HYBRID BATTERY SYSTEM

• US 20140368158A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A123 Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: A123 Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Vu, Viet, Wixom, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,979,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/386 Silicon or alloys based on silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/387 Tin or alloys based on tin
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/5825 Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/587 for inserting or intercalating light metals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A rechargeable, hybrid battery system incorporates a high power battery component and a high energy density battery component. The voltage of the high energy density battery varies as a function of its state of charge, but remains greater than the voltage of the high power battery throughout the operating range of the battery system.

Claims

1. A hybrid, rechargeable battery system comprising:

a high power battery and a high energy density battery which are connected in a parallel electrical relationship, wherein the open circuit voltage of said high energy density battery is greater than the open circuit voltage of said high power battery up to at least an 80% degree of discharge.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein said high power battery and said high energy density battery are lithium batteries and at least one of the:

cathode material composition, electrolyte composition, and anode material composition of said high power battery and said high energy density battery differ.

3. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the open circuit voltage of said high energy density battery has a sloping profile versus the degree of discharge of said high energy density battery wherein the open circuit voltage is in the range of 4.0-4.4 at a 0 degree of discharge and is in the range of 3.0-3.5 at a degree of discharge of 0.8.

4. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the open circuit voltage of said high power battery is in the range of 3.2-3.5 at a 0 degree of discharge and is in the range of 3.1-3.5 at a degree of discharge of 0.5.

5. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the energy density of said high energy density battery is at least 250 WH/kg.

6. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the peak power density of said high power battery is at least 5 KW/kg as measured when said high power battery is discharged from a fully charged state to 2 volts over 5 seconds.

7. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the cathode of the high energy density battery comprises a lithium mixed metal oxide material.

8. The battery system of claim 7, wherein said lithium mixed metal oxide material includes oxides of at least nickel and cobalt.

9. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the cathode of said high power battery includes a lithium iron phosphate material.

10. The battery system of claim 9, wherein said lithium iron phosphate material is a nanophase lithium iron phosphate material.

11. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the anode of said high energy density battery comprises silicon and/or tin.

12. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the anode of said high power battery comprises graphitic carbon.

13. The battery system of claim 1, wherein at least 90% of the capacity of said battery system is provided by said high energy density battery.

14. The battery system of claim 1, further including a controller which is operative to control a flow of electrical current between said high energy battery and said high power battery.

15. The battery system of claim 1, further including a battery charger and a controller, wherein said controller is operative to control a flow of electrical current between said battery charger and at least one of said high power battery and said high energy density battery.

16. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the impedance of said high power battery is in the range of 80-120% of the impedance of said high energy density battery.

17. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the impedance of said high power battery is in the range of 90-110% of the impedance of said high energy density battery.