CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 55

Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 1991 / Notices

Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy

[Case No. F-032]

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products; Applications for

interim Waiver and Petitions for

Waiver of Furnace Test Procedures

from Amana Refrigeration, Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a

letter granting Interim Waivers to

Amana Refrigeration, Inc. (Amana) from

the existing Department of Energy

(DOE) test procedures for furnaces

regarding blower time delay for the

company's GUX and GCC models of

condensing gas furnaces.

Today's notice also publishes

"Petitions for Waiver" from Amana.

Amana's Petitions for Waiver request

DOE to grant relief from the DOE test

procedures relating to the blower time

delay specification. Amana seeks to test

using a blower delay time of 30 seconds

for its GUX and GCC models of

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 Petitions for

Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,

and information not later than July 31.

1991.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and

statements shall be sent to: Department

of Energy, Office of Conservation and

Renewable l sergy, Case No. F-032, 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)

586-9507.

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 (NECCA),

Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3268, the

National Application Energy

Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA),

Public Law 100-12, and the National

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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 December 12 and December 13,

1990, Amana filed Applications for

Interim Waiver regarding blower time

Appliance Energy Conservation delay. Amana 's Applications seek

Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Interim Waivers from the DOE test

Public Law 100-357, which requires DOE provisions that require a 1.5-minute time

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 waiver

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

delay between the ignition of the burner

and starting of the circulating air

blower. Instead, Amana requests the

allowance to test using a 30-second

blower time delay when testing its GUX

and GCC models of condensing gas

furnaces. Amana states that the 30-

second delay is indicative of how these

furnaces actually operate. Such a delay

results in an energy savings of

approximately 1.7 percent. Since current

DOE procedures do not address this

variable blower time delay, Amana 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 1991; and Armstrong Air

Conditioning, Inc., 58 FR 10553, March

13, 1991. Thus, it appears likely that the

Petition for Waiveer 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 Amana Interim Waivers for its

Assistant Secretary to grant an Interim GUX and GCC models of condensing

Waiver when it is determined that the gas furnaces. Pursuant to paragraph (e)

applicant will experience economic of 430.27 of the Code of Federal
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CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 55

Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 1991 / Notices

Regulations, the following letter granting United States Department of Energy

the Applications for Interim Waiver to 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Amana Refrigeration. Inc. was issued.

Pursuant to paragrpah (b) of 10 CFR'

430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the

"Petitions for Waiver" in its entirety.

The petition contains no confidential

information. DOE solicits comments,

data, and information respecting the

petition.

Issued in Washington, DC, June 24,1991.

J. Michael Davis,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

December 12. 1990

Assistant Secretary. Conservation &

Renewable Energy

United States Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, SW.

Washington, DC 20585

Subject: Petition for Waiver and Application

for Interim Waiver

Gentleman: This is a Petition for Waiver

and Application for Interim Waiver

submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR 430.27, as

amended 14 November 1986. Waiver is

requested from the test procedures for

measuring the Energy Consumption of

Furnaces found in Appendix N of Subpart B

to Part 430, specifically the section requiring

a 1.5 minute delay between-burner ignition

and start-up of the circulating air blower.

Amana Refrigeration, Inc. requests a

waiver from the specified 1.5 minute delay,

and seeks authorization in its furnace

efficiency test procedures and calculations to

utilize a fixed timing control that will

energize the cirulating air blower 30 seconds

after gas valve ignition . A control of this type

with a fixed 30 second blower on-time will be

utilized in our GUX line of high efficiency

condensing furnaces.

The current test procedure does not credit

Amana for additional. energy savings that

occur when,a shorter blower on-time is

utilized. Test data for these furnaces with a

30 second delay indicate that the heat-up

cycle energy losses will decrease, the amount

of condensate generated during the cyclic

condensate test will increase , and the overall

furnace AFUE will increase up to 1.7

percentage points. Copies of the confidential

teat data confirming these energy savings will

be forwarded to you upon request.

Amana Refrigeration is confident that this

waiver will be granted, as similar waivers

have been granted in the past, to Coleman

Company, Magic Chef Company, Rheem

Manufacturing, and the Trans Company. An

identical waiver request for the Amana GUD

series furnaces has also been submitted on 15

May 1990, and is currently pending.

Manufacturers that domestically market

similar products are being sent a copy of this

Petition for Waiver and Application for

Interim Waiver.

Sincerely,

Alan F. Kessler, P.E..

ChiefEngineer, Environmental Products,

AmanaRefrigeration, Inc.

December 13.1990

Assistant Secretary, Conservation &

Renewable Energy

Washington. DC 20505

Subject: Petition for Waiver and Application

for Interim Waiver

Gentleman: This is a Petition for Waiver

and Application for Interim Waiver

submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR 430.27, as

amended 14 November 1986. Waiver is

requested from the test procedures for

measuring the Energy Consumption of

Furnances found in Appendix N of Subpart B

to Part 430, specifically the section requiring

a 1.5 minute delay between burner ignition

and start-up of the circulating air blower.

Amana Refrigeration , Inc, requests a

waiver from the specified 1.5 minute delay,

and seeks authorization in its furnace

efficiency test procedures and calculations to

utilize a fixed timing control that will

energize the circulating air blower 30 seconds

after gas valve ignition. A control of this type

with a fixed 30 second blower on-time will be

utilized in our GCC line of high efficiency

condensing furnaces.

The current test procedure does not credit

Amana for additional energy savings that

occur when a shorter blower on-time is

utilized. Test data for these furnaces with a

30 second delay indicate that the heat-up

cycle energy losses will decrease, the amount

of condensate generated during the cyclic

condensate test will increase , and the overall

furnace AFUE will increase up to 1.7

percentage points. Copies of the confidential

test data confirming these energy savings will

be forwarded to you upon request

Amana Refrigeration is confident that this

waiver will be granted. as similar waivers

have been granted in the past, to Coleman

Company, Magic Chef Company, Rheem

Manufacturing, and the Trane Company.

[Identical waiver requests for the Amana

GUD and GUX series furnaces have been

submitted on 15 May 1990 and 12 December

1990, and are currently pending.]

Manufacturers that domestically market

similar products are being sent a copy of this

Petition for Waiver and Application for

Interim Waiver.

Sincerely,

Alan F. Kessler, P.E.,

Chief Engineer, Environmental Products,

Amana Refrigeration, Inc.

June 24,1991

Mr. Alan F. Kessler, P.E.

Chief Engineer, Environmental Products

Amana Refrigeration, Inc.

Amana, IA 52204

Dear Mr. Kessler: This is in response to

your December 12 and December 13, 1990,

Applications for Interim Waiver and Petitions

for waiver from the Department of Energy

(DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding

below time delay for the Amana

Refrigeration, Inc. (Amana ) GUX and GCC

models of condensing gas furnaces.

Previous waivers for timed blower delay

control have been granted by DOE to

Coleman Company, 50 F.R. 2710, January 18,

1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 F.R. 41553,

October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing

Company, 53 F.R. 48574, December 1, 1988

and 55 F.R. 3253, January 31, 1990; Trane

Company, 54 F.R. 19226, May 4, 1989 and 55

F.R. 41589, October 12,1990; DMO Industries,

55 F.R. 4004, February 6, 1990; Heil-Quaker

Corporation, 55 F.R. 13184, April 9, 1990;

Carrier Corporation, 55 F.R. 13182, April 9,

1990; Amana Refrigeration, Inc., 56 F.R. 853,

January 9, 1991; and Armstrong Air

Conditioning, Inc., 56 F.R. 10553, March 13,

1991.

Amana's Applications for Interim Waiver

do not provide sufficient information to

evaluate what, if any, economic impact or

competitive disadvantage Amana will likely

experience absent a favorable determination

on its applications. 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, Amana's Applications for

Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedures

for its GUX and GCC models of condensing

gas furnaces regarding blower time delay are

granted. Amana shall be permitted to test its

line of GUX and GCC 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.

(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 preformed, 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 oilfueled furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue

pipe within ±0.01 inch of water column of

the manufacturer's recommended on-period

draft.

These Interim Waivers are based upon the

presumed validity of statements and all
CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 55

Federal Register / Vol. 58, No. 128 / Monday, July 1, 1991 / Notices

allegations submitted by the company. These

Interim Waivers may be revoked or modified

at any time upon a determination that the

factual basis underlying the application is

incorrect.

The Interim Waivers shall remain in effect

for a period of 180 days or until DOE acts on

the Petitions for Waiver, whichever is sooner,

and may be extended for an additional 180

day period, if nexessary.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Davis, P.E.,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 91-15607 Filed 6-28-91; 8:45 am)

®IWNO CODE 6450-01-4

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