Abstract:
Disclosed are a compact reactor capable of reducing pressure loss and supporting a lot of catalysts, and a power generator having the reactor. The reactor comprises a reactor main body having inner space formed therein, and a base plate which is so intervened as to separate the inner space of the reactor main body into two areas and through which a plurality of through holes are bored in the thicknesswise direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a reactor having a reactor main body with a channel structure, and a power generator equipped with the reactor.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Recently, researches and developments on fuel cells which ensure highly efficient energy usage have been made actively. Fuel cells which directly acquire electric energy from chemical energy through an electrochemical reaction of fuel with oxygen in the air are positioned as prospective and promising batteries. Hydrogen is one of fuels to be used in fuel cells, but care should be taken to handle and store hydrogen because hydrogen is gaseous at ordinary temperature. The use of liquid fuels, such as alcohols and gasoline, can make the system for storing a liquid fuel relatively compact. The use of a liquid fuel however requires a reformer which heats a liquid fuel and water vapor to a high temperature for reaction to produce hydrogen needed for power generation. When a fuel reforming type fuel cell is used as a power source for a small electronic equipment, a reformer as well as the fuel cell should be made compact.  
         [0005]     Researches and developments have been made on the use of a chemical micro reactor as a reformer as described in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2002-102681 which discloses that a micro chemical reaction is caused by using a compact chemical micro reactor having a plurality of base plates connected together. The chemical micro reactor described in the publication will be discussed briefly. A first base plate of polystyrene on whose one surface a winding groove to be a channel is formed is prepared first. Then, a second base plate is adhered to the first base plate by ultraviolet-curing resin in such a way as to cover the groove, thereby forming a winding channel at the junction of the two base plates. A reactant is delivered to the winding channel of the chemical micro reactor by a pump or the like. As a reaction of the reactant is caused, a target product or an intermediate product is produced.  
         [0006]     As the chemical micro reactor is heated, the heat of the chemical micro reactor is transferred to the reactant which flows through the channel and contacts the walls of the channel, causing a more efficient reaction of the reactant. When a catalyst is supported on the walls of the channel, the reactant which flows through the channel contacts the walls of the channel, causing the reaction of the reactant more efficiently. As a winding channel winds at plural locations, however, the flow direction of the fluid changes, increasing the pressure loss. This demands a large capacity for a fluid feeding mechanism, such as a pump.  
         [0007]     If a reactant flows in the channel of a chemical micro reactor, the reaction of the reactant which produces a target product or an intermediate product is caused. When the reaction of a reactant is hard to occur at ordinary temperature, the chemical micro reactor should be heated. One way of heating a chemical micro reactor, which is also described in Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2002-102681, is to transfer heat in the base plate where the channel is formed by using an electric heater, such as a nichrome wire. This method however causes the temperature at the heater contacting portion of the base plate different from the temperature at the portion of the base plate which is not in contact with the heater or causes a temperature gradient in the depthwise direction of the groove to be the channel. This brings about a problem that the reaction temperature varies in the groove so that the reactant cannot react uniformly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a compact reactor capable of reducing pressure loss.  
         [0009]     It is another object of the invention to provide a reactor which allows a reactant to react uniformly.  
         [0010]     To achieve the objects, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a reactor comprising: 
        a reactor main body ( 21 ,  301 ,  501 ,  601 ) having inner space formed therein; and     a base plate ( 305 ,  505 ,  705 ,  325 ,  525 ,  725 ) which is so intervened as to separate the inner space of the reactor main body ( 21 ,  301 ,  501 ,  601 ) into two areas and through which a plurality of through holes ( 306 ,  506 ,  606 ) are bored in a thicknesswise direction.        
 
         [0013]     When a reactant is supplied to one of the two areas separated by the base plate, the supplied reactant flows to the other area through the through holes of the base plate which serve as a channel. As plural through holes are bored through the base plate, the pressure loss of the reactant flowing from one area to the other area becomes smaller.  
         [0014]     The formation of the plural through holes can allow a greater amount of catalyst to be supported on the walls of the through holes for the total volume of the through holes.  
         [0015]     As the plural through holes are formed in the base plate which is retained in the reactor main body, the contact area is made greater by making the through holes thinner and increasing the number of the through holes penetrating the base plate. In other words, the fluid that passes through the through holes is easier to contact the walls of the through holes, increasing the probability of the fluid contacting the walls, which leads to an efficient reaction.  
         [0016]     It is preferable that in the reactor, a surface layer of the base plate ( 305 ,  505 ,  705 ,  325 ,  525 ,  725 ) should be oxidized, including the through holes ( 306 ,  506 ,  606 ), and a catalyst ( 516 ,  616 ) should be supported on the oxidized surface layer.  
         [0017]     The oxidization of the surface layer of the base plate alters the surface layer of the base plate to a porous metal oxide, and thus increases the surface area so that lots of catalyst components can be supported on the surface layer, accelerating the reaction.  
         [0018]     It is preferable that in the reactor, an electric heating film ( 308 ,  508 ,  608 ) should be formed on at least one of two surfaces of the base plate ( 305 ,  505 ,  705 ).  
         [0019]     The formation of the electric heating film at the base plate causes heat to transfer through the base plate when the electric heating film is heated by electricity. As the reactant flowing in the through holes contacts the base plate, the reactant is heated and thus causes a reaction efficiently.  
         [0020]     A reactor according to another aspect of the invention comprises: 
        a reactor main body ( 21 ,  701 ,  801 ,  901 ) having inner space formed therein; and     a resistor base plate ( 705 ,  805 ,  905 ) which is so intervened as to separate the inner space of the reactor main body ( 21 ,  701 ,  801 ,  901 ) into two areas and through which a plurality of through holes ( 706 ,  806 ,  906 ) are bored in a thicknesswise direction.        
 
         [0023]     Because the resistor base plate functions as an electric heat generating resistor according to the invention, the resistor base plate self-generates heat when applied with a voltage. The self-heating resistor base plate heats areas around the through holes promptly, so that the reactant can efficient react by the heat of the carbon-based base plate. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     These objects and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a power generator  1 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a carburetor  3 , a reformer  5  and a CO (Carbon Oxide) selective oxidizer  6 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the carburetor, the reformer and the CO selective oxidizer cut along the thicknesswise direction at line III-III in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a base plate  305 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a carburetor  13 , a reformer  15  and a CO selective oxidizer  16 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a reactor  20 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the reactor cut along the thicknesswise direction of a reactor main body  21  at line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a carburetor  3 , a reformer  5  and a CO selective oxidizer  6 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the carburetor, the reformer and the CO selective oxidizer cut along the thicknesswise direction at line IX-IX in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a carbon-based base plate  705 ;  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a reactor  20 ; and  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the reactor cut along the thicknesswise direction of a reactor main body  21  at line XII-XII in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]     The best mode of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. While various limitations technically preferable for working out the invention are made to embodiments to be discussed below, the limitations do not restrict the scope of the invention to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0038]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a power generator  1 .  
         [0039]     The power generator  1  is equipped in a desktop type personal computer, a notebook type personal computer, portable telephone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), an electronic organizer, a wrist watch, a digital still camera, a digital video camera, a game device, a game machine, home appliances, and other electronic equipments, and is used as a power source for operating the main body of an electronic equipment.  
         [0040]     The power generator  1  includes a fuel container  2 , a carburetor  3 , a fuel pump  4 , a reformer  5 , a CO (Carbon Oxide) selective oxidizer  6 , a fuel cell  7 , an air pump  8  and a voltage application section  9 . The fuel container  2  retains a fuel to be the source for power generation. The carburetor  3  comprises a micro reactor which vaporizes a fuel supplied from the fuel container  2 . The fuel pump  4  sucks the fuel from the fuel container  2  and feeds the sucked fuel to the carburetor  3 . The reformer  5  comprises a micro reactor which reforms an air-fuel mixture supplied from the carburetor  3  to hydrogen. The CO selective oxidizer  6  comprises a micro reactor which removes carbon oxide from the air-fuel mixture supplied from the reformer  5 . The fuel cell  7  generates electric energy through an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen in the air-fuel mixture supplied from the CO selective oxidizer  6  with oxygen in the air. The air pump  8  sucks outside air and supplies the air to the CO selective oxidizer  6  and the fuel cell  7 . The voltage application section  9  applies a voltage to the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6 . The reactor according to the invention is adapted to the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6 .  
         [0041]     The carburetor  3 , the fuel pump  4 , the reformer  5 , the CO selective oxidizer  6 , the fuel cell  7  and the air pump  8  are installed in the main body of the electronic equipment. The fuel container  2  is detachably provided at the main body of the electronic equipment, and when the fuel container  2  is attached to the main body of the electronic equipment, the fuel in the fuel container  2  is supplied to the carburetor  3  by the fuel pump  4 .  
         [0042]     The fuel retained in the fuel container  2  is a mixture of a liquid chemical fuel and water. Available chemical fuels are hydrogen-contained compounds, such as alcohols like methanol and ethanol, and gasoline. A mixture of methanol and water is used as a fuel in the embodiment.  
         [0043]     The fuel cell  7  has a fuel electrode as a gas diffusion layer, which comprises catalyst particles and support particles, an air electrode as a gas diffusion layer, which comprises catalyst particles and support particles, and a hydrogen-ion conductive solid polymer electrolyte film supported between the fuel electrode and the air electrode. The air electrode is connected to the air pump  8  via a pipe or the like, so that air is supplied to the air electrode.  
         [0044]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6 , and  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6  cut along the thicknesswise direction at line III-III in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0045]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the carburetor  3  has a reactor main body  301  which is a container having inner space formed therein, and a channel structure  302  retained in the reactor main body  301 .  
         [0046]     The reactor main body  301  is formed like a rectangular or cubic box having inner space. The reactor main body  301  is formed of a heat insulating material with a relatively low thermal conductivity, such as glass or ceramics. The reactor main body  301  is provided with an inflow pipe  303  and an outflow pipe  304  which communicates with the inner space and outside the reactor main body  301 . The inflow pipe  303  is provided at a position facing the outflow pipe  304  in the reactor main body  301 . In the embodiment, the inflow pipe  303  is provided at the top wall of the reactor main body  301 , and the outflow pipe  304  at the bottom wall of the reactor main body  301 . The inflow pipe  303  communicates with the fuel pump  4 , and the outflow pipe  304  communicates with an inflow pipe  503  of the reformer  5 , which will be discussed later.  
         [0047]     The channel structure  302  has, as a basic structure, a base plate  305  made of a metal which has a high thermal conductivity and whose top surface can be porous by anodization, such as aluminum (thermal conductivity of 237 W/m·K), cerium (thermal conductivity of 11.4 W/m·K), titanium (thermal conductivity of 21.9 W/m·K), or silicon (thermal conductivity of 148 W/m·K). The thickness of the base plate  305  is less than the length and width of the base plate  305  in the planar direction. The base plate  305  has a plurality of through holes  306  which penetrate the base plate  305  from one surface to the other and serve as a channel. The through holes  306  are formed in such a way as to be in parallel to one another along the lengthwise direction of the base plate  305  and to run straight so as not to wind halfway. Referring to  FIG. 4  which is a plan view of a part of the base plate  305 , the through holes  306  have hexagonal cross sections, and are laid out in a honeycomb pattern. The through holes  306  need not be formed hexagonal, but may take other forms, such as a triangle, a rectangle, a polygon greater than a rectangle, a circle or an oval. With the base plate  305  seen in a plan view, the through holes  306  need not be laid out in a honeycomb pattern, but may be laid out in a two-dimensional array (e.g., a matrix form). It is preferable that the base plate  305  should have a poor reactivity with respect to a substance contained in the fluid flowing in the through holes  306 , a high thermal conductivity and a low coefficient of thermal expansion.  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , an insulating film  307 , such as a silicon oxide film (SiO 2 ) or a silicon nitride film (SiN), is formed between the through holes  306  on one side of the base plate  305  in the channel structure  302 . An electric heating film  308  made of a metal oxide, such as Ta—Si—O—N, or a metal, such as Au, is formed on the insulating film  307 . The electric heating film  308  is an electric resistive heat generator or a semiconductor heat generator, and generates heat with electric energy when a current flows in the electric heating film  308  or a voltage is applied thereto. The intervention of the insulating film  307  between the electric heating film  308  and the base plate  305  can avoid disabling of sufficient heating of the electric heating film  308  as a consequence of the current flowing to the base plate  305  with a lower resistance due to the voltage applied to the electric heating film  308 . The intervention of the insulation film  307  also makes separation of the electric heating film  308  harder than that when the electric heating film  308  is formed directly on the base plate  305 .  
         [0049]     A protective insulating film  309 , such as a silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film, is formed on the electric heating film  308 . Coated on the electric heating film  308 , the protective insulating film  309  protects the electric heating film  308 .  
         [0050]     The base plate  305  is retained in the reactor main body  301 , is supported away from the top wall of the reactor main body  301  by an upper support portion  312 , and is supported away from the bottom wall of the reactor main body  301  by a lower support portion  313 . The inner space of the reactor main body  301  is separated into an area  310  on that side of the inflow pipe  303  and an area  311  on that side of the outflow pipe  304  by the base plate  305 . One surface of the base plate  305  faces the top wall of the reactor main body  301 , while the other surface of the base plate  305  faces the bottom wall of the reactor main body  301 , and the area  310  on the inflow pipe  303  side communicates with the area  311  on the outflow pipe  304  side by the through holes  306 . Therefore, the through holes  306  serve as a channel from the area on the inflow pipe  303  side to the area on the outflow pipe  304  side.  
         [0051]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , one of the four sides of the base plate  305  extends out of one side of the reactor main body  301 . Two wires  314  and  315  formed integral with the electric heating film  308  are formed on the base plate  305  at that portion which is exposed from the reactor main body  301 . The voltage application section  9  applies a voltage/current to the electric heating film  308  through the wires  314  and  315  to heat up the electric heating film  308  within a range of 80° C. to 120° C.  
         [0052]     The interface between the base plate  305  and the reactor main body  301  is sealed at that portion where the base plate  305  penetrates one side of the reactor main body  301 .  
         [0053]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , like the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  has a reactor main body  501  which is a container having inner space formed therein, and a channel structure  502  retained in the reactor main body  501 . In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , those portions of the reformer  5  which are substantially identical to corresponding portions of the carburetor  3 , such as the insulating film  507  which is substantially identical to the insulating film  307 , are given reference numerals in five hundreds whose lower two digits are the same as the lower two digits of the reference numerals of the corresponding portions of the carburetor  3 . The descriptions of those portions of the reformer  5  which correspond to the substantially identical portions of the carburetor  3  will be omitted, and only the differences between the reformer  5  and the carburetor  3  will be described.  
         [0054]     In the reformer  5 , the inflow pipe  503  communicates with the outflow pipe  304  of the carburetor  3 , and an outflow pipe  504  communicates with an inflow pipe  603  of the CO selective oxidizer  6 .  
         [0055]     In the reformer  5 , a catalyst  516  as a reforming catalyst is formed on the entire surface layer of the base plate  505  excluding that portion which is covered with an electric heating film  508 . In particular, the catalyst  516  is formed on the surface layer of the base plate  505  even in through holes  506 . The catalyst  516  is what is acquired by oxidizing the surface layer of the base plate  505  to alter the surface layer to a porous metal oxide and supporting a catalyst component on the surface layer of the porous metal oxide as a support. The porous metal oxide is alumina (A 2 O 3 ) when the base plate  505  is of aluminum. When the base plate  505  is of titanium, the porous metal oxide is a titanium oxide. In the reformer  5 , a Cu/ZnO-based catalyst is supported on the surface layer of the base plate  505  as a catalyst component. It is preferable that the base plate  505  should have an excellent corrosion resistance with respect to a substance contained in the fluid flowing in the through holes  506 , should easily support the catalyst  516 , and should have a high thermal conductivity and a low coefficient of thermal expansion. The thickness of the base plate  505  is less than the length and width of the base plate  505  in the planar direction. The plural through holes  506  are formed in such a way as to be in parallel to one another along the lengthwise direction of the base plate  505  and to run straight so as not to wind halfway. The voltage application section  9  applies a voltage/current to the electric heating film  508  through wires  514  and  515  to heat up the electric heating film  508  within a range of 200° C. to 300° C.  
         [0056]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , like the carburetor  3 , the CO selective oxidizer  6  has a reactor main body  601  which is a container having inner space formed therein, and a channel structure  602  retained in the reactor main body  601 . In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , those portions of the CO selective oxidizer  6  which are substantially identical to corresponding portions of the carburetor  3 , such as an insulating film  607  which is substantially identical to the insulating film  307 , are given reference numerals in six hundreds whose lower two digits are the same as the lower two digits of the reference numerals of the corresponding portions of the carburetor  3 . The descriptions of those portions of the CO selective oxidizer  6  which correspond to the substantially identical portions of the carburetor  3  will be omitted, and the differences between the CO selective oxidizer  6  and the carburetor  3  will be described.  
         [0057]     In the CO selective oxidizer  6 , the reactor main body  601  is provided with an air pipe  617  in addition to an inflow pipe  603  and an outflow pipe  604 . The air pipe  617  faces an area  610  in the inner space of the reactor main body  601  which lies on the inflow pipe  603  side. The air pipe  617  communicates with the air pump  8 . The inflow pipe  603  communicates with the outflow pipe  504  of the reformer  5 , and the outflow pipe  604  communicates with the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7 .  
         [0058]     In the CO selective oxidizer  6 , a catalyst  616  as a catalyst for the oxidation reaction of the carbon oxide is formed on the entire surface layer of the base plate  605  (including the surface layer in the through holes  606 ) excluding that portion which is covered with an electric heating film  608 . The catalyst  616  is what is acquired by oxidizing the surface layer of the base plate  605  to alter the surface layer to a porous metal oxide and supporting a catalyst component on the surface layer of the porous metal oxide as a support. In the CO selective oxidizer  6 , a Pt-based catalyst is supported on the surface layer of the base plate  605  as a catalyst component. It is preferable that the base plate  605  should have an excellent corrosion resistance with respect to a substance contained in the fluid flowing in the through holes  606 , should easily support the catalyst  616 , and should have a high thermal conductivity and a low coefficient of thermal expansion. The thickness of the base plate  605  is less than the length and width of the base plate  605  in the planar direction. The plural through holes  606  are formed in such a way as to be in parallel to one another along the lengthwise direction of the base plate  605  and to run straight so as not to wind halfway. The voltage application section  9  applies a voltage/current to the electric heating film  608  through wires  614  and  615  to heat up the electric heating film  608  within a range of 140° C. to 190° C.  
         [0059]     A method of manufacturing the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6  will be described below.  
         [0060]     First, using the photolithography technology, resist masks are formed on the flat base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  prepared. Next, the base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  with the resist mask thereon is etched. As a result, the through holes  306 ,  506 , and  606  are formed in the associated base plates  305 ,  505  and  605 .  
         [0061]     Then, the insulating films  307 ,  507  and  607 , the electric heating films  308 ,  508  and  608  (including the wires  314  and  315 ,  514  and  515 , and  614  and  615 ), and the protective insulating films  309 ,  509  and  609  are formed on one surfaces of the associated base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  in the named order by vapor deposition, such as CVD, PVD or sputtering.  
         [0062]     Then, with the base plates  505  and  605  serving as the anode, the cathode is immersed into an electrolyte, such as a phosphoric solution (preferable concentration of 4%) or an oxalic solution (preferable concentration of 5%), thereby oxidizing the surface layer of the base plate  505  or  605  (anodization). As the surface layers of the base plates  505  and  605  is anodized, the surface layers of the base plates  505  and  605  are altered to porous metal oxides (supports). This can allow each of the base plates  505  and  605  to have the capability of a support.  
         [0063]     Next, catalyst components are supported on the surface layers of the base plates  505  and  605 , forming the catalysts  516  and  616 . As the surface layers of the base plates  505  and  605  are altered to porous metal oxides, the adhesion strength of the catalyst components can be improved.  
         [0064]     Then, the base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  are retained in the associated reactor main bodies  301 ,  501  and  601  to separate the inner space of each of the reactor main bodies  301 ,  501  and  601  into the area  310 ,  510 ,  610  on that side of the inflow pipe  303 ,  503 ,  603  and the area  311 ,  511 ,  611  on that side of the outflow pipe  304 ,  504 ,  604 . The area  310 ,  510 ,  610  on that side of the inflow pipe  303 ,  503 ,  603  is made to communicate with the area  311 ,  511 ,  611  on that side of the outflow pipe  304 ,  504 ,  604  by the through holes  306 ,  506 ,  606 . A part of each of the base plates  305 ,  505  and  605 , and the wires  314  and  315 ,  514  and  515 , or  614  and  615  are made to extend out of the associated reactor main body  301 ,  501 , or  601  to be connected to the voltage application section  9 .  
         [0065]     The action of the power generator  1  will be discussed.  
         [0066]     A voltage/current is applied to each of the electric heating films  308 ,  508  and  608 , the heat generated by the electric heating film  308 ,  508  or  608  is transferred to the base plate  305 ,  505 , or  605 , then to the catalyst  516  or  616  on the surface layer.  
         [0067]     When the fuel pump  4  is activated, the fuel is supplied into the reactor main body  301  of the carburetor  3  from the fuel container  2 . When the air pump  8  is activated, air is supplied to the area  610  in the reactor main body  601  through the air pipe  617  of the CO selective oxidizer  6  from outside.  
         [0068]     In the carburetor  3 , the fuel flows through the through holes  306  from the area  310  in the reactor main body  301  toward the area  311 . At this time, the fuel is heated and vaporized. The formation of multiple through holes  306  in the base plate  305  increases the surface area of the base plate. Therefore, the contact area between the fuel and the base plate  305  is large, making vaporization of the fuel easier.  
         [0069]     The vaporized fuel (the mixed gas of methanol and water) is supplied into the reactor main body  501  of the reformer  5 , passing through the outflow pipe  304  and the inflow pipe  503 . In the reformer  5 , the fuel flows through the through holes  506  toward the area  511  from the area  510  in the reactor main body  501 . In the reactor main body  501 , the fuel contacts the catalyst  516  and is heated, producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Specifically, methanol reacts with vapor to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen as expressed by a chemical formula 1 given below. 
 
CH 3 OH+H 2 O→3H 2 +Co 2   (1) 
 
         [0070]     There may be a case where methanol and vapor are not completely reformed to a carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the reactor main body  501 . In this case, methanol reacts with vapor to produce carbon dioxide and carbon oxide as expressed by the following chemical formula 2. 
 
2CH 3 OH+H 2 O→5H 2 +CO+CO 2   (2) 
 
         [0071]     The mixed gas of the carbon oxide, the carbon dioxide and hydrogen or the like produced in the reformer  5  is supplied into the reactor main body of the CO selective oxidizer passing through the outflow pipe  504  and the inflow pipe  603 . The outside air is supplied into the reactor main body  601 , passing through the air pipe  617 . Then, the mixed gas that has been supplied to the area  610  in the reactor main body  601  flows through the through holes  606  toward the area  611  from the area  610  in the reactor main body  601 . In the reactor main body  601 , a carbon oxide contained in the mixed gas supplied from the reformer  5  is selectively oxidized in the reactor main body  601  to remove the carbon oxide. Concretely, the carbon oxide specifically selected from the mixed gas supplied from the reformer  5  reacts with oxygen in the air, thereby producing a carbon dioxide as expressed by a chemical formula 3 given below. 
 
2CO+O 2 →2CO 2   (3) 
 
         [0072]     Then, the mixed gas in the reactor main body  601  is supplied to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7  through the outflow pipe  604 . At the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7 , the hydrogen gas in the supplied mixed gas is dissociated into hydrogen ions and electrons by the action of the catalyst particles of the fuel electrode, as expressed by the following electrochemical formula 4. 
 
H 2 →H + +2 e   −   (4) 
 
         [0073]     Of the mixed gas supplied to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7 , that product which does not contribute to an electrochemical reaction (carbon dioxide or the like) is discharged outside.  
         [0074]     Air is supplied to the air electrode of the fuel cell  7 . As expressed by an electrochemical chemical formula 5, oxygen in the air and the hydrogen ions which has passed the solid polymer electrolyte film react with the electrons acquired from the fuel electrode, thus producing water as a product. 
 
2H + +½O 2 +2 e   − →H 2 O  (5) 
 
         [0075]     Of the air supplied to the air electrode of the fuel cell  7 , that gas which does not contribute to an electrochemical reaction (nitrogen or the like) and the produced water are discharged outside.  
         [0076]     In the power generator  1 , as apparent from the above, the electrochemical chemical reactions expressed by the formulae 4 and 5 occur in the fuel cell  7 , generating electric energy. The generated electric energy is used to activate the main body of the electronic equipment, the fuel pump  4  and the electric heating film  308 ,  508 ,  608 .  
         [0077]     According to the embodiment, as described above, the plural through holes  306 ,  506 ,  606  run through the associated base plate  305 ,  505 ,  605 , the pressure loss of the fuel flowing in the through holes  306 ,  506 ,  606  becomes smaller. Particularly, as the channel formed by the through holes  306 ,  506 ,  606  does not wind, the fluid flows straight, making it possible to reduce the pressure loss.  
         [0078]     As the through holes  506 ,  606  are formed in the associated base plate  505 ,  605 , lots of catalyst components can be supported on the walls of the through holes  506 ,  606  for the total volume of the through holes  506 ,  606 . This makes the contact area between the fuel and the catalyst  516 ,  616  greater, so that the reaction of the reactant by the catalyst  516 ,  616  occurs more efficiently.  
         [0079]     As the cross-sectional area of each of the through holes  306 ,  506 ,  606  becomes smaller, the wall area of each through hole  306 ,  506 ,  606  of the reactor main body  301 ,  501 ,  601  can be increased by increasing the number of the through holes  306 ,  506 ,  606  penetrating the associated base plate  305 ,  505 ,  605 , resulting in an efficient reaction of the fuel. Further, increasing the number of the through holes  306   506 ,  606  can increase the amount of the reactant that flows.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0080]     The second embodiment will be described referring to  FIG. 5 .  
         [0081]     In a power generator according to the second embodiment, the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6  of the power generator  1  according to the first embodiment are respectively changed to a carburetor  13 , a reformer  15  and a CO selective oxidizer  16 .  
         [0082]     While the carburetor  3  includes the channel structure  302  having the base plate  305 , and the reactor main body  301  in the first embodiment, the carburetor  13  includes a channel structure  322  having a base plate  325 , and a reactor main body  301  in the second embodiment. Those portions of the carburetor  13  of the second embodiment in  FIG. 5  which are substantially identical to corresponding portions of the carburetor  3  of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeating redundant descriptions of those portions of the carburetor  13  which correspond to the substantially identical portions of the carburetor  3 , and the differences between the carburetor  13  and the carburetor  3  will be described.  
         [0083]     Although the base plate  305  in the carburetor  3  is a single metal plate, the base plate  325  in the carburetor  13  is a composite plate comprising two metal plates or thermal conductive plates  327  and  329  and an electric heating film  328  sandwiched between the thermal conductive plates  327  and  329 . The electric heating film  328 , like the electric heating film  308 , is an electric resistive heat generator or a semiconductor heat generator of Ta—Si—O—N, Au or carbon. As the electric heating film  328  is held between the thermal conductive plates  327  and  329 , an electric heating film, an insulating film and a protective insulating film are not formed on any outer surface of the base plate  325 , so that the step of forming the insulating film and the protective insulating film can be eliminated at the time of forming the channel structure  322 . Although the thermal conductive plates  327  and  329 , like the base plate  305 , are formed of a metal, such as aluminum, cerium, titanium or silicon, the type of the metal for the thermal conductive plate  327  may differ from the metal for the thermal conductive plate  329 . The thermal conductive plate  327  faces the area  310  in the reactor main body  301 , while the thermal conductive plate  329  faces the area  311 . The plural through holes  326  likewise penetrate the base plate  325  from one surface to the other, and allow the area  310  to communicate with the area  311 . A part of the base plate  325  extends out of the reactor main body  301 , so that a current/voltage is externally applied to the electric heating film  328 . The thickness of the base plate  325  is less than the length and width of the base plate  325  in the planar direction.  
         [0084]     In the second embodiment, the reformer  15  includes a channel structure  522  having a base plate  525 , and a reactor main body  501 . Those portions of the reformer  15  of the second embodiment in  FIG. 5  which are substantially identical to corresponding portions of the reformer  5  of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeating redundant descriptions of those portions of the reformer  15  which correspond to the substantially identical portions of the reformer  5 , and the differences between the reformer  15  and the reformer  5  will be described.  
         [0085]     The base plate  525  in the reformer  15  is a composite plate comprising two metal plates or thermal conductive plates  527  and  529  and an electric heating film  528  sandwiched between the thermal conductive plates  527  and  529 . The electric heating film  528 , like the electric heating film  508 , is an electric resistive heat generator or a semiconductor heat generator of Ta—Si—O—N, Au or carbon. As the electric heating film  528  is held between the thermal conductive plates  527  and  529 , an electric heating film, an insulating film and a protective insulating film are not formed on any outer surface of the base plate  525 . Although the thermal conductive plates  527  and  529 , like the base plate  505 , are formed of a metal, such as aluminum, cerium, titanium or silicon, the type of the metal for the thermal conductive plate  527  may differ from the metal for the thermal conductive plate  529 . The thermal conductive plate  527  faces the area  510  in the reactor main body  501 , while the thermal conductive plate  529  faces the area  511 . The plural through holes  526  likewise penetrate the base plate  525  from one surface to the other, and allow the area  510  to communicate with the area  511 . A catalyst  536  is formed on the entire surface layer of the base plate  525  including inside the through holes  526  (except for those portions of the through holes  526  from which the electric heating film  528  is exposed). The catalyst  536  is what is acquired by oxidizing the surface layers of the thermal conductive plates  527  and  529  to alter the surface layers to porous metal oxides and supporting a catalyst component (Cu/ZnO-based catalyst) on the surface layers of the porous metal oxides as supports. A part of the base plate  525  extends out of the reactor main body  501 , so that a current/voltage is externally applied to the electric heating film  528 . The thickness of the base plate  525  is less than the length and width of the base plate  525  in the planar direction.  
         [0086]     In the second embodiment, the CO selective oxidizer  16  includes a channel structure  622  having a base plate  625 , and a reactor main body  601 . Those portions of the CO selective oxidizer  16  of the second embodiment in  FIG. 5  which are substantially identical to corresponding portions of the CO selective oxidizer  6  of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeating redundant descriptions of those portions of the CO selective oxidizer  16  which correspond to the substantially identical portions of the CO selective oxidizer  6 , and the differences between the CO selective oxidizer  16  and the CO selective oxidizer  6  will be described.  
         [0087]     The base plate  625  in the CO selective oxidizer  16  is a composite plate comprising two metal plates or thermal conductive plates  627  and  629  and an electric heating film  628  sandwiched between the thermal conductive plates  627  and  629 . The electric heating film  628 , like the electric heating film  608 , is an electric resistive heat generator or a semiconductor heat generator of Ta—Si—O—N, Au or carbon. As the electric heating film  628  is held between the thermal conductive plates  627  and  629 , an electric heating film, an insulating film and a protective insulating film are not formed on any outer surface of the base plate  625 . Although the thermal conductive plates  627  and  629 , like the base plate  605 , are formed of a metal, such as aluminum, cerium, titanium or silicon, the type of the metal for the thermal conductive plate  627  may differ from the metal for the thermal conductive plate  629 . The thermal conductive plate  627  faces the area  610  in the reactor main body  601 , while the thermal conductive plate  629  faces the area  611 . The plural through holes  626  likewise penetrate the base plate  625  from one surface to the other, and allow the area  610  to communicate with the area  611 . A catalyst  636  is formed on the entire surface layer of the base plate  625  including inside the through holes  626  (except for those portions of the through holes  626  from which the electric heating film  628  is exposed). The catalyst  636  is what is acquired by oxidizing the surface layers of the thermal conductive plates  627  and  629  to alter the surface layers to porous metal oxides and supporting a catalyst component (Pt-based catalyst) on the surface layers of the porous metal oxides as supports. A part of the base plate  625  extends out of the reactor main body  601 , so that a current/voltage is externally applied to the electric heating film  628 . The thickness of the base plate  625  is less than the length and width of the base plate  625  in the planar direction.  
         [0088]     At the time of fabricating the carburetor  13 , the reformer  15  and the CO selective oxidizer  16 , the base plates  325 ,  525  and  625  are prepared and through holes  326 ,  526  and  626  are respectively formed in the base plates  325 ,  525  and  625  by the photolithography technology. Then, the surface layers of the base plates  525  and  625  are altered to porous metal oxides by anodization, and catalyst components are supported on the surface layers of the base plates  525  and  625 . The base plates  325 ,  525  and  625  are retained in the associated reactor main bodies  301 ,  501  and  601 .  
         [0089]     In the carburetor  13 , the reformer  15  and the CO selective oxidizer  16 , the electric heating films  328 ,  528  and  628  generate heat with the electricity, heating the base plates  325 ,  525  and  625  and thus heating the catalysts  536  and  636 . As the fuel pump  4  is activated, the fuel flows through the carburetor  13 , the reformer  15 , the CO selective oxidizer  16  and the fuel cell  7  in the named order. In the carburetor  13 , the fuel flows toward the area  311  from the area  310  through the through holes  326 , and is further heated to be vaporized. In the reformer  15 , the vaporized fuel flows toward the area  511  from the area  510  through the through holes  526 , and hydrogen and a carbon dioxide or the like are produced from the fuel. In the CO selective oxidizer  16 , the mixed gas produced in the reformer  15  flows toward the area  611  from the area  610  through the through holes  626 , and a carbon oxide is removed by oxidization.  
         [0090]     As the plural through holes  326 ,  526  and  626  penetrate the associated base plates  325 ,  525  and  625  in the embodiment, the pressure loss of the fuel flowing in the through holes  326 ,  526  and  626  becomes smaller. As the through holes  326 ,  526  and  626  do not wind, particularly, the pressure loss can be made smaller.  
         [0091]     As each of the electric heating films  328 ,  528  and  628  is held between the associated thermal conductive plates, a catalyst component can be supported on most of the surface layer of the base plate  325 ,  525  or  625 .  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0092]     Although the channel structures  302 ,  502  and  602  are retained in the separate reactor main bodies  301 ,  501  and  601  in the first embodiment, the channel structures  302 ,  502  and  602  are retained in a same reactor main body  21  in the third embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a reactor  20  having the carburetor, the reformer and the CO selective oxidizer integrated, and  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the reactor  20  cut along the thicknesswise direction of the reactor main body  21  at line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 . The reactor  20  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , which replaces all of the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6  shown in  FIG. 1 , is used in the power generator  1 .  
         [0093]     The reactor main body  21  has inner space formed therein. The reactor main body  21  is provided with an inflow pipe  22 , an outflow pipe  23  and an air pipe  24  which extend out of the reactor main body  1  from the inner space. The inflow pipe  22  is provided at the top wall of the reactor main body  21 , the outflow pipe  23  is provided at the bottom wall which faces the inflow pipe  22 , and the air pipe  24  is provided at a side wall of the reactor main body  21 . The inflow pipe  22  communicates with the fuel pump  4 , the outflow pipe  23  communicates with the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7 , and the air pipe  24  communicates with the air pump  8 .  
         [0094]     Channel structures  302 ,  502  and  602  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  are the same as those of the first embodiment, respectively. Those portions in  FIGS. 6 and 7  which are the same as the corresponding portions of the channel structures  302 ,  502  and  602  of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeating redundant descriptions of the individual portions of the channel structures  302 ,  502  and  602  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0095]     In the reactor main body  21 , the base plate  305  of the channel structure  302 , the base plate  505  of the channel structure  502  and the base plate  605  of the channel structure  602  are laid in the named order from the inflow pipe  22  toward the outflow pipe  23 . One surface of the base plate  305  faces the inflow pipe  22 , the other surface of the base plate  605  faces the outflow pipe  23 , and the base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  face one another in parallel to one another. The base plate  305  separates the inner space of the reactor main body  21  into an area  25  on the inflow pipe  22  side and an area  26  between the base plate  305  and the base plate  505 , the base plate  505  separates the inner space of the reactor main body  21  into the area  26  and an area  27  between the base plate  505  and the base plate  605 , and the base plate  605  separates the inner space of the reactor main body  21  into the area  27  and an area  28  on the outflow pipe  23  side. The air pipe  24  faces the area  27  between the base plate  505  and the base plate  605 .  
         [0096]     A part of each of the base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  extends outside the reactor main body  21 , and the wires  314  and  315 ,  514  and  515 , or  614  and  615  are formed at those portions which are exposed from the reactor main body  21 . The wires  314  and  315  are formed integral with the electric heating film  308  on the base plate  305 , the wires  514  and  515  are formed integral with the electric heating film  508  on the base plate  505 , and the wires  614  and  615  are formed integral with the electric heating film  608  on the base plate  605 .  
         [0097]     In the reactor  20 , the electric heating films  328 ,  528  and  628  generate heat with the electricity, heating the base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  and thus heating the catalysts  516  and  616 . As the fuel pump  4  is activated, the fuel is supplied into the reactor main body  21  from the inflow pipe  22 . When the fuel flows toward the area  26  from the area  25  through the through holes  306 , the fuel is heated and vaporized. When the vaporized fuel flows toward the area  27  from the area  26  through the through holes  506 , hydrogen and a carbon dioxide or the like are produced from the fuel. When the produced mixed gas flows toward the area  28  from the area  27  through the through holes  606 , a carbon oxide in the mixture is removed by oxidization.  
         [0098]     As the plural through holes  306 ,  506  and  606  penetrate the associated base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  in the embodiment, the pressure loss of the fuel flowing in the through holes  306 ,  506  and  606  becomes smaller. As the through holes  306 ,  506  and  606  do not wind, particularly, the pressure loss can be reduced.  
         [0099]     The invention is not limited to the embodiments, but various modifications and design alterations may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0100]     Although each of the electric heating films  308 ,  508  and  608  is formed on one surface of the associated one of the base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  in the embodiments, for example, the electric heating film may be formed on the other surface or may be formed on both surfaces. In the third embodiment, the base plates  325 ,  525  and  625  of the second embodiment can be used in place of the base plates  305 ,  505  and  605 .  
         [0101]     Although the fuel pump  4  is the mechanism to feed the liquid fuel to the carburetor  3 , the carburetor  13  and the reactor  20  in the embodiments, the fuel may be supplied as droplets to the carburetor  3 , the carburetor  13  and the reactor  20  by the heads (droplet discharge heads) of an ink jet printer. For the carburetor  3 , for example, a plurality of droplet discharge heads may be laid out at the inner surface of the top wall of the reactor main body  301  in such a way as to face the through holes  306 , so that the droplet discharge heads inject the fuel as droplets toward the through holes  306  to supply the fuel to the carburetor  3 .  
         [0102]     Although the base plates  305 ,  505  and  605  are etched using resist masks by the photolithography technology, the through holes  306 ,  506 , and  606  may be formed by sand blasting using metal masks.  
       Fourth Embodiment  
       [0103]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6 , and  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6  cut along the thicknesswise direction at line IX-IX in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0104]     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the carburetor  3  has a reactor main body  701  which is a container having inner space formed therein, and a channel structure  702  retained in the reactor main body  701 .  
         [0105]     The reactor main body  701  is formed like a rectangular or cubic box having inner space. The reactor main body  701  is formed of a heat insulating material with a relatively low thermal conductivity, such as glass or ceramics. The reactor main body  701  is provided with an inflow pipe  703  and an outflow pipe  704  which communicates with the inner space and outside the reactor main body  701 . The inflow pipe  703  is provided at a position facing the outflow pipe  704  in the reactor main body  701 . In the embodiment, the inflow pipe  703  is provided at the top wall of the reactor main body  701 , and the outflow pipe  704  at the bottom wall of the reactor main body  701 . The inflow pipe  703  communicates with the fuel pump  4 , and the outflow pipe  704  communicates with an inflow pipe  503  of the reformer  5 , which will be discussed later.  
         [0106]     The channel structure  702  has, as a basic structure, a carbon-based base plate  705  containing either a conductive graphite or a porous activated carbon. The carbon-based base plate  705  is an electric heat generating resistor which has a conductivity with the adequate resistivity and generates heat when applied with a current/voltage by the voltage application section  9 . The carbon-based base plate  705  has a poor reactivity with respect to a substance contained in the fluid flowing in the through holes  706 , and an extremely high thermal conductivity, making it easier to ensure a uniform temperature over the entire surface of the base plate, and has a low coefficient of thermal expansion so that the catalyst, if heated, is hard to be separated. The thickness of the carbon-based base plate  705  is less than the length and width of the carbon-based base plate  705  in the planar direction.  
         [0107]     A plurality of through holes  706  which penetrate the carbon-based base plate  705  from one surface to the other and serve as a channel are formed at the carbon-based base plate  705  in such a way as to be in parallel to one another along the lengthwise direction of the carbon-based base plate  705  and to run straight so as not to wind halfway. Referring to  FIG. 10  which is a plan view of a part of the carbon-based base plate  705 , the through holes  706  have hexagonal cross sections, and are laid out in a honeycomb pattern. The through holes  706  need not be formed hexagonal, but may take other forms, such as a triangle, a rectangle, a polygon greater than a rectangle, a circle or an oval. With the carbon-based base plate  705  seen in a plan view, the through holes  706  need not be laid out in a honeycomb pattern, but may be laid out in a two-dimensional array (e.g., a matrix form).  
         [0108]     A metal oxide film which is not concerned with the reaction of the fuel may be formed as a protection film at the top surface of a part of the carbon-based base plate  705 .  
         [0109]     The carbon-based base plate  705  is retained in the reactor main body  701 , is supported away from the top wall of the reactor main body  701  by an upper support portion  712 , and is supported away from the bottom wall of the reactor main body  701  by a lower support portion  713 . The inner space of the reactor main body  701  is separated into an area  710  on that side of the inflow pipe  703  and an area  711  on that side of the outflow pipe  704  by the carbon-based base plate  705 . One surface of the carbon-based base plate  705  faces the top wall of the reactor main body  701 , while the other surface of the carbon-based base plate  705  faces the bottom wall of the reactor main body  701 , and the area  710  on the inflow pipe  703  side communicates with the area  711  on the outflow pipe  704  side by the through holes  706 . Therefore, the through holes  706  serve as a channel from the area on the inflow pipe  703  side to the area on the outflow pipe  704  side.  
         [0110]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , opposing two of the four sides of the carbon-based base plate  705  respectively extend out of opposing two sides of the reactor main body  701 . A voltage is applied between the extending two sides by the voltage application section  9 , causing the carbon-based base plate  705  to electrically generate heat. The interface between the carbon-based base plate  705  and the reactor main body  701  is sealed at that portion where the carbon-based base plate  705  penetrates the reactor main body  701 .  
         [0111]     When a metal oxide film is formed on the top surface of the carbon-based base plate  705 , it is preferable that the metal oxide film should be separated outside the reactor main body  701  to expose the top surface of the carbon-based base plate  705 .  
         [0112]     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , like the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  has a reactor main body  801  which is a container having inner space formed therein, and a channel structure  802  retained in the reactor main body  801 . In  FIGS. 8 and 9 , those portions of the reformer  5  which are substantially identical to corresponding portions of the carburetor  3 , such as the reactor main body  801  which is substantially identical to the reactor main body  701 , are given reference numerals in five hundreds whose lower two digits are the same as the lower two digits of the reference numerals of the corresponding portions of the carburetor  3 . The descriptions of those portions of the reformer  5  which correspond to the substantially identical portions of the carburetor  3  will be omitted, and the differences between the reformer  5  and the carburetor  3  will be described.  
         [0113]     In the reformer  5 , the inflow pipe  803  communicates with the outflow pipe  704  of the carburetor  3 , and an outflow pipe  804  communicates with an inflow pipe  903  of the CO selective oxidizer  6 .  
         [0114]     A carbon-based base plate  805  is retained in the reactor main body  801 , is supported away from the top wall of the reactor main body  801  by an upper support portion  812 , and is supported away from the bottom wall of the reactor main body  801  by a lower support portion  813 . In the reformer  5 , the entire surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  805  is a porous film on which a catalyst  816  is supported. Accordingly, the catalyst  816  is formed on the surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  805  even in the through holes  806 . The catalyst  816  is a catalyst component supported on the surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  805  with the surface layer serving as a support. In the reformer  5 , a Cu/ZnO-based catalyst is supported as a catalyst component on the surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  805 .  
         [0115]     The catalyst  816  may not be supported with the surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  805  serving as a support. For example, the catalyst  816  may be a catalyst component supported on a porous metal oxide (of, for example, alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), titanium oxide or cerium oxide) formed as a support on the surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  805 . The porous metal oxide may be a metal oxide which is not involved in the reaction of the fuel (see the aforementioned chemical formula 1), or a metal oxide effective in the reaction of the fuel. The thickness of the carbon-based base plate  805  is less than the length and width of the carbon-based base plate  805  in the planar direction. The through holes  806  are formed at the carbon-based base plate  805  in such a way as to be in parallel to one another along the lengthwise direction of the carbon-based base plate  805  and to run straight so as not to wind halfway.  
         [0116]     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , like the carburetor  3 , the CO selective oxidizer  6  has a reactor main body  901  which is a container having inner space formed therein, and a channel structure  902  retained in the reactor main body  901 . In  FIGS. 8 and 9 , those portions of the CO selective oxidizer  6  which are substantially identical to corresponding portions of the carburetor  3 , such as an insulating film  907  which is substantially identical to the insulating film  707 , are given reference numerals in six hundreds whose lower two digits are the same as the lower two digits of the reference numerals of the corresponding portions of the carburetor  3  to avoid repeating redundant descriptions of those portions of the CO selective oxidizer  6  which correspond to the substantially identical portions of the carburetor  3 . The following will discuss the differences between the CO selective oxidizer  6  and the carburetor  3 .  
         [0117]     In the CO selective oxidizer  6 , the reactor main body  901  is provided with an air pipe  917  in addition to an inflow pipe  903  and an outflow pipe  904 . The air pipe  917  faces an area  910  in the inner space of the reactor main body  901  which lies on the inflow pipe  903  side. The air pipe  917  communicates with the air pump  8 . The inflow pipe  903  communicates with the outflow pipe  804  of the reformer  5 , and the outflow pipe  904  communicates with the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7 .  
         [0118]     A carbon-based base plate  905  is retained in the reactor main body  901 , is supported, away from the top wall of the reactor main body  901 , by an upper support portion  912 , and is supported, away from the bottom wall of the reactor main body  901 , by a lower support portion  913 .  
         [0119]     In the CO selective oxidizer  6 , a catalyst  916  is formed on the entire porous surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  905  (including the surface layer inside through holes  906 ). The catalyst  916 , which is for the oxidization reaction of a carbon oxide, is a catalyst component supported on a porous film on the surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  905  with the porous film serving as a support. In the CO selective oxidizer  6 , a Pt-based catalyst is supported as a catalyst component on the porous film of the carbon-based base plate  905 .  
         [0120]     The catalyst  916  may not be supported with the surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  905  serving as a support. For example, the catalyst  916  may be a catalyst component supported on a porous metal oxide (of, for example, alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), titanium oxide or cerium oxide) formed as a support on the surface layer of the carbon-based base plate  905 . The porous metal oxide may be a metal oxide which is not involved in the oxidization of a carbon oxide, or a metal oxide effective in the reaction of the fuel. When the catalyst  916  is supported on the porous metal oxide film serving as a support, it is preferable that the metal oxide film should be separated outside the reactor main body  901  to expose the top surface of the carbon-based base plate  905 . The thickness of the carbon-based base plate  905  is less than the length and width of the carbon-based base plate  905  in the planar direction. The through holes  906  are formed at the carbon-based base plate  905  in such a way as to be in parallel to one another along the lengthwise direction of the carbon-based base plate  905  and to run straight so as not to wind halfway.  
         [0121]     A method of manufacturing the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6  will be described below.  
         [0122]     First, flat carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  which show a conductivity high enough to serve as a heat generating resistor having a porous surface layer, and a high resistivity are prepared, metal masks are formed on the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905 , which are in turn etched with the metal masks thereon. As a result, plural through holes  706 ,  806  and  906  are respectively formed in the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905 . The through holes  706 ,  806  and  906  may be formed in the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  by locally blasting microparticles to the top surfaces of the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  (sand blasting).  
         [0123]     Next, the catalysts  816  and  916  are formed by supporting components on the porous surface layers of the base plates  805  and  905  (including the porous surface layers inside the through holes  806  and  906 ). The method of supporting the catalyst components on the surface layers of the carbon-based base plates  805  and  905  may be the impregnation method or the dipping method (which coats a catalyst slurry solution on the carbon-based base plates  805  and  905 ).  
         [0124]     When the surface layers of the carbon-based base plates  805  and  905  do not serve as supports, the catalysts  816  and  916  are formed by forming (coating) porous metal oxide films on the surface layers of the carbon-based base plates  805  and  905  (including the surfaces in the through holes  806  and  906 ) by the sol-gel method, the dip coating method or the like, and supporting catalyst components on the porous metal oxide films.  
         [0125]     Then, the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  are retained in the associated reactor main bodies  701 ,  801  and  901  to separate the inner space of each of the reactor main bodies  701 ,  801  and  901  into the area  710 ,  810 ,  910  on that side of the inflow pipe  703 ,  803 ,  903  and the area  711 ,  811 ,  911  on that side of the outflow pipe  704 ,  804 ,  904 . The area  710 ,  810 ,  910  on that side of the inflow pipe  703 ,  803 ,  903  is made to communicate with the area  711 ,  811 ,  911  on that side of the outflow pipe  704 ,  804 ,  904  by the through holes  706 ,  806 ,  906 , and two opposing sides of each of the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  are made to extend out of the associated one of the reactor main bodies  701 ,  801  and  901 .  
         [0126]     The action of the power generator  1  will be discussed.  
         [0127]     When a voltage/current is applied to each of the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  by the voltage application section  9 , the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  generate heat, thus heating up the catalysts  816  and  916 .  
         [0128]     When the fuel pump  4  is activated, the fuel is supplied into the reactor main body  701  of the carburetor  3  from the fuel container  2 . When the air pump  8  is activated, air is supplied to the area  910  in the reactor main body  901  through the air pipe  917  of the CO selective oxidizer  6  from outside.  
         [0129]     In the carburetor  3 , the fuel flows through the through holes  706  from the area  710  in the reactor main body  701  toward the area  711 . While the fuel is flowing through the through holes  706 , the fuel contacts the top surface of the carbon-based base plate  705  and is thus heated and vaporized. Because the formation of multiple through holes  706  in the carbon-based base plate  705  increases the surface area of the carbon-based base plate  705 , the contact area between the fuel and the carbon-based base plate  705  is large, making vaporization of the fuel easier.  
         [0130]     The vaporized fuel (the mixture of methanol and water) is supplied into the reactor main body  801  of the reformer  5 , passing through the outflow pipe  704  and the inflow pipe  803 . In the reformer  5 , the fuel flows through the through holes  806  toward the area  811  from the area  810  in the reactor main body  801 . In the reactor main body  801 , the fuel contacts the catalyst  816  and is heated, producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Specifically, methanol reacts with vapor to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen as expressed by the chemical formula 1.  
         [0131]     There may be a case where methanol and vapor are not completely reformed to a carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the reactor main body  801 . In this case, methanol reacts with vapor to produce carbon dioxide and carbon oxide as expressed by the chemical formula 2.  
         [0132]     The mixed gas of the carbon oxide, the carbon dioxide and hydrogen or the like produced in the reformer  5  is supplied into the reactor main body of the CO selective oxidizer passing through the outflow pipe  804  and the inflow pipe  903 . The outside air is supplied into the reactor main body  901 , passing through the air pipe  917 . Then, the mixed gas that has been supplied to the area  910  in the reactor main body  901  flows through the through holes  906  toward the area  911  from the area  910  in the reactor main body  901 . In the reactor main body  901 , a carbon oxide contained in the mixed gas supplied from the reformer  5  is selectively oxidized in the reactor main body  901  to remove the carbon oxide. Concretely, the carbon oxide specifically selected from the mixed gas supplied from the reformer  5  reacts with oxygen in the air, thereby producing a carbon dioxide as expressed by the chemical formula 3.  
         [0133]     Then, the mixed gas in the reactor main body  901  is supplied to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7 , passing through the outflow pipe  904 . At the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7 , the hydrogen gas in the supplied mixed gas is separated into hydrogen ions and electrons by the action of the catalyst particles of the fuel electrode, as expressed by the electrochemical formula 4.  
         [0134]     Of the mixed gas supplied to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7 , that product which does not contribute to an electrochemical reaction (carbon dioxide or the like) is discharged outside.  
         [0135]     Air is supplied to the air electrode of the fuel cell  7 . As expressed by the electrochemical chemical formula 5, oxygen in the air and the hydrogen ions which has passed the solid polymer electrolyte film react with the electrons acquired from the fuel electrode, thus producing water as a product.  
         [0136]     Of the air supplied to the air electrode of the fuel cell  7 , that gas which does not contribute to an electrochemical reaction (nitrogen or the like) and the produced water are discharged outside.  
         [0137]     In the power generator  1 , the electrochemical chemical reactions expressed by the formulae 4 and 5 occur in the fuel cell  7 , generating electric energy. The generated electric energy is used to activate the main body of the electronic equipment and the fuel pump  4 .  
         [0138]     As the conductive carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  are used as supports to support the catalysts in the embodiment, the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  self-generate heat with the current/voltage applied. This eliminates the need for separate heaters, electric heating films or the like in the reactor main bodies  701 ,  801  and  901 , thus simplifying the structures of the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6 .  
         [0139]     As the fuel directly contacts the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  which self-generate heat, the temperatures at the top surfaces of the base plates can be made uniform, ensuring an efficient and uniform fuel reaction.  
         [0140]     As the plural through holes  706 ,  806 ,  906  run through the associated carbon-based base plate  705 ,  805 ,  905 , the pressure loss of the fuel flowing in the through holes  706 ,  806 ,  906  becomes smaller. Because the channel formed by the through holes  706 ,  806 ,  906  does not wind, particularly, the fluid flows straight, making it possible to reduce the pressure loss.  
         [0141]     As the plural through holes  806 ,  906  are formed in the associated base plate  805 ,  905 , lots of catalyst components can be supported on the walls of the through holes  806 ,  906  for the total volume of the through holes  806 ,  906 . This makes the contact area between the fuel and the catalyst  516 ,  616  greater, so that the reaction of the reactant by the catalyst  516 ,  616  occurs more efficiently. Further, as the through holes  806 ,  906  run straight, the pressure loss in the through holes  806 ,  906  can be suppressed even when the amounts of the catalyst components supported become larger.  
         [0142]     As the cross-sectional area of each of the through holes  706 ,  806 ,  906  becomes smaller, the wall area of each through hole  706 ,  806 ,  906  of the reactor main body  701 ,  801 ,  901  is increased by increasing the number of the through holes  706 ,  806 ,  906  penetrating the associated carbon-based base plate  705 ,  805 ,  905 , resulting in an efficient reaction of the fuel. Further, increasing the number of the through holes  706   806 ,  906  can increase the amount of the reactant that flows.  
       Fifth Embodiment  
       [0143]     Although the channel structures  702 ,  802  and  902  are retained in the separate reactor main bodies  701 ,  801  and  901  in the fourth embodiment, the channel structures  702 ,  802  and  902  are retained in a same reactor main body  21  in the fifth embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 .  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a reactor  20  having the carburetor, the reformer and the CO selective oxidizer integrated, and  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the reactor  20  cut along the thicknesswise direction of the reactor main body  21  at line XII-XII in  FIG. 11 . The reactor  20  shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , which replaces all of the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6  shown in  FIG. 1 , is used in the power generator  1 .  
         [0144]     The reactor main body  21  has inner space formed therein. The reactor main body  21  is provided with an inflow pipe  22 , an outflow pipe  23  and an air pipe  24  which extend out of the reactor main body  1  from the inner space. The inflow pipe  22  is provided at the top wall of the reactor main body  21 , the outflow pipe  23  is provided at the bottom wall which faces the inflow pipe  22 , and the air pipe  24  is provided at a side wall of the reactor main body  21 . The inflow pipe  22  communicates with the fuel pump  4 , the outflow pipe  23  communicates with the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  7 , and the air pipe  24  communicates with the air pump  8 .  
         [0145]     Channel structures  702 ,  802  and  902  shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  are the same as those of the fourth embodiment, respectively. Those portions in  FIGS. 11 and 12  which are the same as the corresponding portions of the channel structures  702 ,  802  and  902  of the fourth embodiment are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeating redundant descriptions of the individual portions of the channel structures  702 ,  802  and  902  shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 .  
         [0146]     In the reactor main body  21 , the carbon-based base plate  705  of the channel structure  702 , the carbon-based base plate  805  of the channel structure  802  and the carbon-based base plate  905  of the channel structure  902  are laid in the named order from the inflow pipe  22  toward the outflow pipe  23 . One surface of the carbon-based base plate  705  faces the inflow pipe  22 , the other surface of the carbon-based base plate  905  faces the outflow pipe  23 , and the base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  face one another in parallel to one another. The carbon-based base plate  705  separates the inner space of the reactor main body  21  into an area  25  on the inflow pipe  22  side and an area  26  between the carbon-based base plate  705  and the carbon-based base plate  805 , the carbon-based base plate  805  separates the inner space of the reactor main body  21  into the area  26  and an area  27  between the carbon-based base plate  805  and the carbon-based base plate  905 , and the carbon-based base plate  905  separates the inner space of the reactor main body  21  into the area  27  and an area  28  on the outflow pipe  23  side. The air pipe  24  faces the area  27  between the carbon-based base plate  805  and the carbon-based base plate  905 .  
         [0147]     Opposing two of the four sides of the carbon-based base plate  705  respectively extend out of opposing two sides of the reactor main body  21 . A voltage is applied between the extending two sides by the voltage application section  9 , causing the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  to electrically generate heat.  
         [0148]     In the reactor  20 , with the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  generating heat, when the fuel pump  4  is activated, the fuel is supplied into the reactor main body  21  from the inflow pipe  22 . When the fuel flows toward the area  26  from the area  25  through the through holes  706 , the fuel is heated and vaporized. When the vaporized fuel flows toward the area  27  from the area  26  through the through holes  806 , hydrogen and a carbon dioxide or the like are produced from the fuel. When the produced mixture flows toward the area  28  from the area  27  through the through holes  906 , a carbon oxide is removed from the mixture by oxidization.  
         [0149]     As the plural through holes  706 ,  806  and  906  penetrate the associated carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  in the embodiment, the pressure loss of the fuel flowing in the through holes  706 ,  806  and  906  becomes smaller. As the through holes  706 ,  806  and  906  do not wind, particularly, the pressure loss can be reduced. As the conductive carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  self-generate heat with the current/voltage applied, it is unnecessary to provide heaters, electric heating films or the like in the reactor main bodies  701 ,  801  and  901 , thus simplifying the structures of the carburetor  3 , the reformer  5  and the CO selective oxidizer  6 . As the fuel directly contacts the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  which self-generate heat, the reaction of the fuel occurs efficiently. What is more, the amount of heat generated from the carbon-based base plates  705 ,  805  and  905  can be used efficiently in the fuel reaction.  
         [0150]     The invention is not limited to the embodiments, but various modifications and design alterations may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0151]     Although the fuel pump  4  is the mechanism to feed the liquid fuel to the carburetor  3  and the reactor  20 , the fuel may be supplied as droplets to the carburetor  3  and the reactor  20  by the heads (droplet discharge heads) of an ink jet printer. For example, a plurality of droplet discharge heads may be laid out at the inner surface of the top wall of the reactor main body  21 ,  701  in such a way as to face the through holes  706 , so that the droplet discharge heads inject the fuel as droplets toward the through holes  706  to supply the fuel.  
         [0152]     Although preparation of the carbon-based base plate has not been discussed in detail in the foregoing description of the embodiment, the carbon-based base plate may be formed by mixing at least one of activated carbon powder and graphite in a binder which does not cause alteration, such as melting, at the temperature of the micro reactor, and then sintering the resultant product.  
         [0153]     Various embodiments and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. The above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention, not to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is shown by the attached claims rather than the embodiments. Various modifications made within the meaning of an equivalent of the claims of the invention and within the claims are to be regarded to be in the scope of the present invention.  
         [0154]     This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-51350 filed on Feb. 26, 2004 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-51374 filed on Feb. 26, 2004 and including specification, claims, drawings and summary. The disclosures of the above Japanese Patent Applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.