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 Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Brunot et al. (US Patent Application Publication no. 2019/0194816).
Regarding claim 1, Brunot discloses a methane production system (paragraph 5) comprising:
a co-electrolysis/reforming cell having a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode (paragraphs 5, 15-17, 46); and
a control unit configured to control an operating temperature of the co-electrolysis/reforming cell (step (a) comprises co-electrolysis of steam and carbon dioxide at a first temperature, followed by a step (b) comprising a methanation reaction carried out at a temperature which is inferior to at least 100oC to the temperature of step (a). Brunot further teaches controlling the temperature by controlling the flow rates of the reagents injected into the reactor and thus, a control unit is necessarily present to perform the function – paragraphs 43-44, 57),
wherein the co-electrolysis/reforming cell operates in either a co-electrolysis mode in which H2 and CO are produced at the first electrode from CO2 and H2O (paragraphs 35, 50), or a reforming mode in which CH4 is produced at the first electrode from the H2 and CO produced in the co-electrolysis mode (paragraphs 36-38, 51), and
the control unit makes an operating temperature of the co-electrolysis/reforming cell in the reforming mode lower than an operating temperature of the co-electrolysis/reforming cell in the co-electrolysis mode (step (b) is carried out at a temperature inferior to at least 100oC to the temperature of step (a); paragraphs 43-44).
Regarding claim 2, Brunot further teaches wherein the operating temperature of the co-electrolysis/reforming cell in the co-electrolysis mode is 700°C or more and 850°C or less (paragraphs 41, 43), and the operating temperature of the co-electrolysis/reforming cell in the reforming mode is inferior to at least 100°C to the temperature of step a (paragraph 44).
Regarding claim 3, Brunot discloses a storage/supply unit configured to store the H2 and CO produced at the first electrode when the co-electrolysis/reforming cell operates in the co-electrolysis mode, and supply the stored H2 and CO to the first electrode when the co-electrolysis/reforming cell operates in the reforming mode (paragraphs 35-38, 47, 50-51, 85).
Regarding claim 4, Brunot discloses a methane production method (paragraph 5) using a co-electrolysis/reforming cell having a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode (paragraphs 5, 15-17, 46),
the method comprising: a co-electrolyzing step of producing H2 and CO at the first electrode from CO2 and H2O (paragraphs 35, 50); and
a reforming step of producing CH4 at the first electrode from the H2 and CO produced in the co-electrolyzing step (paragraphs 36-38, 51).
Regarding claim 5, Brunot further teaches a first storing step of storing the H2 and CO produced in the co-electrolyzing step, wherein, in the reforming step, CH4 is produced from the H2 and CO stored in the storing step (paragraphs 35-38, 47, 50-51, 85 – the gases produced are collected).
Regarding claim 6, Brunot discloses a second storing step of storing the CH4 produced in the reforming step (paragraphs 35-38, 47, 50-51, 85 – the gases produced are collected and distributed as needed).
Conclusion
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/ZULMARIAM MENDEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1794