Appeal No. 2001-0370
Application No. 08/978,991
deflecting means has “unobstructed holes therethrough through
which the flue gases flow upwardly to introduce at least some of
the portion of the liquid as droplets into the passage.” Claims
1 and 11.
As a result, the perforations significantly enhance
contact between the slurry and the flue gases in the
annular-shaped outer region of the tower 110 along the
wall 114, and therefore enhance the ability of the
reintroduced slurry to absorb the gases and/or
particulate matter entrained in the flue gases.
Appeal Brief, page 4.
Discussion
Rejection of claims 1-8 and 10 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as
anticipated by Duty
Claim 1 is directed to a gas-liquid contactor comprising,
generally, a tower having a wall forming a passage, an inlet to
the passage through which flue gases are introduced, and means
for introducing a liquid into the passage such that the liquid
contacts the flue gases. Means disposed on the wall of the tower
deflect a portion of the liquid away from the wall and
reintroduce it as droplets into the passage. Claim 1 further
requires that the deflecting means have unobstructed holes
therethrough.
Anticipation requires a disclosure, in a single
prior art reference, of each element of the claims under
4
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