Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 6 / Wednesday, January 9, 1991 / Notices 8,53

Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy

[Case No. F-027)

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products; Application for

Interim Waiver and Petition 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 an Interim Waiver to

Amana Refrigeration, Inc. (Amana) from

the existing Department of Energy

(DOE) test procedures for furnaces

regarding blower time delay for the

company's GUD model of condensing

gas furnace.

Today's notice also publishes a

"Petition for Waiver" from Amana.

Amana's Petition for Waiver requests

DOE to grant relief from the DOE test

procedures relating to the blower time

delay specification. Amara seeks to test

using a blower delay time of 30 seconds

for its GUD condensing gas furnace

instead of the specified 1.5 minute delay

between burner on-time and blower ontime. DOE is soliciting comments, data,

and information respecting the Petition

for Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,

and information not later than February

8. 1991.

ADDRESSES: Written comments (5

copies) and statements shall be sent to:

Department of Energy, Office of

Conservation and Renewable Energy,

Case No. F-027. Mail Stop CE-90, room

6B-025,1006 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 CE-43.

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-12, Forrestal

Building. 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW.. Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-

9507.

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 44
854 Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 6 / Wednesday, January 9, 1991 / Notices

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),

Pulib 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, 1980, creating the wavier

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

Wor 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. Waiver

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

4v lief 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 May 15, 1990, Amana filed an

Application for an Interim Waiver

regarding blower time delay. Amana'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,

Amana, requests the allowance to test

using a 30 second blower time delay

when testing its CUD condensing gas

furnace. 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 test 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 the 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; and Carrier

Corporation, 55 FR 13182, April 9, 1990.

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 Amana an Interim Waiver for

its GUD model of condensing gas

furnace. Pursuant to paragraph (e) of

section 430.27 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. the following letter granting

the Application for Interim Waiver to

Amana Refrigeration, Inc. 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, January 2, 1991.

1. Michael Davis,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

May 15, 1990

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy. United States

Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 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 1988. 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 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 GUI? 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.

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,

Chief Engineer, Environmental Products,

Amana Refrigeration. inc.

Department of Energy, Washington, DC

January 4, 1991.

Mr. Alan F. Kessler,

Chief Engineer. Environmental Products,

Amana Refrigeration, Inc., Amana. IA

52204

Dear Mr. Kessler. This is in response to

your May 15, 1990, Application for Interim

Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the

Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures

for furnaces regarding blower time delay for

the Amana Refrigeration, Inc. (Amana) GUD

model of condensing gas furnace.

Previous waivers for timed blower delay

control have been granted by DOE to

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 44
Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 6 / Wednesday, January 9, 1991 / Notices

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: and

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

1990.

Amana's Application for Interim Waiver

does not provide sufficient information to

evaluate what, if any, economic impact or

competitive disadvantage Amana 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, Amana's Application for an

Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedures

for its GUD series condensing gas furnaces

regarding blower time delay is granted.

Amana shall be permitted to test its line of

CUD 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:

(it) 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 bloweror (3) the

delay time results in the activiation 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 in 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 oil-fueled

furnaces, maintain the draft In the flue pipe

with ± 0.01 inch of water gauge 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,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 91-465 Filed 1-8-91; 8:45 am]

BIWNG CODE 6450-O-M

[No. DE-Ml-91FE622711

Office of Fossil Energy

Clean Coal Technology Program

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy.

Department of Energy (DOE),

ACTION: Notice of issuance of a Program

Opportunity Notice (PON) for the Clean

Coal Technology Program.

SUMMARY: On or about January 17, 1991,

DOE will issue a Program Opportunity

Notice (PON), No. DE-PSO1-91FE62271.

The PON solicits proposals for costshared projects to demonstrate clean

coal technologies for retrofitting,

repowering and replacement. A total of

$600 million dollars (less approximately

$32 million for DOE's administrative

expenses) has been appropriated for

financial assistance awards under this

solicitation by Public Law 101-121. In

addition, it is anticipated that

unobligated funds from previous Clean

Coal Technology solicitations may be

made available for award under this

solicitation.

DATES: Proposals must be received by

DOE at the address indicated in the

PON by no later than 4:30 p.m., e.s.t.,

Washington, DC, on May 17 1991.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the PON may be

obtained by writing to:

U.S. Department of Energy, P.O. Box

2500, Attn: Document Control

Specialist, PR-33, Washington, DC

20013.

Copies of the PON may be picked up

at:

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of

Procurement Operations, Document

Control Specialist, Forrestal Building.

room 1J-005, 1000 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC.

Oral and written requests for the PON

should include a reference to the

solicitation number, DE-PS01-

91FE62271. Copies of the PON may be

picked up between the hours of 9 a.m.

and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday,

855

except Federal holidays. Persons who

have received previous Clean Coal

Technology solicitations (Nos. DE-PS01-

86FE60966, DE-PS01-FE61530, and DEPS01-89FE61825), need not submit a

request for the PON. One copy of the

PON will be mailed to such persons on

or about January 17, 1991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May

25, 1990, Public Law 101-302 was

enacted which delayed issuing the CCT

IV PON until September 1, 1991.

Subsequently, on November 5,1990, the

President signed Public Law 101-512,

"An Act Making Appropriations for the

Department of the Interior and Related

Agencies for the Fiscal Year Ending

September 30, 1991, and for Other

Purposes." This Act, among other things.

directs DOE to issue a "general request

for proposals" for CCT IV by no later

than February 1, 1991, and selection of

projects for negotiations "no later than

eight months after the date of the

general request for proposals."

DOE has scheduled a preproposal

conference to occur at 10 a.m. on

February 5, 1991, at the Thomas

Jefferson Auditorium, U.S. Department

of Agriculture (South Building between

5th and 6th wings), 14th Street and

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC. The purpose of the

preproposal conference is to provide an

opportunity for prospective proposers to

gain a better understanding of the

objectives and requirements of the PON.

Questions concerning the PON should

be submitted in writing to:

Department of Energy, Office of

Placement and Administration,

Operations Branch "A-1" (PR-321.1).

room Number 11-065, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20585, Attn: Herbert

D. Watkins.

Questions should be received by no

later than January 29, 1991. Seating will

be available on a first come, first served

basis.

DOE expects to complete the

evaluation and selection of proposals by

approximately September 17, 1991.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Herbert D. Watkins, Tel. (202) 586-

1026.

Issued in Washington. DC.

Robert H. Gentile,

Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy.

[FR Doc. 91-460 Filed 1-8-91. 6:45 am]

BIWNG CODE "SG-O1-M

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 44