# US 12,119,700 B2 · Systems and methods for adaptive electrochemical cell management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,700 B2 - Document ID: US12119700B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/157,764 - Filed: 2023-01-20 - Published: 2024-07-25 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2023-01-20 - Assignees: Element Energy, Inc. - Applicants: Element Energy, Inc. - Inventors: Rainer Johannes Fasching; Arnaud Devie; Georgy Zerkalov; Anthony John Stratakos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119700B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/971: {the charge cycle being controlled or terminated in response to non-electric parameters} - B60L 3/0046: {relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors} - B60L 58/16: responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH] - G01R 31/392: Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health - H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H01M 10/48: Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) - H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially - H02J 7/54: Passive balancing, e.g. using resistors or parallel MOSFETs - H02J 7/84: Control of state of health [SOH] - H01M 10/445: {in response to gas pressure} - H01M 2010/4271: {Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A method for adaptive electrochemical cell management in an energy storage system including a plurality of battery management system (BMS) nodes, the method including (1) obtaining a first signal identifying one or more degradation mechanisms of a first cell assembly of a first BMS node of the plurality of BMS nodes, the first cell assembly including one or more first electrochemical cells, and (2) controlling a first BMS node controller of the first BMS node in response to the first signal, to change a state of operation of the first cell assembly to mitigate the one or more degradation mechanisms of the first cell assembly, independently of operation of a second BMS node of the plurality of BMS nodes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for adaptive electrochemical cell management in an energy storage system including a plurality of battery management system (BMS) nodes, the method comprising: obtaining a first signal identifying a plurality of degradation mechanisms of a first cell assembly of a first BMS node of the plurality of BMS nodes, the first cell assembly including one or more first electrochemical cells, each degradation mechanism of the plurality of degradation mechanisms representing a different respective type of degradation of the first cell assembly; weighting the plurality of degradation mechanisms to obtain a plurality of weighted degradation mechanisms; selecting a first one of the plurality of weighted degradation mechanisms for mitigation at least partially based on respective values of the plurality of weighted degradation mechanisms; selecting, from a plurality of predetermined operating state changes stored in a memory, a first operating state change that is appropriate for mitigating the selected first one of the plurality of weighted degradation mechanisms, each operating state change of the plurality of predetermined operating state changes being appropriate for mitigating a different respective degradation mechanism of the plurality of degradation mechanisms; and controlling a first BMS node controller of the first BMS node to change a state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change, to mitigate at least the selected first one of the plurality of degradation mechanisms of the first cell assembly without electrically disconnecting the first cell assembly from the energy storage system, independently of operation of a second BMS node of the plurality of BMS nodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first electrochemical cells are Lithium-ion electrochemical cells, and the plurality of degradation mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise at least one of loss of Lithium inventory of the one or more first electrochemical cells, loss of active material in respective anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, loss of active material in respective cathodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, impedance growth on the respective anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, impedance growth on the respective cathodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, abnormal lithiation level on the respective anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, and abnormal lithiation level on the respective cathodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a third BMS node controller of a third BMS node of the plurality of BMS nodes to at least partially compensate for the change in the state of operation of the first cell assembly, such that a power contribution of the energy storage system does not change in response to the change in the state of operation of the first cell assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first electrochemical cells comprise a plurality of first electrochemical cells electrically coupled together. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of degradation mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise Lithium inventory decrease in the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first BMS node controller to change the state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change comprises controlling the first BMS node controller to prevent operation of the one or more first electrochemical cells in a third intercalation stage of respective graphite anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, to limit lithiation level of the respective graphite anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells and thereby mitigate the Lithium inventory decrease in the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of degradation mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise Lithium inventory decrease in the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first BMS node controller to change the state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change comprises controlling the first BMS node controller to increase de-lithiation of respective cathodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, to mitigate the Lithium inventory decrease in the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of degradation mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise impedance growth on respective graphite anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first BMS node controller to change the state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change comprises controlling the first BMS node controller to prevent operation of the one or more first electrochemical cells in a third intercalation stage of the respective graphite anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, to mitigate the impedance growth on the respective graphite anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of degradation mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise loss of active material on respective anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first BMS node controller to change the state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change comprises controlling the first BMS node controller to control a rate of charge or discharge of the one or more first electrochemical cells as a function of the loss of active material on the respective anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, to mitigate the loss of active material on the respective anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of degradation mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise loss of active material on respective graphite anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first BMS node controller to change the state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the selected first operating state change comprises controlling the first BMS node controller to limit a rate of charge or discharge of the one or more first electrochemical cells to a predetermined value while the one or more first electrochemical cells transition between intercalation stages of their respective graphite anodes, to mitigate the loss of active material on the respective graphite anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of degradation mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise loss of active material on respective anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first BMS node controller to change the state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change comprises controlling the first BMS node controller to limit a charge rate of the one or more first electrochemical cells during a first intercalation stage of the respective anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, to mitigate the loss of active material on the respective anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 11 A method for adaptive electrochemical cell management in an energy storage system including a plurality of battery management system (BMS) nodes, the method comprising: obtaining a first signal identifying a plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms of a first cell assembly of a first BMS node of the plurality of BMS nodes, the first cell assembly including one or more first electrochemical cells; generating a composite hazardous failure value at least partially based on the plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms and respective weights for each of the plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms; determining that the composite hazardous failure value does not exceed a threshold value for deactivating the first cell assembly; and in response to determining that the composite hazardous failure value does not exceed the threshold value for deactivating the first cell assembly; selecting, from a plurality of predetermined operating state changes stored in a memory, a first operating state change that is appropriate for mitigating a selected one of the plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms of the first cell assembly, each operating state change of the plurality of predetermined operating state changes being appropriate for mitigating a different respective type of hazardous failure mechanism, and controlling a first power converter of a first BMS node controller of the first BMS node to change a state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change, to mitigate at least one of the plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms of the first cell assembly, independently of operation of a second power converter of a second BMS node of the plurality of BMS nodes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise one or more of metallic plating on respective electrodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, mechanical shorting in the one or more first electrochemical cells, and gas evolution in the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling a third BMS node controller of a third BMS node of the plurality of BMS nodes to at least partially compensate for the change in the state of operation of the first cell assembly, such that a power contribution of the energy storage system does not change in response to the change in the state of operation of the first cell assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more first electrochemical cells comprise a plurality of first electrochemical cells electrically coupled together. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise metallic plating on respective electrodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first power converter of the first BMS node controller to change the state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change comprises controlling the first power converter of the first BMS node controller to decrease a charge or discharge rate of the one or more first electrochemical cells in response to a state of charge of the one or more first electrochemical cells exceeding a threshold value, to mitigate the metallic plating on the respective electrodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise metallic plating on respective electrodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first power converter of the first BMS node controller to change the state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change comprises controlling the first power converter of the first BMS node controller to decrease a maximum permissible state of charge of the one or more first electrochemical cells so that the one or more first electrochemical cells do not operate in a third intercalation stage of respective graphite anodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells, to mitigate the metallic plating on the respective electrodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise metallic plating on respective electrodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first power converter of the first BMS node controller to change a state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change comprises controlling the first power converter of the first BMS node controller to regulate a charge or discharge rate of the one or more first electrochemical cells based at least in part on a graphite anode-level impedance of the one or more first electrochemical cells, to mitigate the metallic plating on the respective electrodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: each first electrochemical cell of the one or more first electrochemical cells is a Lithium-ion electrochemical cell; the plurality of hazardous failure mechanisms of the first cell assembly comprise metallic plating on respective electrodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells; and controlling the first power converter of the first BMS node controller to change a state of operation of the first cell assembly according to the first operating state change comprises controlling the first power converter of the first BMS node controller to increase a discharge rate of the one or more first electrochemical cells to strip the metallic plating on the respective electrodes of the one or more first electrochemical cells. ### Claim 19 A method for mitigating degradation in an energy storage system including a plurality of cell assemblies, each cell assembly including one or more electrochemical cells, the method comprising: performing a selection process wherein at least a first cell assembly of the plurality of cell assemblies and a second cell assembly of the plurality of cell assemblies are selected for preventative discharge at different respective times according to a predetermined selection sequence; and for at least each of the first cell assembly and the second cell assembly, performing a preventative discharge procedure when the cell assembly is selected for preventative discharge, the preventative discharge procedure including: increasing a respective power contribution of the cell assembly selected for preventative discharge, and decreasing respective power contributions of at least one cell assembly of the plurality of cell assemblies, other than the cell assembly selected for preventative discharge, to compensate for increasing the respective power contribution of the cell assembly selected for preventative discharge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising, for at least each of the first cell assembly and the second cell assembly, returning the cell assembly to normal operation after the cell assembly is no longer selected for preventative discharge. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined selection process includes periodically selecting at least one of the first cell assembly and the second assembly for preventative discharge. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising performing the selection process in response to beginning of discharge of the plurality of cell assemblies. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising selecting the first cell assembly for preventative discharge in response to a signal indicating an anomaly in the first cell assembly. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the anomaly in the first cell assembly comprises metallic plating on respective electrodes of the one or more electrochemical cells of the first cell assembly crossing a threshold value. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising setting respective power contributions of the plurality of cell assemblies such that a bus voltage collectively generated by the plurality of cell assemblies does not change in response to the first cell assembly being selected for preventative discharge. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling a respective battery management system (BMS) node controller for each cell assembly to achieve a respective power contribution of each cell assembly. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein each cell assembly comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells electrically coupled together.