63946 Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 235 / Friday, December 6, 1991 / Notices

Case No. F-037

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products; Application for

Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver

of Furnace Test Procedures From

Rheem Manufacturing Co.

AGENCY: Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a

letter granting an Interim Waiver to

Rheem Manufacturing Company

(Rheem) from the existing Department of

Energy (DOE) test procedures for

furnaces regarding blower time delay for

the company's GDG and GLG series of

gas 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 test

procedures relating to the blower time

delay specification. Rheem seeks to test

using a blower delay time of 30 seconds

for its GDG and GLG series of 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.

DATE: DOE will accept comments, data,

and information not later than January

6,1992.

ADDRESS: Written comments and

statements shall be sent to: Department

of Energy, Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Case No. F-037, Mail

Stop CE-90. Room 8B-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 CE-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),

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 28, 1980, creating the waiver

process. 45 CFR 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 1988 amendment, allow the

Assistant Secretary to grant an Interim

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 69
Federal Register

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 August 1. 1991, Rheem filed an

Application for an Interim 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 30-second blower time delay

when testing its GDG and GLG series of

gas furnaces. Rheem states that the 30-

second delay is indicative of how these

furnaces actually operate . Such a delay

results in an energy savings of

approximately 2.0 percent. Since current

DOE test procedures do not address this

variable blower time delay, Rheem 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 12, 1990; 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; and Thermo

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

and the Ducane Company, 56 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

Vol. 56, No. 235 / Friday, December 6, 1991 / Notices 63947

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 CDG and GLG series of 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 Rheem 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, November 27,

1991.

1. Michael Davis,

Assistant Secretary Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

November 27, 1991.

Mr. Daniel J. Canclini,

Vice President,

Rheem Manufacturing Company,

P.O. Box 17010,

Fort Smith, AR 72917-7010

Dear Mr. Canclini: This is in response to

your August 1, 1991 , Application for Interim

Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the

Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures

for furnaces regarding blower time delay for

Rheem Manufacturing Company (Rheem)

GDG and GLG 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, 1988, 55 FR 3253, January 31,

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

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, Inc.,

56 FR 45958, September 9, 1991.

Rheem's Application for Interim Waiver

does not provide sufficient information to

evaluate what, if any, economic impact or

competitive disadvantage Rheem 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, Rheem's Application for an

Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedures

for its CDC and GLC series of gas furnaces

regarding blower time delay is granted.

Rheem shall be permitted to test its line of

GDC and GLC 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 9.3.2.

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 blowerat 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 ±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 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, RE.,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

August 1, 1991.

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 69
948 Federal Register j Vol. 56, No. 235 / Friday, December 6, 1991 ( Notices

United States Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, S W, Washington,

DC 20585.

Gentlemen: 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 30-second delay instead of 1.5 minutes

for our Series (-}GDG upflow and (-)GLG

downflow/horizontal residential gas-fired

furnaces.

Rheem will be manufacturing these

furnaces 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 be a 30-second blower on time,

allowing energy to be lost out 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

average approximately 2%. 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 a waiver

permitting the 30-second blower on time to be

used in the efficiency calculations for our

(-)GEB and (-)GKA series condensing

furnaces and/or (-)GDE and (-)DLE series

furnaces. Several other manufacturers of gas

furnaces have also been granted a waive to

permit calculations based on timed blower

operation. Also, proposed ASHRAE Standard

103-1982R of 9/25/87 paragraph 9.5.1.2.2

specifically addresses the use of timed

blower operation.

Confidential 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.

(FR Doc. 91-28289 Filed 12-5-91; 8:45 am]

BR.UNG CODE 8450-01-11

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 69