How a Special Reactor Makes Methane Fuel Without Constant Electricity
This patent describes a method for a Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell (SOEC) reactor to produce methane, even when electricity is scarce, by switching from electrolysis to a heat-generating chemical reaction.
Original patent title: “Method for operating an SOEC-type stack reactor for producing methane in the absence of available electricity”
This patent describes a method for a Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell (SOEC) reactor to produce methane, even when electricity is scarce, by switching from electrolysis to a heat-generating chemical reaction. Granted to Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA in 2018 with 17 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2034.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a two-step process for operating a Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell (SOEC) stack reactor, where the cathodes are made of catalytic material. First, when electricity is available (step a/ of claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1), the reactor performs high-temperature electrolysis, splitting steam or a mix of steam and carbon dioxide to produce hydrogen or a mix of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Second, when the electricity supply becomes insufficient for electrolysis (step b/ of claim 1), the reactor switches modes. It is then supplied with a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide (synthesis gas) or hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This mixture undergoes a methanation reaction at the same cathodes, producing methane. This methanation reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat, which helps keep the reactor at its operating temperature without needing continuous electricity. For example, a reactor powered by solar panels could produce hydrogen during the day and then use that hydrogen to make methane at night, keeping itself warm.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover methanation processes that do not occur within an SOEC-type stack reactor where the cathodes are specifically made of methanation catalyst material(s).
- Does not cover systems where the reactor is only used for electrolysis or only for methanation, without the ability to switch between these two modes based on electricity availability.
- Does not cover methanation reactions that are not performed by 'heterogeneous catalysis' at the cathode.
- Does not cover producing methane when electricity is fully available for electrolysis, as the patent specifically addresses operating when the electric current is 'insufficient' for electrolysis.
- Does not cover reactors that lack the specific arrangement of electrical and fluid interconnectors between adjacent elemental cells as described in claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The core innovation is using the *same* SOEC reactor, with its catalyst-embedded cathodes, to perform *both* high-temperature electrolysis (when electricity is available) and exothermic methanation (when electricity is not), using the heat from the methanation reaction to keep the reactor at operating temperature.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Power-to-gas energy storage systems
Synthetic natural gas production from renewable electricity
Industrial processes for carbon dioxide utilization
Chemical energy storage for grid balancing
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses a significant challenge in renewable energy: its intermittent nature. By allowing a single reactor to both produce hydrogen/syngas when electricity is abundant and then convert it to methane when electricity is scarce, it offers a way to store excess renewable energy in a chemical form. Methane is easier to store and transport than hydrogen and can be integrated into existing gas infrastructure, making renewable energy more reliable and usable on demand.
Filed
November 19, 2014
Granted
December 4, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, remains a key player in this field, conducting extensive research in energy technologies. Other entities in the 'power-to-gas' sector, such as Siemens Energy and Sunfire, are actively developing and commercializing related technologies for converting renewable electricity into synthetic fuels like methane. Academic institutions and startups globally are also exploring advanced reactor designs for efficient energy conversion and storage.
Market impact
This technology contributes to the growing 'power-to-gas' market, enabling the storage of intermittent renewable electricity, such as from solar or wind, as chemical energy in the form of methane. This can help stabilize electricity grids by providing a flexible energy buffer and offers a pathway for decarbonizing sectors difficult to electrify, like heavy industry and transportation, by leveraging existing gas infrastructure. It supports the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient energy system by making renewable energy more dispatchable and versatile.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a two-step process for operating a Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell (SOEC) stack reactor, where the cathodes are made of catalytic material. First, when electricity is available (step a/ of claim 1), the reactor performs high-temperature electrolysis, splitting steam or a mix of steam and carbon dioxide to produce hydrogen or a mix of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Second, when the electricity supply becomes insufficient for electrolysis (step b/ of claim 1), the reactor switches modes. It is then supplied with a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide (synthesis gas) or hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This mixture undergoes a methanation reaction at the same cathodes, producing methane. This methanation reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat, which helps keep the reactor at its operating temperature without needing continuous electricity. For example, a reactor powered by solar panels could produce hydrogen during the day and then use that hydrogen to make methane at night, keeping itself warm.
The clever bit
The core innovation is using the *same* SOEC reactor, with its catalyst-embedded cathodes, to perform *both* high-temperature electrolysis (when electricity is available) and exothermic methanation (when electricity is not), using the heat from the methanation reaction to keep the reactor at operating temperature.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover methanation processes that do not occur within an SOEC-type stack reactor where the cathodes are specifically made of methanation catalyst material(s).
- Does not cover systems where the reactor is only used for electrolysis or only for methanation, without the ability to switch between these two modes based on electricity availability.
- Does not cover methanation reactions that are not performed by 'heterogeneous catalysis' at the cathode.
- Does not cover producing methane when electricity is fully available for electrolysis, as the patent specifically addresses operating when the electric current is 'insufficient' for electrolysis.
- Does not cover reactors that lack the specific arrangement of electrical and fluid interconnectors between adjacent elemental cells as described in claim 1.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$39K – $125K
Midpoint $78K · 8.2 yr remaining · industry ×2.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
17 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
REYTIER, M., Roux, G., & PETITJEAN, M. (2018). How a Special Reactor Makes Methane Fuel Without Constant Electricity (U.S. Patent No. 10,145,018). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10145018/method-for-operating-an-soec-type-stack-reactor-for-producing-methane-in-the-abs
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Special Reactor Makes Methane Fuel Without Constant Electricity cover?
This patent describes a method for a Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell (SOEC) reactor to produce methane, even when electricity is scarce, by switching from electrolysis to a heat-generating chemical reaction.
Who owns patent US 10145018?
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 19, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses a significant challenge in renewable energy: its intermittent nature. By allowing a single reactor to both produce hydrogen/syngas when electricity is abundant and then convert it to methane when electricity is scarce, it offers a way to store excess renewable energy in a chemical form. Methane is easier to store and transport than hydrogen and can be integrated into existing gas infrastructure, making renewable energy more reliable and usable on demand.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover methanation processes that do not occur within an SOEC-type stack reactor where the cathodes are specifically made of methanation catalyst material(s).
Same assignee
More from Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
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