57FR901

Federal Register / Vol. 57, No. 6 / Thursday, January 9, 1992 / Notices 901

blower time delay for the company's September 26,1980, creating the waiver

MAA series of gas furnaces. process. 45 FR 64108. Thereafter DOE

Today's notice also publishes a further amended the appliance test

"Petition for Waiver" from Consolidated procedure waiver process to allow the

Industries. Consolidated Industries' Assistant Secretary for Conservation

Petition for Waiver requests DOE to and Renewable Energy (Assistant

grant relief from the DOE test Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver

procedures relating to the blower time from test procedure requirements to

delay specification. Consolidated manufacturers that have petitioned DOE

Industries seeks to test using a blower for a waiver of such prescribed test

delay time of 30 seconds for its MAA procedures. 51 FR 42823, November 26,

series of gas furnaces instead of the 1986.

specified 1.5-minute delay between The waiver process allows the

burner on-time and blower on-time. Assistant Secretary to waive

DOE is soliciting comments, data, and temporarily test procedures for a

information respecting the Petition for particular basic model when a petitioner

Waiver. shows that the basic model contains one

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, or more design characteristics which

and information not later than February prevent testing according to the

10,1992. prescribedtest procedures or when the

ADDRESSES: Written comments and prescribed test procedures may evaluate

statements shall be sent to: Department the basic model in a manner so

of Energy, Office of Conservation and unrepresentative of its true energy

Renewable Energy, Case No. F-041, Mail consumption as to provide materially

Stop CE-90, room 6B-025, Forrestal . inaccurate comparative data. Waivers

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, generally remain in effect until final test

SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586- procedure amendments become

3012. effective,,resolving the problem that is

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the subject of the waiver.

Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of The Interim Waiver provisions, added

Energy, Office of Conservation and by the 1986 amendment, allow the

Renewable Energy, Mail Station CE- Assistant Secretary to grant an Interim

43, Forrestal Building, 1000 Waiver when it is determined that the

Independence Avenue. SW., applicant will experience economic

Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127. hardship if the Application for Interim

Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department Waiver is denied, if it appears likely

of Energy, Office of General Counsel, that the Petition for Waiver will be

Mail Station GC-41, Forrestal granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, determines that it would be desirable for

SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) public policy reasons to grant immediate

586-9507. relief pending a determination on the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Petition for Waiver. An Interim Waiver

Energy Conservation Program for remains in effect for a period of 180 days

Consumer Products (other than or until DOE issues its determination on

automobiles) was established pursuant the Petition for Waiver, whichever is

to the Energy Policy and Conservation sooner, and may be extended for an

Act (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, 89 Stat. additional 180 days, if necessary.

917, as amended by the National Energy On September 18,1991, Consolidated

Conservation Policy Act (NECPA), Industries filed an Application for an

Public Law 95-619.92 Stat. 3266, the Interim Waiver regarding blower time

(Case No. F-0411 National Appliance Energy delay and an amended application on

Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), November 4,1991. Consolidated

Energy Conservation Program for Public Law 100-12. and the National Industries' Application seeks an Interim

Consumer Products-;-;Granting of the Appliance Energy Conservation - Waiver from the DOE test provisions

Application for Interim Waiver and Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), that require a 1.5-minute time delay

Publishing of the Petition for Waiver of Public Law 100-357, which requires DOE between the ignition of the burner and

Furnace Test Procedures from to prescribe standardized test starting of the circulating air blower.

Consolidated Industries Corp. procedures to measure the energy Instead, Consolidated Industries

AGENCY: Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a

letter granting an Interim Waiver to

Consolidated Industries Corp.

(Consolidated Industries) from the

existing Department of Energy (DOE)

test procedures for furnaces regarding

consumption of certain consumer requests the allowance to test using a

products, including furnaces. The intent 30-second blower time delay when

of the test procedures is to provide a testing its MAA series of gas furnaces.

comparable measure of energy Consolidated Industries states that the

consumption that will assist consumers 30-second delay is indicative of how

in making purchasing decisions. These these furnaces actually operate. Such a

test procedures appear at 10 CFR part delay results in an energy savings of

430, subpart B. approximately 0.8 percent. Since current

DOE amended the prescribed test DOE test procedures do not address this

procedures by adding 10 CFR 430.27 on variable blower time delay,

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 72
57FR901

Federal Register / Vol. 57, No. 8 / Thursday, January 9, 1992 / Notices

Consolidated Industries 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, 1988.55 FR 3253,

January 31, 1990. and 55 FR 37521.

September 121990; Trane Company, 54

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

October 12,1990; Lennox Industries, 54

FR 50525, December 7,1989; 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; Inter-City Products

Corporation, 55 FR 31099, July 31,1990,

and 56 FR 27959, June 18, 1991; Amana

Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853, January 9,

1991, and 56 FR 29957, July 1,1991; .

Armstrong Air Conditioning. Inc., 56 FR

10553, March 13,1991, and 56 FR 34200,

July 26,1991; Snyder General

Corporation, 56 FR 14511. April 10,1991;

Goodman Manufacturing Corporation,

56 FR 20421, May 3,1991; Thermo

Products, Inc., 56 FR 32205, July 15, 1991;

and The Ducane Company, 58 FR 45958,

September 9, 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 Consolidated Industries an

Interim Waiver for its MAA series of gas

furnaces. Pursuant to paragraph (e) of

section 430.27 of the Code of Federal

Regulations, the following letter granting

the Application for Interim Waiver to

Consolidated Industries 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., December 30.

1991.

J. Michael Davis,

AssistantSecnetary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

Department of Energy

Washington, DC 20585

December 30, IM.

bor. Richard H. Weber, President.

Consolidated Industries Corp., P.0 Box 7Jit

Lafayette. IN 47903-78GR

Dear Mr. Weber. This is in response to

your November 4,1991, amended Application

for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver

from the Department of Energy (DOE) test

procedures for furnaces regarding blower

time delay for Consolidated Industries Corp.

(Consolidated Industries) MAA series of gas

furnaces.

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. IM 55 FR 3253, January 31,

1990, and 55 FR 37521, September 12,1990.

Trane Company, 54 FR 19228, May 4,1989,

and 55 FR 41589, October 12, 1998 Lennox

Industries, 54 FR 50525, December 7,1999;

DMO Industries, 55 FR 4004. February 6. 1998

Heil-Quaker Corporation, 55 FR 13184, April

9,1990; Carrier Corporation, 55 FR 13182,

April 9,1990; Inter-City Products Corporation,

FR 31099, July 31, 19K and 56 FR 27959, June

18,1991; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853,

January 9, 1991. and 56 FR 29957, July 1, 1991;

Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc. 58 FR

10553, March 13,1991, and 58 FR 34200. July

28,1991; Snyder General Corporation. 56 FR

14511. April 10,1991; Goodman

Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 20421, May

3,1991 ; Thermo Products, Inc.. 58 FR 32205,

July 15,1991; and The Ducane Company, 56

FR 45958, September 9. 1991,

Consolidated Industries' Application for

Interim Waiver does not provide sufficient

information to evaluate what, if any,

economic impact or competitive disadvantage

Consolidated Industries 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, Consolidated Industries'

Application for an Interim Waiver from the -

DOE test procedures for its MAA series of

gas furnaces regarding blower time delay is

granted. ,

Consolidated Industries shall be permitted

to test its line of MAA series of 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.

(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 9.32,

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 as

temperature, using the thermocouple grid

described above, at 0.3 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 abuts

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 oilfueled 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 Interini..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,

J. Michael Davis,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

Consolidated Industries

November 4,1991.

Assistant Secretary of Conservation and

Renewable Energy,

U.S. Department of Energy, 10010

Independence Avenue S. W., Washington,

DC20585.

Gentlemen: This letter is in reference to my

letter of September 18, IM, to Petition for

Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver

as submitted in compliance with title 10 CFR

430.27. -

By this letter Consolidated Industries is

amending our September 18, 1991 request

such that our MAA series furnaces will be

tested with a 30 second time delay used in

place of the current test procedure's 1.5

minute time delay. Thirty seconds is the

maximum time delay, including

manufacturing tolerance, of the nonadjustable time delay relay used in the MAA

Series furnaces.

Test results show an average of 0.8%

improvement in AFUE using th4 30 seconds

fixed time delay in place of the present

standards 1.5 minute time delay . Data and

documentation can be supplied at your

request.

Sincerely,

Richard H. Weber,

President.

September 18,1991.

Assistant Secretary of Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 72
57FR901

-Federal Register / Vol. 57, No. 8 I Thursday, January 9, 1992 / Notices

U.S. Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue SW Washington,

DC20585

Gentlemen:: This Petition for Waiver and

Application for Interim Waiver is submitted

in compliance with title 10 CFR 430.27. This

request is for a modification to the Test

Procedures for Measuring the Energy

Consumption of Furnaces found in appendix

N to subpart B of Part 430.

The current test procedure uses a 1.5

minute time delay between the burner startup and the blower start-up. Consolidated

Industries' MAA series of furnaces utilizes a

25 second non-adjustable fixed time delay

between the burner ignition and blower

startup. This timer has a manufacturer's

tolerance of ±5 seconds. For the MAA series

of furnaces, Consolidated industries is

requesting that the fixed time delay be

substituted for the current test procedure's 1.5

minute time delay.

We submit that the current test procedure

using the 1.5 minute blower start-up time

delay requires a bypass of the furnace safety

limit switch and does not represent the true

product performance and efficiency. The

MAA furnace series has a light weight,

compact heat exchanger that was designed to

heat up very quickly with an ensuing blower

start-up time optimized at 25 seconds. The

advanced beat exchanger design along with

improved operating controls has improved

the efficiency of this furnace in such a way

that the current standard does not credit

Consolidated Industries for the true

efficiency improvements of this furnace. The

product performance will be more accurately

depicted using the proposed ASHRAE

Standard 103-1988 which accounts for the

design flexibility and improvement without

the penalty incurred by using the current test

procedure. The test results show an average

of 0.9% improvement in AFUE using the 25

second fixed time delay.

Other manufacturers have submitted

similar waiver requests for similar reasons.

Data and documentation can be supplied at

your request

This waiver request letter has been sent to

GAMA and gas furnace manufactures that

market similar products.

Sincerely.

Richard H. Weber,

President Consolidated Industries Corp.

[FR Doc. 92-530 Filed 1-8-92; 8:45 am]

e WNG 000E 1450.01-M

•'903

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 72