16146 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 65 / Friday, April 4, 1997 / Notices

Property owned by Rockwell International

Corporation:

Building 028, at the Energy Technology

Engineering Center, located in a portion of

Tract ‘‘A’’ of Rancho Simi, in the County of

Ventura, State of California, as per map

recorded in Book 3, Page 7 of Miscellaneous

Records of Ventura County.

Certification:

Dated: January 23, 1997.

Roger Liddle,

Director, ERD.

[FR Doc. 97–8640 Filed 4–3–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy

[Case No. F–089]

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products: Granting of the

Application for Interim Waiver and

Publishing of the Petition for Waiver of

Rheem Manufacturing Company From

the DOE Furnace Test Procedure

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Today’s notice grants an

Interim Waiver to Rheem Manufacturing

Company (Rheem) from the existing

Department of Energy (DOE or

Department) test procedure regarding

blower time delay for the company’s

GFD upflow residential, modulating

type, gas-fired 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 20 seconds for its GFD upflow

residential, modulating type, gas-fired

furnaces instead of the specified 1.5-

minute delay between burner on-time

and blower on-time. The Department is

soliciting comments, data, and

information respecting the Petition for

Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,

and information not later than May 5,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and

statements shall be sent to: Department

of Energy, Office of Codes and

Standards, Case No. F–089, Mail Stop

EE–43, Room 1J–018, Forrestal Building,

1000 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, D.C. 20585–0121, (202)

586–7140.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE–43,

Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20585–

0121, (202) 586–9138, or Mr. Eugene

Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of General Counsel, Mail

Station GC–72, Forrestal Building, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, D.C. 20585–0103, (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, as amended, (EPCA) 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 Title 10 CFR

Part 430, Subpart B.

The Department amended the test

procedure rules to provide for a waiver

process by adding Section 430.27 to

Title 10 CFR Part 430. 45 FR 64108,

September 26, 1980. Subsequently, DOE

amended the waiver process to allow

the Assistant Secretary for Energy

Efficiency 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. Title 10 CFR

Part 430, Section 430.27(a)(2).

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.

An Interim Waiver will be granted if

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. Title 10 CFR Part 430,

Section 430.27 (g). 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 January 29, 1997, Rheem filed an

Application for Interim Waiver and a

Petition for 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 20-second

blower time delay when testing its GFD

upflow residential, modulating type,

gas-fired furnaces. Rheem states that the

20-second delay is indicative of how

these furnaces actually operate. Such a

delay results in an average of

approximately 2.0 percent increase in

AFUE. Since current DOE test

procedures do not address this variable

blower time delay, Rheem asks that the

Interim Waiver be granted.

The Department has published a

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on

August 23, 1993, (58 FR 44583) to

amend the furnace test procedure,

which addresses the above issue.

Previous Petitions for Waiver for this

type of time 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, 56 FR 2920, January 25, 1991, 57

FR 10166, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 34560,

August 5, 1992; 59 FR 30577, June 14,

1994, and 59 FR 55470, November 7,

1994; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226,

May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021, February 14,

1991, 57 FR 10167, March 24, 1992, 57

FR 22222, May 27, 1992, 58 FR 68138,

December 23, 1993, and 60 FR 62835,

December 7, 1995; Lennox Industries,

55 FR 50224, December 5, 1990, 57 FR

49700, November 3, 1992, 58 FR 68136,

December 23, 1993, and 58 FR 68137,

December 23, 1993; Inter-City Products

Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14,

1990, 56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991

and 61 FR 27057, May 30, 1996; DMO

Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5,

1991, and 59 FR 30579, June 14, 1994;

Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019,

February 14, 1991; Carrier Corporation,

56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991, 57 FR

38830, August 27, 1992, 58 FR 68131,

December 23, 1993, 58 FR 68133,

December 23, 1993, 59 FR 14394, March

28, 1994, and 60 FR 62832, December 7,

1995; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR

27958, June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940,

December 6, 1991, 57 FR 23392, June 3,
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 65 / Friday, April 4, 1997 / Notices 16147

1992, and 58 FR 68130, December 23,

1993; Snyder General Corporation, 56

FR 54960, September 9, 1991; Goodman

Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR

51713, October 15, 1991, 57 FR 27970,

June 23, 1992, 59 FR 12586, March 17,

1994 and 61 FR 17289, April 19, 1996;

The Ducane Company Inc., 56 FR

63943, December 6, 1991, 57 FR 10163,

March 24, 1992, and 58 FR 68134,

December 23, 1993; Armstrong Air

Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899, January 9,

1992, 57 FR 10160, March 24, 1992, 57

FR 10161, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 39193,

August 28, 1992, 57 FR 54230,

November 17, 1992, and 59 FR 30575,

June 14, 1994; Thermo Products, Inc., 57

FR 903, January 9, 1992, and 61 FR

17887, April 23, 1996; Consolidated

Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220,

May 27, 1992, and 61 FR 4262, February

5, 1996; Evcon Industries, Inc., 57 FR

47847, October 20, 1992, and 59 FR

46968, September 13, 1994; Bard

Manufacturing Company, 57 FR 53733,

November 12, 1992, 59 FR 30578, June

14, 1994, and 61 FR 50812, September

27, 1996; and York International

Corporation, 59 FR 46969, September

13, 1994, 60 FR 100, January 3, 1995, 60

FR 62834, December 7, 1995, and 60 FR

62837, December 7, 1995.

Thus, it appears likely that this

Petition for Waiver for blower time

delay will be granted. 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 Rheem an Interim Waiver for

its GFD upflow residential, modulating

type, gas-fired furnaces. Rheem shall be

permitted to test its GFD upflow

residential, modulating type, gas-fired

furnaces on the basis of the test

procedures specified in Title 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

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 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 removed 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.

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 20 seconds for its GFD upflow

residential, modulating type, gas-fired

furnaces instead of the specified 1.5-

minute delay between burner on-time

and blower on-time. Pursuant to

paragraph (b) of Title 10 CFR Part

430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the

‘‘Petition for Waiver’’ in its entirety. The

Petition contains no confidential

information. The Department solicits

comments, data, and information

respecting the Petition.

Issued in Washington, DC, on March 31,

1997.

Christine A. Ervin,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy.

January 29, 1997.

Mr. Cyrus Nasseri,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy, United States

Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC 20585.

Dear Mr. Nasseri: 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 20 second delay

instead of 1.5 minutes for our series (-)GFD

upflow residential, modulating type gas-fired

furnace.

Rheem will be manufacturing these

appliances 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 with a 12 second blower

on time, allowing energy to be lost out of 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

averages approximately 2% Annual Fuel

Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). 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 previous waivers

regarding blower on time to be used in the

efficiency calculations for our (-)GEP, (-)GKA,

(-)GRA, (-)GSA and (-)GTA series condensing

furnaces and/or (-)GDE, (-)GLE, (-)GDG,

(-)GLG, (-)GPH, (-)GLH, (-)GVH, and (-)GVG

series furnaces. Several other manufacturers

of gas furnaces have also been granted a

waiver to permit calculations based on timed

blower operation. Also, ASHRAE Standard

103–1993, paragraph 9.5.1.2.2 specifically

addresses the use of a timed blower

operation.

Confidential and 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.

bcc: B.A. Cook, K. W. Kleman, R. W. Willis

[FR Doc. 97–8637 Filed 4–3–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

State Energy Advisory Board, Open

Meeting

Pursuant to the provisions of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public

Law 92–463; 86 Stat. 770), notice is

hereby given of the following meeting: