Appeal No. 1998-1248
Application No. 08/460,086
that it is known to operate a combined cycle turbine system as
a function of ambient temperature. On page 6 of the answer,
the Examiner asserts that the combination of Carroll, Lauw and
Geary shows how to control the speed of a turbine shaft as a
function of ambient temperature and load.
As stated above, we do not find that the combination of
Carroll and Lauw teaches or suggests a turbine control system
which is responsive to a load demand signal and that the speed
of the generator is responsive to load and ambient
temperature. We find that Geary teaches an fluid catalatic
cracker process where the incoming air to a compressor is
mixed with warm air to heat the incoming air. See Column 2,
lines 53 through 57. The mixing of the air is controlled
based upon a measure of the ambient temperature. See Column
2, lines 54 through 63. The purpose of heating the input air
is to reduce the amount of power required to start the
compressor. See Column 2, lines 37 through 40. We fail to
find that Geary teaches controlling the turbine in accordance
with the demanded load or that the speed of the turbine is
responsive to load and ambient temperature. Rather, we find
that Geary teaches that the measure of ambient temperature is
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