REGENERATIVE BATTERY CYCLER

MARKET SURVEY - SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS: The Government is issuing this RFl/sources sought announcement as part of market survey to identify qualified sources capable of providing a regenerative battery cycler to replace NHR 9200 cyclers. This equipment will be utilized to test, cycle, and evaluate large-scale lead-acid battery systems to include VRLA chemistries. used in mission-critical facility backup and maritime applications. To enable seamless regenerative discharge and recharge cycles, the equipment must function as a bi-directional DC source and load. The Contractor shall provide a turnkey testing system, including all necessary power hardware, control software, environmental sensor integration, and safety interlocks required to safely cycle high-capacity lead-acid battery banks. Interested sources must demonstrate the capability to provide a system that meets or exceeds the following specifications: Electrical & Performance Specifications Parameter Required Specification Voltage Range 1 - 40V Current Range 0 - 3000A (Charge and Discharge) Power Range (Charge) 0 - 40 kW Power Range (Discharge) 0 - 60 kW Facility Input Power 480 VAC, 3-Phase, 60 Hz, 80A Cooling Air Cooling is preferred Regenerative Power Efficiency Regenerative discharge capabilities of at least 90% AC Ripple Limitation AC ripple voltage imposed on the DC bus must be less than 0.5% RMS of the float voltage Voltage Regulation Precision Maintain a steady-state DC output voltage regulation of +/- 0.5% (or tighter) across all operating ranges, independent of line voltage fluctuations or rapid load transitions. Design & Integration Capabilities Feature Requirement System Architecture Bi-directional DC source/load and battery cycling equipment utilizing a modular design. Parallel Channel Scaling Capable of paralleling multiple channels to multiply the current capacity Control Modes System must support Constant Voltage (CV), Constant Current (CC), and Constant Power (CP) along with pulsing operational modes. Hardware Integration Must be fully compatible with National Instruments (NI) CompactRIO (cRIO) controllers and data acquisition (DAQ) systems. Software Integration Must be LabVIEW compatible and support standard integration utilizing Interchangeable Virtual Instrument (IVI) drivers. The system must incorporate multiple independent layers of hardware and software safety controls to protect personnel, facility infrastructure, and the Unit Under Test (UUT). The system must meet or exceed the following safety capabilities: Safety Feature Requirement Physical Isolation Must feature internal, independent electromechanical safety contactors on the DC output channels. Hardware Interlocks Must include a dedicated, dual-channel external wired interlock loop for integration with thermal chambers or external safety gates, alongside a front-mounted physical Emergency Stop (E-Stop) Interlocks. UUT Protection Circuits Must feature integrated reverse-polarity checking and a soft-start pre-charge circuit to prevent in-rush current surges upon battery connection. Programmable Protection Software and firmware must allow users to define strict, fast-acting trip thresholds for Over-Voltage (OV), Under-Voltage (UV), Over-Current (OC), and Over-Power (OP). Communication Fail-Safe Must feature a programmable hardware watchdog timer that automatically shuts down the outputs and opens isolation contactors if communications with the master controller (e.g., cRIO) are interrupted. Warranty and Maintenance: Support Category Requirement Standard Warranty Provide details on the standard OEM warranty (minimum 12 months preferred), including coverage details (parts, labor, and travel) and return-to-factory vs. on-site repair terms. Preventive Maintenance Describe available preventive maintenance agreements (PMAs), including the recommended frequency of on-site inspections, fan/filter replacements, and thermal checks. Calibration Services Detail the requirements and procedures for system c...