Patent ID: 7909897

Claim:
A fuel processor comprising: a first reservoir configured to store a first fluid; a first planar ejector array structure disposed in communication with the first reservoir to generate droplets of the first fluid; wherein the first planar ejector array structure comprises an array of ejector nozzles, a first droplet ejection zone for receiving droplets ejected from the first planar ejector array structure; a catalyst layer disposed on the opposite side of the first droplet ejection zone as the first planar ejector array structure, wherein the first planar ejector array structure and the catalyst layer are in parallel planes and face one another; and a product removal zone, wherein the catalyst layer is disposed between the droplet ejection zone and the product removal zone, wherein the droplets of the first fluid interact with the catalyst layer to form products that pass through the catalyst layer into the product removal zone, wherein the catalyst layer includes alternating areas of a catalyst area and a non-catalyst area, wherein each catalyst area is a catalyst channel, wherein each catalyst channel corresponds to and is disposed in-line with one of the ejector nozzles so the droplets from each ejector nozzle contact the corresponding catalyst channel, wherein the non-catalyst area is disposed between the catalyst channels so that the droplets ejected from each of the ejector nozzle interacts with a separate catalyst channel.