## 57FR17903

Federal Register / Vol. 57, No. 82 / Tuesday, April 28, 1992 / Notices

Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy I Casa No. F-0491 Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products ; Granting of the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for Waiver of DOE Furnace Test Procedures From Rheem Manufacturing Company
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 procedure for furnaces regarding blower time delay for the company's GVG line 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 furnace test procedure relating to the blower time delay specification. Rheem seeks to test using a blower delay time of 30 seconds for its GVG line 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. DATES : DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than May 28, 1992. ADDRESSES : Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Case No. F-049, Mail Stop CE-90, Room 6B-025, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington. DC 20585, (202) 586- 0561. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Conservation andRenewable 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 (SPCA), 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 26, 1930, 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 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 1986 amendment allow the Assistant Secretary to grant an Interim 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 February 12,1992, Rheem filed an Application for 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 

### 17903

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 GVG line 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: Ma;:c Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing Company. 53 FR 48574 , December 1, 1988 , 55 FR 3253, January 31, 1990, and 56 FR 2920, January 25, 1991; Trane Company. 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989, and 56 FR 6021, February 14, 1991; Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5,1990; DMO Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991; Heil-Quaker Corporation. 56 FR 6019. February 14. 1991; Carrier Corporation. 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991: Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14, 1991 , and 56 FR 63045, December 6. 1991; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 18, 1991. and 56 63940. December 6. 1991; Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 45960, September 9, 1991 ; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc.. 57 FR 899, January 9. 1992; Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9. 19192; and the Ducane Company, 56 FR 63943. December 6, 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 irterecl to have similar products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis. Therefore, based on the above, DUE is granting Rheem an Interim Waiver for its GVG line of gas furnaces. Pursuart to paragraph (e) of section 430.27 bf the Code of Federal Regulations Part 430. the following letter granting the Application for Interim Waiver to Rheem was issued. Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR part 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.

## 57FRI7903.

177904 Federal Register I Vol. 57, No. 82 / Tuesday. April 28. 1992 / Notices

Issued in Washington
, DC, April 17
, 1992

. are achieved following the cool-down 1. Michael Davis

. test and the required measurements Assistart Secretory Conservation and performed, turn on the furnace and Renewable Energy. measure the flue gas temperature. using Mi.:Daniel 1. Candini. the thermocouple

. grid described above, I'll e -President. Product Development and at 0.5 and 2 .5 minutes after the main Research Engineering

. Rheem burner( s) comes on

. After the burner bfanefocturing Company. P.O. Box 17011 start -up,:delay the blower start-up by 1.5 Fort Smith. AR 72917-:010. minutes (t-). unless: (1) the furnace Dear Mr. Canclini : This is in response to employs a single motor to drive the your February 12.-1992

. Application for power burner and the indoor air Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver from circulation blower

, In which case the the Department of.Energy ( DOE) test burner and blower shall be started procedure for furnaces regardirg blower time delay for Rheem Manufacturing Company together, or (2) the furnace is designed to
lirheem ) GVC IinE of gas furnaces

. operate using an-unvarying delay time Pre:•ious waivers for this type of timed that is other than 1.5 minutes

. in which blower delay contrul have been

. granted by case the fan control shall be permitted DOE to Coleman Company

. 50 FR 2710. to start the blower ; or (3) the delay time January 18.1965 : Magic Chef Comp any. 5o FR results in the activation of a temperature 411553. October 11.19ti5: Rheem safety device which shuts off the burner. Manufacturing Company

. 53FR 48574. in 'which case the fan control shall be .December 1.1988.55 FR.3253. January 31. 1490. and 56 FR 2920. January 25.,1991: Trane permitted to start the blower. In the Company. 54'FR 19.^.26. ktay 4

. 1989. and 56 latter case , if the fan control is Ftt 60;1. February 14.1991: Lennox adjustable, set it to start the blower at In;?ustries, 55 FR 502 4. December 5.1990 the highest temperature. If the fan L;MO industries: 55 FR 4622. February 5.1991;. control is permitted to start the blower. lie°t-Quaker Corporation. 56 FR 6019, measure time delay, (t-). using a stop Fh•hruary 14.1991: Ca-r'••r Cai-r,oratian. 56 FR watch. Record the measured &318. February 14. 19911 ; Inter-City Products Corporation. 55 FR 5i487. December 14.1991, temperatures. During the heat-up test for i, -d 56 FR-63945. Decemb er 6.1991 : Amana ' oil-fueled furnaces, maintain the draft in Rerrigeratiun Inc:; 56 }`R279o8 June 18

. 1991

. the flue pipe within +0

. 01 inch of water and 56 &3940. December 6. 1991: Snyder column of the manufacturer's General Corporation. Se FR 45900. September recommended on-period draft, 0 .'199.1: Goodman Manufacturng This Interim Wavier is based upon the Corporation

. 56 FR 51713
, Qctober 15

. 1991 : presumed validity

. of statements and all Armstrong-AirConditioning. Inc.. 57 FR 899. allegations 'submittedby the company. This January:;9.1992: Thermo Products. Inc., 57 FR Interim Waiver may be revoked or modified 903. January 9. 1992.• end The Dur-ane at any time upon a determination that the Company. S.I R 63943. December 6. 1991

. factual.basis underlying the application is. Riheen:'s Application for Interim Waiver incorrect. . dues not provide sufficient information lo The Interim Waiver shall remain in_effect evaluate what .'if any. economic impact or for a period of 180 days or until DOE acts on cohipetitive disadvantage

. Rhee

.m will likely the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner. experience absent a favorable determination and may be extended for an additional 180- cr. i!s application

. However :in those day period : if necessary. instances where the likely success of 'the Sincerely. I'eti;ion

. for Waiver has been demonstrated

. I Michael Davis. P.E. based ut on-DOE having granted a waiver for

a Assstant.Secretar,.: Conservation and similarproduct design

. it is in the Public Interest to have aimiler ;.products' tested and Rener,•obleEnergy. rated for'energy consumption on a RbcemManufacturing

. Company comps able basis. The afore, F.heern a Application for an Interim-.Waiver from the-DOE test-procedure Air Ci sditincing Division
Febru ary 12.1.092 for its :GVG line of gas furnaces regarding Mr. Cyrus Nasser. blower time delay is granted. Assistant Secretary: Conservation and Rheetn 'shall be permitted to test its GVG Reviewable Enercy. United Stews line of gas furnaces on the basis of the test Department ofEnerpy; 1000 prucedures- specified in 10 CFR Part 430. . independence Avenue SW .. Washington. SuhpartBAppendix N. with the modification DC-20585 set forth below. Dear Mr._Iyasser

. This.is a petition for. (ii Section.3.l in Appendix N is deleted and waiver and-applicetion

.for interim waiver replaced : w;th'tedureiuwmg paragraph : submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR:Part 3.0 Test procedu^e Testing and 430.27 Waiver is requested from 'the !-rn+e e measurements she l bet as specified.in section test procedure as pres

...ritle d in Appendix :\ 9 in ANSI/ASHRAE 103-62 with the to Subpart 11. of Part-430. The test procedure exception

. of sections 9.2.2.9

. 3.1, and 9

.3.2. re uiies a 1.5 minute delay between burner and the inclusion of the following additional and blower start-up : Rheem is.n -questing procedures: authorization to use a 30-second delay (ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 uI instead of 1.5 minutes

. for our Series I-IGVC. Appendix N as follows: horizontal residential gas

- fired furnaces 3.10 Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Rheem will be manufacturing these Furnaces. After equilibrium conditions furnaces with on

. electronic dews a the' controls the blower operation on a timing sequence as opposed to temperature. - Improved energy efficiency is achieved by reducing on cycle losses . 'Under the Appeodn N.procedures

. the stack temperature is allowed to climb at g faster rate than it Mouid with 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 thecalcula iuns. The current test procedures dr not g:%e Rheem credit fur the energy sa'. inns w `tech avareges approximately 2%. This Improvement is an-average reduction of 2f', of the nornial on cycie energy losses Rhe-!-n is of the opinion that a Z0' reduction is a worthwhile energy savings. Rheem has been granted a wait, er,

. permitting the 30 second blower . on time to be used in the efficiency calculations te;: our (-)GFai and.(-.-CKA series rundcn-.re furnaces and; or (-) CDE and (-)CLE series fc-nee,-s Several other manufar!ure =s of ;:s f•rn:r:rs have a ! so.been

, grar ted a waiver to permit -calculations

-based on- timed blower operation. Also, proposed ASHRAE Standard 103-1982R 01 9/25/87 paragraph 9.5.1.2.2 spe:.dically addresses the use of t:c,e.l blower operation; Confidential comparatne test da'a is ava:table to you upon your request. confirming the above energy saving... Manufacturers that domestica !!t r..dr!.rt similar prod ucts are being sent a copy of :h.d petition for waiver and petition for interim waiver. Sincerely. Daniel. J. Canclini. 1'ice •President. Product De ve,'o. zome;:t and Resecrch Engineering. IFR Doc. 92-9887 Filed 4

-27-92. 8.45 amj BILLING CODE ass-et-sr