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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 113 (Monday, June 13, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34192-34196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14553]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

[Docket No. EERE-2011-BT-STD-0031]
RIN 1904-AC54

Commercial and Industrial Pumps

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

ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 
6291 et seq.) prescribes energy conservation standards for certain 
commercial and industrial equipment, and requires the Department of 
Energy (DOE) to administer an energy conservation program for the 
equipment. In this notice, DOE requests information from interested 
parties regarding product markets, energy use, test procedures, and 
energy efficient product designs for commercial and industrial pumps. 
Additional input and suggestions relevant to this equipment are also 
welcome.

DATES: Written comments and information are requested by July 13, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may submit comments in writing, 
identified by docket number EERE-2011-BT-STD-0031, by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: Pumps-RFI-2011-STD-0031@ee.doe.gov. Include EERE-
2011-BT-STD-0031 and/or RIN 1904-AC54 in the subject line of the 
message.
     Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Request for Information 
for Commercial and Industrial Pumps, EERE-2011-BT-STD-0031 and/or RIN 
1904-AC54, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,

[[Page 34193]]

Washington, DC 20585-0121. Phone: (202) 586-2945. Please submit one 
signed paper original.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 6th Floor, 950 L'Enfant 
Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 586-2945. Please submit 
one signed paper original.
     Instructions: All submissions received must include the 
agency name and docket number.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, visit the U.S. Department of Energy, Resource Room 
of the Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite 
600, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda 
Edwards at the above telephone number for additional information 
regarding visiting the Resource Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles Llenza, 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) 586-2192. E-mail: 
Charles.Llenza@ee.doe.gov.
    In the Office of General Counsel, Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 
586-7796. E-mail: Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Statutory Authority

    Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975, 
as amended (42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq.), sets forth various provisions 
designed to improve energy efficiency. Part C of EPCA includes measures 
to improve the energy efficiency of commercial and industrial 
equipment.\1\ See 42 U.S.C. 6311-6316.
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    \1\ Part C was re-designated Part A-1 on codification of the 
U.S. Code for editorial reasons.
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    Section 6311(A) includes electric motors and pumps as ``covered 
equipment.'' Section 6316(a) describes how provisions in Part A (which 
concerns ``Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles'') apply to 
industrial equipment, which includes pumps.\2\
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    \2\ It states that the provisions of section 6296(a), (b), and 
(d), the provisions of subsections (l) through (s) of section 6295, 
and section 6297 through 6306 shall apply with respect to electric 
motors and pumps to the same extent and in the same manner as they 
apply in part A. In applying the provisions in the sections cited 
above, section 6316(a)(1) states that references to sections 6293, 
6294, and 6295 of this title shall be considered as references to 
sections 6314, 6315, and 6313 of this title, respectively; and 
section 6316(a)(3) states that the term ``equipment'' shall be 
substituted for the term ``product.''
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    Sections 6314 and 6315 concern test procedures and labeling, 
respectively, for covered equipment. The provisions in these sections, 
in combination with section 6316(a), give DOE authority to establish 
test procedures and to prescribe a labeling rule for pumps.
    Based on the information DOE receives in response to this Request 
for Information, DOE will determine whether to initiate a rulemaking to 
establish a test procedure, energy conservation standard, or labeling 
requirement for commercial and industrial pumps.

2. Evaluation of Pumps as Covered Equipment

    EPCA lists several specific types of ``industrial equipment'' as 
``covered equipment,'' including electric motors and pumps. (42 U.S.C. 
6311(1))
    DOE estimates that commercial, industrial, and agricultural pumps 
consume approximately 0.63 quads per year of electricity and that 
technologies exist that can reduce this consumption by approximately 
0.190 quads annually.
    DOE used industry and census data to calculate the average 
establishment energy use for pumps.

Industrial Pumps

    Several estimates have been made of industrial pump electricity 
use. Four are discussed here. The most recent, made for the DOE Office 
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Industrial Technologies 
program by Energetics Incorporated, states that the total industrial 
energy use of industrial pumps is estimated to be 185,000 million kWh 
or 0.63 quads site energy use. The machine drive energy data used in 
this estimate (http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/rd/footprints.html) 
were primarily provided by the DOE Energy Information Administration's 
(EIA's) Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS). The machine 
drive energy includes pump energy and reflects consumption in the year 
2006, when the survey was last completed.
    Another recent report for the United Nations (``Motor System 
Efficiency Supply Curves UNIDO,'' Dec. 2010),\3\ also used the 2006 
MECS data. The total industrial energy use was estimated to be 126,180 
million kWh or 0.43 quads site energy use. Part of the reason for the 
lower estimate in this study is that the authors listed a lower value 
for the petroleum refining industry than any of the other three 
studies.
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    \3\ McKane, A. and A. Hasanbeigi, ``Motor Systems Efficiency 
Supply Curves,'' United Nations Industrial Development Organization. 
(2010) (Available at: http://industrial-energy.lbl.gov/files/industrial-energy/active/0/UNIDO%20Motor%20Systems%20Efficiency%20Supply%20Curves.pdf)
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    An earlier study conducted for DOE, ``United States Industrial 
Electric Motor Systems Opportunities Assessment, December, 2002,'' \4\ 
estimated energy used by pumps in the manufacturing sector. This energy 
use estimate did not include agriculture, oil and gas extraction, water 
and wastewater, or mineral mining. Standard Industrial Codes (SICs) 
from 20-39 (except for 21 and 39) were included in the analysis. The 
site energy use estimated for the year 1994 was 142,690 million kWh or 
0.49 quads site energy use. Table 2.1 lists the energy use for each 
industry analyzed.
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    \4\ U.S Department of Energy, ``United States Industrial 
Electric Motor Systems Market Opportunities Assessment.'' Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, United States Department of 
Energy. (2002) Available at: http://www.oit.doe.gov/bestpractices/

          Table 2.1--Industrial Sector Electricity Use by Pumps
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                                                               Pump
                                                            electricity
                        Industry                          use  (millions
                                                              of kWh)
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Food....................................................           6,218
Textile Mill products...................................           2,949
Lumber and Wood.........................................           1,209
Furniture and Fixtures..................................              27
Paper and Allied products...............................          31,309
Printing and Publishing.................................              84
Chemical and Allied Products............................          37,591
Petroleum and Coal Products.............................          30,643
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics.......................           9,211
Stone, Clay and Glass Products..........................              90
Primary Metal Industries................................           7,646
Fabricated Metal Industries.............................             903
Industrial Machinery and Equipment......................             968
Electronics and Other Electric Equipment................           7,732
Transportation Equipment................................           5,517
Instruments and Related Products........................             594
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) 2003 
report ``Realizing Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Industrial Fan 
and Pump Systems'' summarizes the energy use of pumps in a variety of 
industrial settings (including manufacturing,

[[Page 34194]]

mining, and agriculture).\5\ The report provides total electricity 
consumption and an estimate of the energy savings possible if available 
technologies were utilized. The report estimates the total annual 
agricultural and industrial electricity demand for pumps to be 140.6 
billion kWh or 0.480 quads of site energy use.
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    \5\ Nadel, S. and N. Elliot. ``Realizing Energy Efficiency 
Opportunities in Industrial Fan and Pump Systems,'' Washington, DC.: 
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. (2003) Available 
at: http://www.nwcouncil.org/dropbox/6th%20Plan%20Industrial/Industrial%20Conservation%20Data%20Catalogue/ISC%20Document%20Catalogue_Public%20Version-5%20June%202009/Documents/Tier%202/ACEEE_fans%20and%20pumps_Apr%202003.pdf

                    Table 2.2--Industrial Sector Electricity Demand and Pump Electricity Use
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                                                                                                       Pump
                                                                    Electricity    Pumps' share     electricity
                            Industry                              demand in 2006  of electricity    use in 2006
                                                                    billion kWh        use %        billion kWh
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Agriculture.....................................................            16.3              25             4.1
Mining..........................................................            85.4               7             6.0
Food Mfg........................................................            78.0              11             8.6
Textile Product Mills...........................................             6.0              14             0.8
Wood Product Mfg................................................            28.9               4             1.2
Paper Mfg.......................................................           122.2              28            34.2
Petroleum and Coal Products Mfg.................................            60.1              51            30.7
Chemical Mfg....................................................           207.1              18            37.3
Plastics & Rubber Mfg...........................................            53.4               9             4.8
Nonmetallic Minerals Product Mfg................................            44.8               4             1.8
Primary Metal Mfg...............................................           140.0               2             2.8
Fabricated Metal Product Mfg....................................            42.2               7             3.0
Machinery Mfg...................................................            32.7               8             2.6
Computer & Electronic Product Mfg...............................            27.5               2             0.6
Transportation Equipment Mfg....................................            57.7               4             2.3
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................         1,002.4                           140.6
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    The studies cited above (see Table 2.3) provide estimates of total 
annual pump energy use ranging from about 126,000 million kWh to 
185,000 million kWh (about 0.43 to 0.63 quads) of site energy use. All 
the studies excluded oil and gas extraction, and water and wastewater 
pumping. All the studies found that the paper, chemical, and petroleum 
and coal products manufacturing industries are the three leading users 
of pump energy. If the total industrial energy use is estimated using 
the most recent MECS and including all of the petroleum refining 
industry pump energy use, an estimate of 0.63 quads of site electricity 
use is derived. The primary energy use is about three times the site 
energy use, or 1.9 quads.

          Table 2.3--Summary of Industrial Energy Use for Pumps
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                                                          Annual site
                        Study                           electricity use
                                                         (billion kWh)
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DOE Energetics, 2006, ``Manufacturing Energy and                   185.0
 Carbon Footprints''.................................
United Nations Industrial Development Organization                 126.0
 (UNIDO), 2010, ``Motor Systems Efficiency Supply
 Curves''............................................
DOE Opportunity Assessment, 2002, ``United States                  142.7
 Industrial Electric Motor Systems Market
 Opportunities Assessment''..........................
ACEEE, 2003, ``Realizing Energy Efficiency                         140.6
 Opportunities in Industrial Fan and Pump Systems''..
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    Based on U.S. Census data,\6\ the number of establishments involved 
in mining, manufacturing, and agriculture is estimated as follows.
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    \6\ http://www.ces.census.gov/index.php/bds/bds_database_list

             Table 2.4--Numbers of Establishments by Sector
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                        Sector                           Establishments
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Agriculture, 1997....................................             91,000
Manufacturing, 2005..................................            323,476
Mining, 1997.........................................             21,839
                                                      ------------------
    Total............................................            436,315
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Using the highest estimate, the average per-establishment energy 
use for pumps for agricultural, manufacturing, and mining 
establishments in 2006 was 1.27 million kWh.

Commercial Building Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Pumps

    Based on a 1999 analysis by Arthur D. Little, Inc. (ADL), the 
average per-establishment energy use for pumps in commercial heating, 
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications for 1999 was 
about 8.5 MWh, which exceeds 150 kWh for the 12-month period of 1999. 
The ADL analysis, ``Energy Consumption Characteristics of Commercial 
Building HVAC Systems,'' Volume 2, used EIA's 1999 Commercial Buildings 
Energy Consumption Survey data to develop its estimate.
a. Savings Estimate
    Reports cited in this RFI estimate potential energy savings from 
pumps of 10 percent to 50 percent.\7\ Because these estimates include a 
variety of system and pump efficiency measures including proper sizing 
of equipment,

[[Page 34195]]

the lowest energy savings estimate of 10 percent, based on an European 
Union (EU) study of pump efficiencies (cited in (c) below), is assumed 
for the pump efficiency alone. If that estimate is converted to primary 
energy, the savings are estimated to be 0.19 quads. The potential for 
energy savings is concentrated in paper manufacturing, mining, chemical 
manufacturing, petroleum and coal products manufacturing, and primary 
metal manufacturing, which account for 75 percent of the potential 
total energy savings from industrial pumps.
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    \7\ UNIDO estimates cost-effective potential at 29 percent and 
technical potential at 43 percent for US industrial pumping system. 
Opportunities Assessment reports a midrange savings of 9.6 percent 
of pump energy use through system efficiency improvements for a 
total of 20 percent. ACEEE estimates that ``the typical energy 
savings from fan, pump, or blower-system upgrades vary from 20 
percent to 50 percent.''
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b. Efficiency Considerations
    Pump system efficiencies depend on design factors such as surface 
roughness, internal clearances, solids handling capability, curve 
shape, mechanical shaft seal losses, and other factors.
c. Summary of Data and Calculations
    Analyses based on data from the 2003 EU ``European Guide to Pump 
Efficiency for Single Stage Centrifugal Pumps'' \8\ show that for 
typical flow rates it is reasonable to expect an efficiency improvement 
of 10 percent from the mean pump efficiency to the maximum practically 
attainable level.
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    \8\ European Commission. ``European Guide to Pump Efficiency for 
Single Stage Centrifugal Pumps,'' Varese, Italy: European 
Commission. (2003) Available at: http://work.sitedirect.se/sites/europump/europump/index.php?show=226_SWE&&page_anchor=http://work.sitedirect.se/sites/europump/europump/p226/p226_swe.php

                                      Table 2.5--Summary Table of Primary Energy Consumption and Estimated Savings
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                                                                                      Energy per           Energy consumption      Estimated savings (@
                       Sector                              Establishments         establishment kWh           million kWh           10%)  million kWh
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Industrial..........................................                  436,315                1,272,000                  555,000                   55,000
Commercial Building HVAC............................                4,657,000                    8,496                   39,565                    7,913
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3. Other Regulatory Programs

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DOE jointly administer 
the voluntary ENERGY STAR labeling program (http://www.energystar.gov) 
for various products and equipment. ENERGY STAR currently has no 
labeling program for energy-efficient pumps. Some states, including 
California, have prescribed standards and other regulations regarding 
pumps, in particular for hydronic systems, including a requirement for 
variable speed drives on pumps larger than 5 horsepower (California 
Energy Commission, ``2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for 
Residential and Nonresidential Buildings,'' effective January 1, 2010, 
Section 144(j)).

4. Regulatory Scope

    DOE has not previously conducted an energy conservation standard 
rulemaking for pumps. With this notice, DOE states its intention to 
evaluate the energy savings potential of energy conservation standards, 
labels, or both for commercial and industrial pumps. DOE requests 
information from interested parties regarding product markets, energy 
use, test procedures, and energy efficient product design. After public 
comment on this RFI, DOE will consider developing test procedures and 
energy conservation standards or labels for this equipment.
    Test procedures prescribed in accordance with EPACT 2005 ``shall be 
reasonably designed to produce test results which reflect energy 
efficiency, energy use, and estimated operating costs of a type of 
industrial equipment (or class thereof) during a representative average 
use cycle (as determined by the Secretary), and shall not be unduly 
burdensome to conduct.'' (42 U.S.C. 6314) In a test procedure 
rulemaking, DOE prepares a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) and 
allows interested parties to present oral and written data, views, and 
arguments with respect to such procedures. In prescribing new test 
procedures, DOE takes into account relevant information including 
technological developments relating to energy use or energy efficiency 
of pumps.
    With respect to rulemakings for energy conservation standards, DOE 
typically prepares a framework document, which describes the issues, 
analyses, and process that it is considering for the development of 
energy conservation standards. After receiving comments on the 
framework document, DOE typically prepares a preliminary analysis and 
technical support document (TSD). The preliminary analysis typically 
provides initial draft analyses of potential energy conservation 
standards on consumers, manufacturers, and the nation. None of these 
steps is required by statute.
    DOE is required to publish a NOPR for new or amended conservation 
standards. The NOPR presents DOE's proposal for potential energy 
conservations standards and a summary of the results of DOE's 
supporting technical analysis. The details of DOE's standards analysis 
are provided in a TSD that describes both the burdens and benefits of 
potential standards, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(B)(i). After the 
publication of the NOPR, DOE affords interested persons an opportunity 
during a period of not less than 60 days to provide oral and written 
comment. After receiving and considering the comments on the NOPR and 
not less than 90 days after the publication of the NOPR, DOE issues any 
final rule prescribing new or amended energy conservation standards.

5. Potential Definition(s)

    DOE will consider adding a definition for ``Commercial, Industrial, 
and Agricultural Pumps (Pumps)'' in the Code of Federal Regulations to 
clarify coverage of any potential test procedure or energy conservation 
standard. There currently is no statutory definition of pumps. DOE is 
considering the following definitions of pumps for potential test 
procedures and energy conservation standards and to provide clarity for 
interested parties as it continues its analyses. DOE seeks feedback 
from interested parties on the following potential definition(s) of 
pumps.

a. Definition of Rotodynamic Pumps

    Rotodynamic pumps are kinetic machines that impart energy 
continuously to the pumped fluid by means of a rotating impeller, 
propeller, or rotor. The most common types of rotodynamic pumps are 
centrifugal (radial), mixed flow, and axial flow pumps.
i. Centrifugal (Radial) Flow
    Centrifugal pumps use bladed impellers with essentially radial 
outlets to transfer rotational mechanical energy to the fluid, 
primarily by increasing the fluid kinetic energy (angular

[[Page 34196]]

momentum) and also increasing potential energy (static pressure). 
Kinetic energy is then converted into usable pressure energy in the 
discharge collector.
    Centrifugal pumps that have single inlet impellers usually have a 
specific speed below approximately 90 (4,500). Those having double-
suction impellers usually have a specific speed below approximately 135 
(7,000). In pumps of this type, the liquid enters the impeller at the 
hub and flows radially to the periphery, exiting perpendicular to the 
rotating shaft.
ii. Mixed Flow
    This type of pump has a single inlet impeller whereby the flow 
enters axially and discharges in a mixed axial and radial direction. 
Pumps of this type usually have a specific speed that ranges from 
approximately 90 (4,500) to 200 (10,000).
iii. Axial Flow
    A pump of this type, sometimes called a propeller pump, has a 
single inlet impeller. The flow enters axially and discharges nearly 
axially. Pumps of this type usually have a specific speed above 
approximately 200 (10,000).

b. Definition of Positive Displacement Pumps

    Positive displacement pumps add energy by trapping liquid in a 
confined space and forcibly moving it out of the pump and into the 
discharge pipe. This pumping action is accomplished by one of three 
methods:
    (1) Reciprocating action of plungers, pistons, bellows or 
diaphragms;
    (2) Rotary action of mechanical devices such as gears, screws, 
vanes, etc.; or
    (3) Blow case arrangements using pressurized air to displace 
liquid.

Public Participation

A. Submission of Information

    DOE will accept information and data in response to this Request 
for Information as provided in the DATES section above. Information 
submitted to the Department by e-mail should be provided in 
WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or text file format. Those responding 
should avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption, 
and wherever possible, comments should include the electronic signature 
of the author. Comments submitted to the Department by mail or hand 
delivery/courier should include one signed original paper copy. No 
telefacsimiles will be accepted. Comments submitted in response to this 
notice will become a matter of public record and will be made publicly 
available.

B. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Information

    DOE welcomes comments on the energy use and energy efficiency of 
commercial and industrial pumps and related issues. DOE is particularly 
interested in receiving comments from interested parties on the 
following issues:
    (1) Definition(s) of pumps, pump product classes, and diversity of 
pump types within pump product classes;
    (2) Energy use by pumps as summarized in Table 3.1;
    (3) Overview of the industrial and commercial pump market, 
including shipments and efficiencies ranges;
    (4) Availability and applicability of U.S. and international test 
procedures for pumps;
    (5) Assistance and resources available from stakeholders, states, 
local jurisdictions, and others.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 7, 2011.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2011-14553 Filed 6-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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