Description
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is issuing a sole‑source notice to continue a research effort originally funded under a competitive Broad Agency Announcement. Jensen Hughes, Inc. will develop and validate a high‑fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model that quantifies explosion hazards associated with lithium‑ion battery failures in rail vehicles. The work includes generating experimental data on flammable gases (hydrogen, CO, CO₂, hydrocarbons) produced during battery failures, calibrating the CFD model with that data, and delivering a validated tool that can be used to design safer battery‑electric locomotives and assess risk. The effort spans approximately fifteen months and will resume work halted by administrative delays. Although the solicitation is a sole‑source award, other firms may submit capability statements to demonstrate they could perform the work without loss of continuity.
• Develop experimental test program for BESS enclosures in rail applications.
• Measure gas generation and pressure dynamics during induced battery failures.
• Build and calibrate CFD models to simulate explosion propagation in rail vehicle compartments.
• Validate model predictions against test data and produce a usable hazard‑assessment tool.
• Deliver final technical report, model files, and recommendations for safe system design.