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Use of catalytically coated short contact time (SCT) design approaches for application in mass transfer controlled reactors such as Auto Thermal Reformers (ATR's) is an area of much recent interest. Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) has developed an efficient and compact ATR using ultra-short channel length, high cell density SCT substrates (Microlith®). PCI has also extended this Microlith technology to other fuel processor reactors that operate at lower temperatures and are not mass transfer limited. Namely, reactors for the Water Gas Shift (WGS) and Preferential Oxidation (PROX) of CO have been developed. Due to the higher surface area per unit volume of the Microlith substrate compared to conventional monoliths, size advantages have been observed for these reactions, which are more kinetically controlled.

This paper discusses a new type of compact hydrogen generator suitable for integration into fuel cell power systems. Such generators not only provide a source of ultra-pure hydrogen especially suited for fuel cell use but at the same time could, in principle, achieve thermal efficiencies approaching 100% for the conversion of hydrocarbons into hydrogen. As a result it should now be possible to build small fuel cell power packages, even as small as 500 watts, which can operate at thermal efficiencies greater than those of large power plants.