Hybrid electrochemical cell systems and methods of operation

A hybrid electrochemical cell comprising:

• i. a first pair of electrodes forming a first electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the first electrochemical sub-cell comprises a first metal electrode and an air electrode such that the first electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a metal-air battery chemistry;
• ii. a second pair of electrodes forming a second electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell comprises a second metal electrode with the same type of metal in the first electrochemical sub-cell, the second metal electrode being distinct from the first metal electrode, and wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a different battery chemistry than the first electrochemical sub-cell;
• iii. at least one ionically conductive medium communicating each pair of electrodes;
• iv. a controller coupled to each pair of electrodes;
• wherein the controller is configured to selectively generate an electrical current from at least one sub-cell in a discharge mode and selectively apply an electrical current to at least one sub cell in a charge mode;
• wherein the controller controls the charge mode and the discharge mode based on at least one input parameter;
• wherein the other electrode in the second pair of electrodes of the second electrochemical sub-cell is a metal cathode, and wherein the controller is further configured to operate the hybrid electrochemical cell in a top-off charge mode in which the metal cathode of the second electrochemical sub-cell is coupled to the air electrode of the first electrochemical sub-cell, to oxidize metal of the metal cathode.

A hybrid electrochemical cell comprising:

• i. a first pair of electrodes forming a first electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the first electrochemical sub-cell comprises a first metal electrode and an air electrode such that the first electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a metal-air battery chemistry;
• ii. a second pair of electrodes forming a second electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell comprises a second metal electrode with the same type of metal in the first electrochemical sub-cell, the second metal electrode being distinct from the first metal electrode, and wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a different battery chemistry than the first electrochemical sub-cell;
• iii. at least one ionically conductive medium communicating each pair of electrodes;
• iv. a controller coupled to each pair of electrodes;
• wherein the controller is configured to selectively generate an electrical current from at least one sub-cell in a discharge mode and selectively apply an electrical current to at least one sub cell in a charge mode;
• wherein the controller controls the charge mode and the discharge mode based on at least one input parameter;
• and
• wherein the controller is further configured to operate the hybrid electrochemical cell in a high power parallel discharge mode wherein the first electrochemical sub-cell and the second electrochemical sub-cell are connected in parallel and both in a discharge mode.

A method of operating a hybrid electrochemical cell, the hybrid electrochemical cell comprising:

• (i) a first pair of electrodes forming a first electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the first electrochemical sub-cell comprises a first metal electrode and an air electrode such that the first electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a metal-air battery chemistry, (ii) a second pair of electrodes forming a second electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell comprises a second metal electrode with the same type of metal in the first electrochemical sub-cell, the second metal electrode being distinct from the first metal electrode, and wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a different battery chemistry than the first electrochemical sub-cell, (iii) at least one ionically conductive medium communicating each pair of electrodes, (iv) a controller coupled to each pair of electrodes;
• and (v) a plurality of switches, each switch being operatively coupled between the controller and one of the terminals associated with each of the electrodes, wherein the method comprises:
• selectively generating an electrical current from at least one sub-cell in a discharge mode and
• selectively apply an electrical current to at least one sub cell in a charge mode,
• wherein the controller controls the charge mode and the discharge mode based on at least one input parameter, wherein the controller is configured to control an open state and a closed state for each of the plurality of switches, and wherein said controller is configured to select between operating modes, the operating modes comprising:
• i. high energy discharge mode wherein the first electrochemical sub-cell is in a discharge mode and the second electrochemical sub-cell is in an idle;
• ii. high power discharge mode wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell is in a discharge mode and the first electrochemical sub-cell is in an idle mode;
• iii. high power parallel discharge mode wherein the first electrochemical sub-cell and second electrochemical sub-cell are connected in parallel and the first electrochemical sub-cell is in a discharge mode and the second electrochemical sub-cell is in a discharge mode;
• and
• iv. maintenance mode wherein at least one sub-cell is in a ‘deep discharge’ mode, reset mode, or top-off charge mode.

A method of operating a hybrid electrochemical cell, the hybrid electrochemical cell comprising:

• (i) a first pair of electrodes forming a first electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the first electrochemical sub-cell comprises a first metal electrode and an air electrode such that the first electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a metal-air battery chemistry, (ii) a second pair of electrodes forming a second electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell comprises a second metal electrode with the same type of metal in the first electrochemical sub-cell, the second metal electrode being distinct from the first metal electrode, and wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a different battery chemistry than the first electrochemical sub-cell, (iii) at least one ionically conductive medium communicating each pair of electrodes, and (iv) a controller coupled to each pair of electrodes:
• wherein the method comprises:
• selectively generating an electrical current from at least one sub-cell in a discharge mode and
• selectively apply an electrical current to at least one sub cell in a charge mode,
• wherein the controller controls the charge mode and the discharge mode based on at least one input parameter, wherein the other electrode in the second pair of electrodes of the second electrochemical sub-cell is a metal cathode, and wherein the controller is further configured to operate the hybrid electrochemical cell in a top-off charge mode in which the metal cathode of the second electrochemical sub-cell is coupled to the air electrode of the first electrochemical sub-cell, to oxidize metal of the metal cathode.

A method of operating a hybrid electrochemical cell, the hybrid electrochemical cell comprising:

• (i) a first pair of electrodes forming a first electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the first electrochemical sub-cell comprises a first metal electrode and an air electrode such that the first electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a metal-air battery chemistry, (ii) a second pair of electrodes forming a second electrochemical sub-cell, wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell comprises a second metal electrode with the same type of metal in the first electrochemical sub-cell, the second metal electrode being distinct from the first metal electrode, and wherein the second electrochemical sub-cell is characterized as a different battery chemistry than the first electrochemical sub-cell, (iii) at least one ionically conductive medium communicating each pair of electrodes, and (iv) a controller coupled to each pair of electrodes;
• wherein the method comprises:
• selectively generating an electrical current from at least one sub-cell in a discharge mode and
• selectively apply an electrical current to at least one sub cell in a charge mode,
• wherein the controller controls the charge mode and the discharge mode based on at least one input parameter, and wherein the controller is further configured to operate the hybrid electrochemical cell in a high power parallel discharge mode wherein the first electrochemical sub-cell and the second electrochemical sub-cell are connected in parallel and both in a discharge mode.