DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Examiner Comment
The applicant is thanked for providing line numbers to the claims.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 7, 10, 31, 35, 36 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
In regard to claim 1, the recitation, “wherein an expansion device is provided between the pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator outlet and the pre-cool refrigerant inlet of the pre-cool heat exchanger to facilitate entry of a two-phase stream entering the pre-cool heat exchanger from the pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator” (page 3, line 5-9) introduces new matter as there is no support for the newly recited expansion device above and the later recited “a first pre-cool refrigerant expansion device an inlet configured to receive the pre-cool refrigerant from the pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator outlet and an outlet configured to direct the pre-cool refrigerant to the pre-cool refrigerant inlet of the pre-cool heat exchanger whereby a first two-phase stream is provided to the pre-cool heat exchanger shell;” (page 5, line 3-7). The elected species has only the first pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (66; spec para. 26) and does not have some other “expansion device” in addition thereto. Therefore the entire recitation of page 3, line 5-9 is new matter and is unsupported.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 7, 10, 31, 35, 36 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
In regard to claim 1, the recitation, “wherein an expansion device is provided between the pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator outlet and the pre-cool refrigerant inlet of the pre-cool heat exchanger to facilitate entry of a two-phase stream entering the pre-cool heat exchanger from the pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator” (page 3, line 5-9) is entirely indefinite since the disclosed and elected species does not have the newly recited expansion device above and the later recited “a first pre-cool refrigerant expansion device an inlet configured to receive the pre-cool refrigerant from the pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator outlet and an outlet configured to direct the pre-cool refrigerant to the pre-cool refrigerant inlet of the pre-cool heat exchanger whereby a first two-phase stream is provided to the pre-cool heat exchanger shell;” (page 5, line 3-7). The elected species has only the first pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (66; spec para. 26) and does not have some other “expansion device” in addition thereto. Therefore it is unclear how to interpret the recitations and unclear whether there is a first expansion device only or if there are two expansion devices between the pre-cool refrigerant accumulator (62) and the pre-cool heat exchanger (42a, 98).
Claim Interpretation
All of the claims have been evaluated under the three-prong test set forth in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, and it is considered that none of the claim recitations should be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1, 2, 7, 10, 31, 35, 36 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the obvious modification of Ducote (US 2014/0260415) in view of Jager (US 2009/0314030), and Low (US 5651270).
In regard to claim(s) 1, 2, 10, 31, Ducote teaches a system (see Fig. 9) for cooling a feed gas comprising:
c. a liquefaction heat exchanger (170) including a liquefying passage (162), a primary refrigeration passage (104, 108), a high pressure vapor cooling passage (166), a high pressure liquid cooling passage (138 fed with liquid from VD3 via 40, 44, VD2, 48, 140 to VD5), a cold separator liquid cooling passage (156), and a cold separator vapor cooling passage (168), where the cold separator vapor cooling passage (168) has a cold separator vapor cooling passage outlet (outlet of 168) in upstream fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage (104, 108);
d. a mixed refrigerant compression system (para. 50-53, compressors and coolers) including:
2i) a mixed refrigerant compressor (16) having a mixed refrigerant compressor inlet (inlet thereof) in downstream fluid communication with a primary refrigeration passage outlet (outlet of 108, 104) of the primary refrigeration passage (108, 104);
ii) a mixed refrigerant cooler (20) having a mixed refrigerant cooler inlet (inlet thereof) in downstream fluid communication with a mixed refrigerant compressor outlet (outlet of 16) of the mixed refrigerant compressor (16), said mixed refrigerant cooler (20) having a mixed refrigerant cooler outlet (outlet of 20);
iii) a high pressure accumulator (VD3) having a high pressure accumulator inlet (inlet of VD3) and a high pressure accumulator vapor outlet (vapor outlet of VD3) in upstream fluid communication with a high pressure vapor cooling passage inlet (inlet of 166) of the high pressure vapor cooling passage (166) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170) and a high pressure accumulator liquid outlet (liquid outlet of VD3) in upstream fluid communication with a high pressure liquid cooling passage inlet (inlet of 138 via 36, 40, 44, 48) of the high pressure liquid cooling passage (138) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170);
e. a cold vapor separator (VD4) having a cold vapor separator inlet (inlet thereof) in downstream fluid communication with a high pressure vapor cooing passage outlet (outlet of 166) of the high pressure vapor cooling passage (166) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170), a cold vapor separator vapor outlet (vapor outlet from VD4) in upstream fluid communication with a cold separator vapor cooling passage inlet (inlet of passage 168 from VD4) of the cold separator vapor cooling passage (168) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170) and a cold vapor separator liquid outlet (liquid outlet of VD4) in upstream communication with a cold separator liquid cooling passage inlet (inlet of 156) of the cold separator liquid cooling passage (156) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170);
f. a cold temperature separator (VD7) having a cold temperature separator inlet (inlet of VD7) in downstream fluid communication with a cold separator vapor cooling passage outlet (outlet of 168) of the cold separator vapor cooling passage (168), said cold temperature separator (VD7) having a cold temperature separator vapor outlet (vapor outlet of VD7) in upstream fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage (108, 104) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170) a cold temperature separator liquid outlet (liquid outlet of VD7) in upstream fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage (108, 104) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170);
g. a mid temperature separator (VD6) having a mid temperature separator inlet (inlet of VD6) in downstream fluid communication with a cold separator liquid cooling passage outlet (outlet of 156) of the cold separator liquid cooling passage (VD4), said mid temperature separator (VD6) having a mid temperature separator vapor outlet (vapor outlet of VD6) in upstream fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage (108, 104) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170) and a mid temperature separator liquid outlet (liquid outlet of VD6) in upstream fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage (108, 104) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170);
h. a warm temperature separator (VD5) having a warm temperature separator inlet (inlet of VD5) in downstream fluid communication with a high pressure liquid cooling passage outlet (outlet of 138) of the high pressure liquid cooling passage (138), said warm temperature separator (VD5) having a warm temperature separator vapor outlet (vapor outlet of VD5) in upstream fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage (108, 104) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170) and a warm temperature separator liquid outlet (liquid outlet of VD5) in upstream fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage (108, 104) of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170).
Ducote does not appear to explicitly teach a pre-cool heat exchanger, a precool compressor system, a first pre-cool refrigerant expansion device, and a second pre-cool refrigerant expansion device, as claimed in claims 1, 2, 10, and 31, and that the liquefying passage (162) is in downstream fluid communication with a feed gas outlet of the pre-cool heat exchanger, that the high pressure accumulator inlet (inlet of VD3) is in downstream fluid communication with a liquefaction mixed refrigerant outlet of the pre-cool heat exchanger; and that the mixed refrigerant cooler outlet (outlet of 20) is in upstream fluid communication with a liquefaction mixed refrigerant inlet of the pre-cool heat exchanger.
However, employing propane for pre-cooling of a mixed refrigerant and the feed gas is routine and well known as taught by Jager. Jager teaches (see whole disclosure, including Fig.1-2)
a. a pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112) including a shell (shell of first 112; see para. 45 - note that Jager teaches that these precool heat exchangers are known to be shell and tube heat exchangers) having a pre-cool refrigerant inlet (inlet of propane into first 112) adapted to receive the pre-cool refrigerant (propane, para. 15, 19) and a pre-cool refrigerant outlet (propane outlet of first 112) with a pre-cool refrigerant passage (passage for propane) extending therebetween so that the pre-cool refrigerant (propane) passes through the pre-cool refrigerant passage (passage for propane) of the pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112),
ii) a feed gas core (tube for feed gas in first 112) positioned within the shell (shell of first 112), said feed gas core (tube for feed gas in first 112) including a feed gas inlet (feed gas inlet to tube in first 112) adapted to receive the feed gas (feed gas) and a feed gas outlet (outlet of tube for feed gas in first 112) with a feed gas passage (passage for feed gas in first 112) extending therebetween so that the feed gas (feed gas) passes through the feed gas passage (passage for feed gas in first 112) of the feed gas core (tube for feed gas in first 112) and the feed gas (feed gas) is cooled (para. 42), and
iii) a liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (tube for mixed refrigerant in first 112) also positioned within the shell (shell of first 112) so that the feed gas core (tube for feed gas in first 112) and the liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (tube for mixed refrigerant in first 112) share the shell (shell of first 112), said liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (tube for mixed refrigerant in first 112) having a liquefaction mixed refrigerant inlet (inlet to tube for mixed refrigerant in first 112) adapted to receive the liquefaction mixed refrigerant (mixed refrigerant) and a liquefaction mixed refrigerant outlet (outlet of tube for mixed refrigerant in first 112) with a liquefaction mixed refrigerant passage (passage for mixed refrigerant in first 112) extending therebetween so that the liquefaction mixed refrigerant (mixed refrigerant) passes through the liquefaction mixed refrigerant passage (passage for mixed refrigerant in first 112) of the liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (tube for mixed refrigerant in first 112) and is cooled (para. 45);
b. a pre-cool compressor system (100a, see 114, 118 and associated equipment) including:
i) a pre-cool compressor (114) having a pre-cool compressor inlet (inlet to 114) in downstream fluid communication with the pre-cool refrigerant outlet (propane outlet of first 112) of the pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112);
ii) a pre-cool condenser (118) having a pre-cool condenser inlet (inlet of 118) in downstream fluid communication with an outlet (outlet of 114) of the pre-cool compressor (114), said pre-cool condenser (118) also having a pre-cool condenser outlet (outlet of 118);
Also, Jager teaches that the pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112) is a warm precooler heat exchanger (as it is relatively warmer than the following identified cold precool heat exchanger) and Jager teaches a cold precool heat exchanger (last 112; note that any of the other downstream 112 could be relied upon as well).
Further, note that Jager teaches that both of the warm and the cold pre-cool heat exchangers are known to be shell and tube heat exchangers (para. 45) and therefore, Jager explicitly teaches
a cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of last 112) that is separate and distinct from the single warm pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of first 112), the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of last 112) having a cold pre-cool refrigerant inlet (shell inlet of last 112 from first 112), a cold pre-cool heat exchanger outlet (shell outlet of last 112 to 114), and a cold pre-cool refrigerant passage (passage in last 112 for propane) extending therebetween;
a cold feed gas core (feed gas tube of last 112, receiving fluid from 20a) positioned within the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of last 112), said cold feed gas core (feed gas tube of last 112) having a cold feed gas inlet (receiving from 20a) and a cold feed gas outlet (to 30) and a cold feed gas passage therebetween (passage in cold feed gas tube of last 112), and
a cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (mixed refrigerant tube of last 112 receiving fluid 212 from first 112) also positioned within the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of last 112) so that the cold feed gas core (feed gas tube of last 112) and the cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (mixed refrigerant tube of last 112) share the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of last 112), said cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (mixed refrigerant tube of last 112) having a cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant inlet (receiving fluid 212 from first 112) and a cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant outlet (mixed refrigerant tube outlet to 214) with a cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant passage therebetween (passage in cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant tube in last 112).
Further note that Jager teaches a first precool refrigerant expansion device (para. 43; expander before the first 112) having an inlet (inlet to expander of first 112) configured to receive the precool refrigerant (propane) and an outlet (outlet from expander of first 112) configured to direct the precool refrigerant (propane) to the pre-cool refrigerant inlet (propane inlet of first 112) of the pre-cool heat exchanger whereby a first two-phase stream (two phase propane from expander of first 112) is provided to the pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of first 112);
a second pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (last expander to last 112) having an inlet (inlet of last expander to last 112) configured to receive the pre-cool refrigerant (propane) from the pre-cool refrigerant outlet (outlet of first 112) of the warm pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112) and an outlet (outlet of last expander to last 112) configured to direct the pre-cool refrigerant (propane) to the cold pre-cool refrigerant inlet (inlet of the last 112) of the cold pre-cool heat exchanger (last 112) whereby the second two phase stream (propane gas and liquid to last 112) is provided to the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of last 112).
Note that the warm pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112) and the cold pre-cool heat exchanger (last 112) of Jager teach all of the inlets and outlets of the warm pre-cool heat exchanger and the cold pre-cool heat exchanger as claimed.
Note that Jager teaches that the precooling of the mixed refrigerant is downstream of the aftercooler (126) and upstream of a high-pressure accumulator (152).
In addition, Low teaches that it is well known and routine to employ a pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator (see 32) and teaches b-iii) the pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator (32) having a pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator inlet (inlet of 32) in downstream fluid communication with a pre-cool condenser outlet (outlet of 30) and a pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator outlet (outlet of 32) in upstream fluid communication with a pre-cool refrigerant inlet (inlet of 40, 70, 100) of a pre-cool heat exchanger (40, 70, 100).
Therefore it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify Ducote with the warm pre-cool heat exchanger, the cold pre-cool heat exchanger, the pre-cool compressor system, the first pre-cool refrigerant expansion device, and the second pre-cool refrigerant expansion device, as claimed and identified in the teachings of Jager and Low above, for the purpose of providing consistent propane temperature level refrigeration for pre-cooling the feed gas and the mixed refrigerant so as to reduce the thermal burden on the liquefaction refrigeration system as is well known and for the purpose of providing an economical heat exchanger structure suitable for the employment of evaporating propane to efficiently and to obtain the benefit of refrigerant accumulation of the pre-cooling refrigerant in a pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator (as identified above) so as to provide flexible storage and control of the pre-cooling refrigerant to provide the ability to manage pre-cooling refrigerant supply quickly and easily.
Further, note that the modification of Ducote, as explained, results in a system that performs all of the recited functional language, including that the warm pre-cool heat exchanger (Jager-first 112) is upstream of the cold pre-cool heat exchanger (Jager-last 112) and both are upstream of the liquefaction heat exchanger (170-Ducote) providing pre-cooling to the feed gas and the mixed refrigerant; and the pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator (see 32 of Low) is upstream the warm pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112-Jager) and the high pressure accumulator inlet (inlet to VD3-Ducote) of the high pressure accumulator (VD3-Ducote) is configured to receive the liquefaction mixed refrigerant from the cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant outlet (mixed refrigerant outlet of last 112) of the cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (mixed refrigerant tube of last 112-Jager) so that the high pressure accumulator inlet (inlet of VD3-Ducote) is in downstream fluid communication with the liquefaction mixed refrigerant outlet (mixed refrigerant outlet of first 112-Jager) of the warm pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112-Jager) through the cold liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (mixed refrigerant tube of last 112-Jager).
Further it is rehearsed that Ducote, as modified, teaches the first pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (Jager-para. 43, see expander to first 112) having an inlet (Jager - inlet of expansion device of first 112) configured to receive the pre-cool refrigerant from the pre-cooling refrigerant accumulator outlet (Low - outlet of 32) and an outlet (Jager - outlet of expansion device of first 112) configured to direct the pre-cool refrigerant to the pre-cool refrigerant inlet (Jager - inlet to first 112) of the warm pre-cool heat exchanger (Jager - first 112) whereby the first two-phase stream (liquid and gas of pre-cooling refrigerant) is provided to the warm pre-cool heat exchanger (Jager - first 112) shell (per teachings of Jager and Low);
a second pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (last expander to last 112) having an inlet (inlet of last expander to last 112) configured to receive the pre-cool refrigerant (propane) from the pre-cool refrigerant outlet (outlet of first 112) of the warm pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112) and an outlet (outlet of last expander to last 112) configured to direct the pre-cool refrigerant (propane) to the cold pre-cool refrigerant inlet (inlet of the last 112) of the cold pre-cool heat exchanger (last 112) whereby the second two phase stream (propane gas and liquid to last 112) is provided to the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of last 112).
Ducote, as modified, does not appear to explicitly teach a first liquid level sensor and a second liquid level sensor, as claimed. However, liquid level sensors are ordinary and routine as taught by Low.
Low teaches a first liquid level sensor (64, 60) configured to control a first pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (34) so that a liquid level of a pre-cool refrigerant (propane) within a warm pre-cool heat exchanger shell (shell of 40) is maintained whereby a feed gas (feed gas) flowing through a feed gas core (42) and a liquefaction refrigerant (methane refrigerant) flowing through a liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (46) are cooled by the pre-cool refrigerant (propane).
a second liquid level sensor (90, 94)) configured to control a second pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (72) so that a liquid level of the pre-cool refrigerant (propane) within a second pre-cool heat exchanger shell (70) is maintained whereby the feed gas (feed gas) flowing through the feed gas core (72) positioned within the cold-pre-cool heat exchanger shell (70) and the liquefaction refrigerant (methane refrigerant) flowing through the liquefaction refrigerant core (86) positioned with the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (70) are cooled by the pre-cool refrigerant (propane).
Therefore it would have been obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify Ducote with the first liquid level sensor and the second liquid level sensor of Low for the purpose of providing autonomous and stable control of the liquid level within each of the shell of the warm pre-cool heat exchanger and the shell of the cold pre-coo heat exchanger and to ensure that the liquid level does not flood the shell or dry out and so that the pre-cooling is performed effectively and efficiently.
In regard to claim 7, Ducote, as modified, teaches that the mixed refrigerant compression system (para. 50-53, compressors and coolers) further includes a mixed refrigerant second compressor or compression stage (26) having a second compressor stage inlet (inlet to 26) in downstream fluid communication with the mixed refrigerant cooler outlet (outlet of 20) of the mixed refrigerant cooler (20) so that fluid from the mixed refrigerant cooler outlet (outlet of 20) is directed to the second compressor stage inlet (inlet to 26), a second mixed refrigerant cooler (30) having a second mixed refrigerant cooler inlet (inlet of 30) in downstream fluid communication with a second compressor stage outlet (outlet of 26) of the mixed refrigerant second compressor or compression stage (26) so that fluid from the second compressor stage outlet (outlet of 26) is directed to the second mixed refrigerant cooler inlet (inlet of 30), said second mixed refrigerant cooler (30) having a second mixed refrigerant cooler outlet (outlet of 30) in upstream fluid communication with the liquefaction mixed refrigerant inlet (mixed refrigerant inlet of first 112-Jager) of the pre-cool heat exchanger (first 112) so that fluid from the second mixed refrigerant cooler outlet (mixed refrigerant outlet of 30) is directed to the liquefaction mixed refrigerant inlet (mixed refrigerant inlet of first 112-Jager) so as to provide the benefit of heat rejection and the energy and efficiency benefit of precooling the mixed refrigerant with propane.
In rehearsed regard to claim 31, it is rehearsed that Ducote, as modified, teaches the limitations of claim 31, including that the second pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (Jager - last expander to last 112) having an inlet (Jager - inlet of last expander to last 112) configured to receive the pre-cool refrigerant (Jager - propane) from the pre-cool refrigerant outlet (Jager - outlet of first 112) of the warm pre-cool heat exchanger (Jager - first 112) and an outlet (Jager - outlet of last expander to last 112) configured to direct the pre-cool refrigerant (Jager - propane) to the cold pre-cool refrigerant inlet (Jager - inlet of the last 112) of the cold pre-cool heat exchanger (Jager - last 112) whereby the second two phase stream (Jager - propane gas and liquid to last 112) is provided to the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (Jager - shell of last 112); and the second liquid level sensor (Low - 90, 94) configured to control the second pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (Jager - last expander to last 112) so that a liquid level of the pre-cool refrigerant (Jager-propane) within the second pre-cool heat exchanger shell (Jager - shell of last 112) is maintained whereby the feed gas (feed) flowing through the feed gas core (Jager- tube for feed gas in last 112) positioned within the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (Jager - shell of last 112) and the liquefaction mixed refrigerant (Jager - mixed refrigerant) flowing through the liquefaction mixed refrigerant core (Jager - tube for mixed refrigerant in last 112) positioned within the cold pre-cool heat exchanger shell (Jager - shell of last 112) are cooled by the pre-cool refrigerant (Jager - propane).
In regard to claim 35, Ducote, as modified, fully meets the limitations of claim 35 since Jager and Low teach that the pre-cool refrigerant comprises propane (Jager - para. 19; Low - column 1, line 55-60) and the pre-cool compressor system (taught by Jager and Low above) and the first pre-cool refrigerant expansion device (Jager - expander to first 112) are configured to operate the propane pre-cooling system at a temperature of approximately -5C (fully capable of such functional limitation; see Jager para. 42).
In regard to claim 36, Ducote, as modified, teaches that the liquefaction mixed refrigerant passage (Jager-passage for mixed refrigerant in 112) and the pre-cool compressor system (of Jager and Low) are configured so that the liquefaction mixed refrigerant (passage for mixed refrigerant in 112) exits the pre-cool heat exchanger (112) as a first mixed-phase stream (32 to VD3 after being precooled by propane as taught by Jager and Low); the high-pressure accumulator (VD3) is configured to separate the first mixed-phase stream (32 to VD3 after being precooled by propane as taught by Jager and Low) into a high-pressure vapor stream (from top of VD3) and a high-pressure liquid stream (bottom of VD3); and the high-pressure vapor cooling passage (166) is configured to partially condense the high-pressure vapor stream (from top of VD3) into a second mixed-phase stream (164) that is separated by the cold vapor separator (VD4).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 8/12/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive in view of the new grounds of rejection above.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN F PETTITT whose telephone number is (571)272-0771. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F, 9-5p. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR): http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. The examiner’s supervisor, Frantz Jules can be reached on 571-272-6681. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/JOHN F PETTITT, III/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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