DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Status
The claims are newly amended.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 10/22/25 have been fully considered and they are moot in-part and not persuasive in-part.
The remarks argue on pages 11-12, the following:
Segawa et al., EVP, EVP II, Kokubu et al., Teichmann, Biniwale et al. and Cohen et al. as a whole do not teach and do not suggest pre-heating an at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material, which is provided from a LOHC source that is a mobile LOHC transport vehicle, and conditioning at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material by cooling the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material to a temperature of less than 50°C as claimed. The Office Action takes the position that an organic compound of Segawa et al., which is a liquid at normal temperature, can be considered to be a LOHC transport vehicle as featured in the present invention. However, the organic compound of
Segawa et al.is not a mobile LOHC transport vehicle as featured in the present invention. The organic compound of Segawa et al. cannot be a LOHC source since a LOHC source is a reservoir from which LOHC can be taken. The organic compound of Segawa et al. is not a LOHC transport vehicle as featured in the present invention. EVP and EVP II also do not direct a person of ordinary skill in the art toward a mobile LOHC transport vehicle as featured in the present invention.
The remarks are moot because this feature has been amended and therefore newly treated.
Next, the remarks argue the following on pages 12-13.
Kokubu et al. discloses that the material which is to be dehydrogenated in the dehydrogenation reactor 5 is pre-heated in a heat-exchanger 3 (see paragraph [0018] and Fig. 1 and 2 of Kokubu et al.). However, Kokubu et al. discloses that heat is transferred by a heat medium, such as hot oil that is produced using a high-temperature exhaust gas reaction heat, that is supplied using this heat medium (see paragraph [0018] of Kokubu et al.). Applicant respectfully disagrees with the assumption taken in the Office Action that a heat exchange is provided within the gas-liquid separator 12. As clearly seen from Fig, 1 and Fig. 2 of Kokubu et al., the hydrogen gas that is fed into the gas-liquid separator 12 is separated into a first stream 13 and a second stream 15. Kokubu et al. does not disclose pre-heating an at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material that is provided from a LOHC source as featured in the present invention. According to the present invention, it is clear that purifying of the hydrogen gas comprises two separate cooling steps. The first cooling step is provided by the pre-heating, i.e. by transferring heat from the hydrogen gas to the at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material. A second cooling step of the present invention is provided in an additional cooling unit. Kokubu et al. does not disclose a two-stage cooling of
the hydrogen gas for purifying the hydrogen gas as featured in the present invention.
The remarks are respectfully not persuasive. The rejection respectfully does not take the position that there is a heat exchanged provided with the gas-liquid separator, but instead, that hydrogen that is product is heat exchanged with raw organic hydride introduced into the reactor (para. 37 of reference and page 7, para. 1 of non-final).
Next, on page 13 of the remarks, Applicant argues the following:
Teichmann discloses a hydrogen-laden LOHC material that is dehydrated with a heat supply such that hydrogen is separated from the LOHC material. There is no teaching or suggestion in Teichmann as to pre-heating an at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material, which is provided from a LOHC source that is a mobile LOHC transport vehicle, and conditioning at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material by cooling the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material to a temperature of less than 50°C as claimed.
The remarks are respectfully not persuasive. Teichman was relied upon to disclose conditionally the dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material. This reference describes this feature on page 8, para. 3 of the last office action and below.
Next, the remarks argue the following on pages 13-14.
Biniwale et al. does not teach or suggest pre-heating an at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material, which is provided from a LOHC source that is a mobile LOHC transport vehicle, and conditioning at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material by cooling the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material to a temperature of less than 50°C as claimed. Biniwale et al. does not disclose that a hydrogenated compound is cooled to a temperature of less than 50 °C. The Office Action takes the position that it would be obvious to cool at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material to a temperature of less than 50°C as featured in the present invention. However, Applicant respectfully disagrees with the position taken in the Office Action that a person of ordinary skill in the art would have taken this temperature range for cooling the organic carrier as the carrier passes through the catalyst. Biniwale et al. clearly teaches that the temperature range is used in order to release hydrogen gas from the catalyst material. However, the dehydrogenation reaction at which the organic carrier is in contact with the catalyst material and the hydrogen gas is
released from the organic carrier is provided at an elevated temperature. This elevated temperature is essential for the release of hydrogen gas from the organic compound. In particular, this is the reason for the pre-heating of the organic compound prior to the dehydrogenation reaction. Thus, a person of ordinary skill in the art would not have cooled the organic carrier which passes through the catalyst because then no dehydrogenation would take place. Applicant has surprisingly discovered that the organic compound which has already left the dehydrogenation reaction is conditioned in an advantageous manner by cooling to a temperature of less than 50°C. Even the disclosure of Biniwale et al., i.e. to release hydrogen gas from a catalyst material by cooling would not have directed a person of ordinary skill in the art toward conditioning at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material by cooling the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material to a temperature of less than 50°C as featured in the present invention.
The remarks are respectfully not persuasive. Biniwale teaches that their process is first heated and then cooled to a lower range of 2-50 degrees C (see para. 60 and non-final, page 7, last para). The first step is the heating step, the second step is a cooling step.
Page 14 of the remarks argues the following:
Cohen et al. discloses a mobile hydrogen generation and supply system. There is no disclosure in Cohen et al. as to pre-heating an at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material, which is provided from a LOHC source that is a mobile LOHC transport vehicle, and conditioning at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material by cooling the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material to a temperature of less than 50°C as claimed.
The cited prior art references as a whole fail to teach or suggest a controlled purification of the released hydrogen gas such that an additional compression of the hydrogen gas and additional cooling of the compressed hydrogen gas takes place as featured in the present
invention. Segawa et al. discloses that the hydrogen gas of the gas-liquid separator 4 passes a compression unit 6 and a hydrogen purification unit 8. However, a two-step purification, wherein one step comprises additional compression and additional cooling is not disclosed in the cited prior art references. In particular, the cited prior art references do not provide any disclosure that directs a person of ordinary skill in the art toward a two-stage cooling and a two-stage compression for purification of hydrogen gas as featured in the present invention.
The remarks are respectfully not persuasive. Cohen is relied upon to teach the mobile feature and the other features are taught by the other references. The remarks argue that the additional purification step is not in the Segawa reference, but it was acknowledged in the last office action that not all the purification features were in the Segawa reference.
Next, the remarks argue on page 15-20 the features of the latest reference and argue that these references do not teach the features disclosed by the primary and other references previously cited, but this is respectfully not persuasive because these features are previously taught. Nonetheless, the current claims have some claim amendment features that require some search and consideration.
Claim Interpretation
Claims 1, 21, 31, 41 and 42 describe a direct contact of the at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material with released hydrogen gas and with the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material. The term “direct contact” will be interpreted as describing a direct contact and will not be interpreted to include direct heat exchangers.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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.
Claims 1-42 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.
Claim 1, lines 7-9 states “a direct contacting of said at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material with released hydrogen gas and with the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material”. It Is unclear if the direct contacting step with hydrogen includes a direct contact with the partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier or if the partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier does not have to a direct-type contact.
Claim 1, lines 19-20 states “wherein said purifying is further provided by an additional cooling of the released hydrogen gas in an additional cooling unit”. This is unclear because the recitation of “an additional cooling” and “an additional cooling unit” presumes an earlier cooling and cooling unit, which is not stated in the claim. Clarification is required. Similarly, Claim 1, line 20-21 describes “an additional condition”, which also presumes a previous conditioning step, but Claim 1 does not recite a previous conditioning.
Claim 21, lines 6-9 states “a direct contacting of said at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material with released hydrogen gas and with the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material”. It Is unclear if the direct contacting step with hydrogen includes a direct contact with the partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier or if the partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier does not have to a direct-type contact.
Claim 21, line 11 “pre-heated hydrogen carrier material” should be amended to “pre-heated at least partial dehydrogenation carrier material”.
Claim 21, lines 13 “a product flow being discharged” should be amended to “a product flow discharged”.
Claim 31, lines 6-8 states “a direct contacting of said at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material with released hydrogen gas and with the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material”. It Is unclear if the direct contacting step with hydrogen includes a direct contact with the partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier or if the partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier does not have to a direct-type contact.
Claim 31, lines 16 describes an “additional compression” and Claim 31, lines 17 describes an “additional cooling”, but it is unclear because Claim 31 does not specifically state the presence of a previous compression or a previous cooling step.
Claim 41, lines 6-8 states “a direct contacting of said at least partially hydrogenated hydrogen carrier material with released hydrogen gas and with the at least partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier material”. It Is unclear if the direct contacting step with hydrogen includes a direct contact with the partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier or if the partially dehydrogenated hydrogen carrier does not have to a direct-type contact.
Claim 41, line 19 recites “an additional cooling” and an “additional cooling unit” refer to a previous cooling and a previous cooling unit, but the claim does not recite a previous cooling or cooling unit. This is unclear.
Allowable Subject Matter
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Ishikawa (JP 2010235359). Ishikawa describes a hydrogen supply method and hydrogen supply apparatus (title). The reference teaches that the dehydrogenated body is supplied to a heat exchanger, where it preheats the hydrogen carrier (page 10, para. 4). However, the heat exchange contact is not a direct contact, but an indirect contact.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHENG HAN DAVIS whose telephone number is (571)270-5823. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5:30.
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/SHENG H DAVIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1732 December 3, 2025