 
drying cycle tests on the measured efficiency using automatic cycle 
termination. In particular, DOE requests data on the effects of using 
unaltered water supplies versus water supplies adjusted to meet the 
specifications in the draft version of IEC 61121. Please indicate the 
cycle settings used when providing data (when possible use the 
``normal'' cycle or the cycle recommended by manufacturers for drying 
cotton or linen clothes). Please also indicate the type of sensor 
technology used for the clothes dryers under test (e.g., temperature 
sensors or moisture sensors) and the starting and final moisture 
content of the test load (when possible use the starting moisture 
content of 57.5 percent with an 8.45 pound (lb) test load for standard 
size dryers and 3.00 lb test load for compact dryers).
     DOE requests data on any potential burden associated with 
requirements for and adjustments to the water supply used for wetting 
the test load.

Cycle Settings--ECOS Test Results

    DOE notes that ECOS Consulting (ECOS) conducted a testing program 
for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to evaluate clothes 
dryer automatic cycle termination.\1\ (The ECOS report stated that the 
difference between a standard clothes dryer and one that is effective 
at turning itself off when clothes are actually dry is about 0.76 
kilowatt-hours (kWh) per load (5,000 kWh over typical lifetime). The 
ECOS report also stated that automatic termination cycles using lower 
heat settings or lower dryness level reduce energy consumption and 
increase efficiency because less energy is spent heating air, cloth, 
and metal. The ECOS report summarized testing results for one clothes 
dryer that showed that the difference in energy consumption between the 
highest and lowest heat settings was 13 percent and that the drying 
time increased (from 35 to 49 minutes), but very similar final RMCs 
were achieved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ NRDC, No. 30 at pp. 1-40. Public comment submitted in docket 
number EERE-2007-BT-STD-0010.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     DOE requests information and data on consumer usage habits 
regarding cycles selected for drying. In your responses, please be 
specific by indicating general cycle settings, temperature settings, 
and dryness level settings used by consumers.

[[Page 50148]]

     DOE requests additional information and data on the 
effects of using different automatic cycle termination settings. When 
providing test results, please also indicate the type of sensor 
technology used for the clothes dryers under test (e.g., temperature 
sensors or moisture sensors) and the starting and final moisture 
content of the test load (when possible use the starting moisture 
content of 57.5 percent with an 8.45 pound (lb) test load for standard 
size dryers and 3.00 lb test load for compact dryers).
     DOE requests comments on methodology for accounting for 
various cycle setting options in the DOE test procedure. In particular, 
if interested parties believe that DOE should test multiple cycles, 
please provide consumer usage data on the percentage of drying cycles 
that consumers use for each automatic cycle termination setting.
     DOE also requests comment on the additional testing burden 
associated with a requirement to measure multiple cycle settings.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 9, 2011.
Roland J. Risser,
Program Manager, Building Technologies Program, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2011-20604 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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