Prior art — US Patent 11673805

Here is an analysis of the most relevant patent prior art for US Patent 11673805, based on the provided patent text.

US Patent 11673805: Process and plant for preparation of hydrogen and separation of carbon dioxide

Legal Status: Active, expires 2041-08-12.
Publication Date: 2023-06-13.
Filing Date: 2021-08-11.
Assignee: L'Air Liquide SA pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude.

The provided patent text explicitly lists two "Patent Citations" that were cited by the examiner.

Prior Art Reference 1: US20150141535A1

Full Citation: US20150141535A1, "Process for co-producing commercially valuable products from byproducts of fischer-tropsch process for hydrocarbon fuel formulation in a gtl environment", Expander Energy Inc.
Publication Date: 2015-05-21.
Priority Date: 2011-09-08.
Brief Description: The provided text for US11673805 does not offer a specific detailed description of US20150141535A1. Its title suggests a focus on co-producing valuable products from Fischer-Tropsch process byproducts, which relates to hydrocarbon fuel formulation. Without further details from within the US11673805 text, a comprehensive description of its process cannot be provided here.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without a detailed description of the process disclosed in US20150141535A1 within the provided context, it is not possible to confidently assess which specific claim(s) of US11673805 it might anticipate. The core inventive step of US11673805 lies in the combined endothermic and autothermal reforming with integrated heat utilization (Claim 1(b) and 1(c)). It is not evident from the title of US20150141535A1 that it would disclose this specific combination and heat integration for hydrogen production.

Prior Art Reference 2: US20150321914A1

Full Citation: US20150321914A1, "Method for producing hydrogen by reforming hydrocarbons using steam, combined with carbon dioxide capture and steam production", L'air Liquide, Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'explitation Des Procédés Georges Claude.
Publication Date: 2015-11-12.
Priority Date: 2012-12-13.
Brief Description: US20150321914A1 discloses a process where a synthesis gas, produced as a primary product by either steam reforming or autothermal reforming, is converted to carbon dioxide and hydrogen via a water-gas shift reaction. Subsequently, hydrogen is separated from the enriched synthesis gas using a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit. The hydrogen-depleted residual gas, still rich in carbon dioxide, is then processed in a cryogenic purification unit (CPU) to separate and liquefy carbon dioxide to a high purity. Figure 1 of US11673805 further illustrates this prior art, showing an autothermal reforming unit (100) followed by a converter unit (101), a PSA unit (102), a separation unit (103) for cryogenic CO2 separation, and a membrane unit (104).
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US20150321914A1 discloses several steps common to US11673805, including:
- Reforming hydrocarbons (either steam reforming or autothermal reforming) to produce synthesis gas.
- Water-gas shift reaction to convert CO to H2 and CO2.
- Hydrogen separation via Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA).
- Cryogenic carbon dioxide separation from the residual gas after PSA.
- Optionally, a membrane unit for further hydrogen recovery.
However, US20150321914A1 does not appear to anticipate the distinguishing feature of Claim 1 of US11673805, which is the combination of both an endothermic reforming step (b) and an autothermal reforming step (c), where "heat generated by the autothermal reforming step is utilized for heating in the endothermic reforming step of step (b)". The description of US20150321914A1 states that synthesis gas is produced "by steam reforming or autothermal reforming", indicating a choice between the two rather than their integrated combination with heat recovery as claimed in US11673805. Therefore, while US20150321914A1 anticipates individual steps and overall goals (hydrogen production, CO2 separation), it does not anticipate the specific integrated reforming process defined in Claim 1(b) and 1(c) of US11673805. It could potentially anticipate sub-elements of Claim 1 related to the individual separation steps (e) and (f), or elements of dependent claims that detail these separation technologies, if these aspects are not uniquely combined or modified by the inventive reforming steps.