Patent ID: 8021447

Claim:
A hydrogen-producing assembly, comprising: a catalyst chamber defining an internal volume and including an inlet for receiving a feed stream and an outlet for delivering a reformate mixed-gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases produced from the feed stream in the catalyst chamber, wherein the hydrogen gas is a majority component of the reformate mixed-gas stream; a heat source adjacent the catalyst chamber and adapted to heat the catalyst chamber to at least a minimum hydrogen-producing temperature; a hydrogen-producing region within the internal volume, the hydrogen-producing region including a volume of catalyst adapted to catalyze production of the reformate mixed-gas stream from the feed stream via an endothermic reaction; and a conductive guide structure positioned within the internal volume and adapted to conduct and distribute heat from the heat source to and within the hydrogen-producing region and to direct the feed stream and the reformate mixed-gas stream through at least the hydrogen-producing region of the internal volume.