10 CFR Document 2020-07733
Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Portable Air Conditioners; Correction
June 9, 2020
CFR

AGENCY:

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

ACTION:

Final rule; correcting amendments.

SUMMARY:

On June 1, 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) published a final rule adopting test procedures for portable air conditioners (“June 2016 final rule”). A correction rule was subsequently published on October 14, 2016 (“October 2016 correction rule”), to correct typographical errors in the June 2016 final rule that were included in the regulatory text. This document corrects typographical errors introduced in the October 2016 correction rule, including missing parentheses and incorrect variable names. Neither the errors nor the corrections in this document affect the substance of the rulemaking or any of the conclusions reached in support of the final rule.

DATES:

Effective April 20, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-0371. Email: ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov.

Ms. Sarah Butler, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-177. Email: Sarah.Butler@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

DOE published a final rule in the Federal Register on June 1, 2016, establishing test procedures for portable air conditioners in appendix CC to subpart B of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 430 (“appendix CC”). 81 FR 35242. On October 14, 2016, DOE published a correction rule that revised appendix CC to correct typographical errors identified following the publication of the June 2016 final rule. 81 FR 70923. An additional correction rule was published on February 21, 2019, to republish amendments that could not be incorporated the Code of Federal Regulations due to inaccurate amendatory instructions provided in the June 2016 final rule. 84 FR 5346. DOE subsequently identified typographical errors in appendix CC that were introduced in the October 2016 correction rule. This correction rule revises appendix CC to correct these typographical errors.

Specifically, in section 4.1.2 of appendix CC, DOE is correcting the following errors: Missing parentheses in the Qs_95 and Qs_83 equations; extended underscore and capitalization in the subscript for the variable cp_wv and missing underscore for the variable ωia_95 in the Qs_95 equation; and missing subscripts for the Ql_83 variable in the Qinfiltration_83 equation. DOE is also clarifying in the variable list for the Ql_95 and Ql_83 equations that the “60” value represents the conversion factor from minutes to hours.

II. Need for Correction

As published, the regulatory text in the June 2016 final rule as corrected by the October 2016 and February 2019 correction rules may result in confusion due to typographical errors in section 4.1.2 of appendix CC. Because this final rule would simply correct errors in the text without making substantive changes in the June 2016 final rule, the changes addressed in this document are technical in nature.

III. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review

DOE has concluded that the determinations made pursuant to the various procedural requirements applicable to the June 2016 final rule remain unchanged for this final rule technical correction. These determinations are set forth in the June 2016 final rule. 81 FR 35242, 35260.

Pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(b), DOE has determined there is good cause to find that notice and prior opportunity for comment on this rule are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Neither the errors nor the corrections in this document affect the substance of the June 2016 final rule or any of the conclusions reached in support of the final rule. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on correcting objective, typographical errors that do not change the substance of the test procedure serves no useful purpose. Further, this rule correcting typographical errors makes non-substantive changes to the test procedure. As such, this rule is not subject to the 30-day delay in effective date requirement of 5 U.S.C. 553(d) otherwise applicable to rules that make substantive changes.

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 430

  • Administrative practice and procedure
  • Confidential business information
  • Energy conservation
  • Household appliances
  • Imports
  • Incorporation by reference
  • Intergovernmental relations
  • Small businesses

Signed in Washington, DC, on March 10, 2020.

Alexander N. Fitzsimmons,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

For the reasons stated in the preamble, DOE amends part 430 of chapter II, subchapter D, of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations by making the following correcting amendments:

PART 430—ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS

1. The authority citation for part 430 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6309; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.

2. Appendix CC to subpart B of part 430 is amended by revising section 4.1.2 to read as follows:

Appendix CC to Subpart B of Part 430- Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Portable Air Conditioners

* * * * *

4. * * *

4.1.2. Infiltration Air Heat Transfer. Measure the heat contribution from infiltration air for single-duct portable air conditioners and dual-duct portable air conditioners that draw at least part of the condenser air from the conditioned space. Calculate the heat contribution from infiltration air for single-duct and dual-duct portable air conditioners for both cooling mode outdoor test conditions, as described in this section. Calculate the dry air mass flow rate of infiltration air according to the following equations:

For dual-duct portable air conditioners:

Where:

m SD = dry air mass flow rate of infiltration air for single-duct portable air conditioners, in pounds per minute (lb/m).

m 95 and m 83 = dry air mass flow rate of infiltration air for dual-duct portable air conditioners, as calculated based on testing according to the test conditions in Table 1 of this appendix, in lb/m.

Vco_SD, Vco_95, and Vco_83 = average volumetric flow rate of the condenser outlet air during cooling mode testing for single-duct portable air conditioners; and at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions for dual-duct portable air conditioners, respectively, in cubic feet per minute (cfm).

Vci_95 and Vci_83 = average volumetric flow rate of the condenser inlet air during cooling mode testing at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions for dual-duct portable air conditioners, respectively, in cfm.

ρco_SD, ρco_95, and ρco_83 = average density of the condenser outlet air during cooling mode testing for single-duct portable air conditioners, and at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions for dual-duct portable air conditioners, respectively, in pounds mass per cubic foot (lbm/ft3).

ρci_95 and ρci_83 = average density of the condenser inlet air during cooling mode testing at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions for dual-duct portable air conditioners, respectively, in lbm/ft3.

ωco_SD, ωco_95, and ωco_83 = average humidity ratio of condenser outlet air during cooling mode testing for single-duct portable air conditioners, and at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions for dual-duct portable air conditioners, respectively, in pounds mass of water vapor per pounds mass of dry air (lbw/lbda).

ωci_95 and ωci_83 = average humidity ratio of condenser inlet air during cooling mode testing at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions for dual-duct portable air conditioners, respectively, in lbw/lbda.

For single-duct and dual-duct portable air conditioners, calculate the sensible component of infiltration air heat contribution according to:

Qs_95 = m × 60 × [(cp_da × (Tia_95−Tindoor)) + (cp_wv × (ωia_95 × Tia_95−ωindoor × Tindoor))]

Qs_83 = m × 60 × [(cp_da × (Tia_83−Tindoor)) + (cp_wv × (ωia_83 × Tia_83−ωindoor × Tindoor))]

Where:

Qs_95 and Qs_83 = sensible heat added to the room by infiltration air, calculated at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions in Table 1 of this appendix, in Btu/h.

m = dry air mass flow rate of infiltration air, m SD or m 95 when calculating Qs_95 and m SD or m 83 when calculating Qs_83, in lb/m.

cp_da = specific heat of dry air, 0.24 Btu/lbm-°F.

cp_wv = specific heat of water vapor, 0.444 Btu/lbm-°F.

Tindoor = indoor chamber dry-bulb temperature, 80 °F.

Tia_95 and Tia_83 = infiltration air dry-bulb temperatures for the two test conditions in Table 1 of this appendix, 95 °F and 83 °F, respectively.

ωia_95 and ωia_83 = humidity ratios of the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb infiltration air, 0.0141 and 0.01086 lbw/lbda, respectively.

ωindoor = humidity ratio of the indoor chamber air, 0.0112 lbw/lbda.

60 = conversion factor from minutes to hours.

Calculate the latent heat contribution of the infiltration air according to:

Ql_95 = m × 60 × Hfg × (ωia_95−ωindoor)

Ql_83 = m × 60 × Hfg × (ωia_83−ωindoor)

Where:

Ql_95 and Ql_83 = latent heat added to the room by infiltration air, calculated at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions in Table 1 of this appendix, in Btu/h.

m = mass flow rate of infiltration air, m SD or m 95 when calculating Ql_95 and m SD or m 83 when calculating Ql_83, in lb/m.

Hfg = latent heat of vaporization for water vapor, 1061 Btu/lbm.

ωia_95 and ωia_83 = humidity ratios of the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb infiltration air, 0.0141 and 0.01086 lbw/lbda, respectively.

ωindoor = humidity ratio of the indoor chamber air, 0.0112 lbw/lbda.

60 = conversion factor from minutes to hours.

The total heat contribution of the infiltration air is the sum of the sensible and latent heat:

Qinfiltration_95 = Qs_95 + Ql_95

Qinfiltration_83 = Qs_83 + Ql_83

Where:

Qinfiltration_95 and Qinfiltration_83 = total infiltration air heat in cooling mode, calculated at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions in Table 1 of this appendix, in Btu/h.

Qs_95 and Qs_83 = sensible heat added to the room by infiltration air, calculated at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions in Table 1 of this appendix, in Btu/h.

Ql_95 and Ql_83 = latent heat added to the room by infiltration air, calculated at the 95 °F and 83 °F dry-bulb outdoor conditions in Table 1 of this appendix, in Btu/h.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 2020-07733 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P


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