Ex Parte Deshpande et al - Page 5

                Appeal 2006-3385                                                                               
                Application 10/407,401                                                                         

                or suggestion in the prior art which would enable one of ordinary skill in the                 
                art to combine those features in the manner claimed?                                           
                      For the reasons discussed below, we answer this question in the                          
                affirmative.                                                                                   
                                            FINDINGS OF FACT                                                   
                                                   Krause                                                      
                      Krause describes a plurality of reactor modules that can be stacked                      
                end to end and disposed within an outer housing. [0048].                                       
                      The structure may be used with a reforming process that includes                         
                cooling steps for cooling the process stream that flows through the reactor                    
                modules.  See [0025] and [0034].                                                               
                      Krause teaches that heat exchangers may be used in the modules for                       
                cooling.  [0042].                                                                              

                                                    Allen                                                      
                      Allen discloses a fuel processor that is formed between first and                        
                second plates that have a plurality of reactor apertures and fluid                             
                communication channels between the reactor apertures. [0041].                                  
                      Allen discloses bonding the first and second plates together and                         
                enclosing them with a second set of plates that define coolant channels to                     
                remove heat from desired areas of the first and second plates.  [0042].                        
                      Allen also teaches that the reactors housed in the apertures can be heat                 
                exchangers and may be enclosed by a set of plates for insulation purposes.                     
                [0045]-[0046].                                                                                 



                                                      5                                                        

Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Next

Last modified: September 9, 2013