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A reactor, system and method for producing hydrogen features a reactor containing a heating stream channel and a hydrogen channel with a reaction channel positioned there between. A heat transfer sheet separates the heating stream channel and the reaction channel and a porous support plate separates

A reactor, system and method for producing hydrogen features a reactor containing a heating stream channel and a hydrogen channel with a reaction channel positioned there between. A heat transfer sheet separates the heating stream channel and the reaction channel and a porous support plate separates the reaction channel and the hydrogen channel. A membrane constructed from palladium, vanadium, copper or alloys thereof covers the porous support plate. The heating stream channel receives a heating stream so that heat is provided to the reaction channel through the heat transfer sheet. A catalyst is positioned in the reaction channel and the reaction channel receives a reaction stream including a mixture of supercritical water and a hydrocarbon fuel so that hydrogen is produced in the reaction channel and is passed through the membrane into the hydrogen channel. The hydrogen separation may alternatively be accomplished in a separator device distinct from the reactor via either a membrane or pressure swing adsorption.

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What is claimed is: 1. A reactor for producing hydrogen comprising: a) a housing including a bonded stack of plates featuring internal passageways which define a heating stream channel, a hydrogen channel and a reaction channel; b) a heat transfer wall separating the heating stream channel and the

What is claimed is: 1. A reactor for producing hydrogen comprising: a) a housing including a bonded stack of plates featuring internal passageways which define a heating stream channel, a hydrogen channel and a reaction channel; b) a heat transfer wall separating the heating stream channel and the reaction channel; c) a separator positioned between the reaction channel and the hydrogen channel; d) said heating stream channel adapted to receive a heating stream so that heat is provided to the reaction channel through the heat transfer wall; and e) a catalyst positioned in the reaction channel and said reaction channel adapted to receive a reaction stream including a mixture of supercritical water and a hydrocarbon fuel so that hydrogen is produced in the reaction channel and passes through the separator into said hydrogen channel. 2. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the catalyst includes a coating on the heat transfer wall. 3. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is a packed bed catalyst. 4. The reactor of claim 3 wherein the catalyst is a supported catalyst. 5. The reactor of claim 3 wherein the catalyst is an unsupported catalyst. 6. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the reaction channel is perpendicular to the heating stream channel and the hydrogen channel. 7. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the separator includes a membrane mounted on a side of a porous plate so that it is positioned in the reaction channel. 8. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the separator includes a membrane. 9. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is a gas selected from the group consisting of natural gas, components of natural gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons. 10. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is a liquid selected from the group consisting of gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, crude oil and other liquid fuels. 11. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is a solid selected from the group consisting of coal and biomass. 12. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, copper and alloys thereof. 13. The reactor of claim 1 wherein said heating stream channel contains a combustion catalyst so that combustion occurs therein when the heating stream is received. 14. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the heating stream channel includes an auxiliary electric heating arrangement. 15. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the stack of plates of the housing are bonded by brazing. 16. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the stack of plates of the housing are bonded by diffusion bonding. 17. The reactor of claim 1 further comprising a second reaction channel and a second heat transfer wall, said second heat transfer wall separating said second reaction channel from said heating stream channel. 18. The reactor of claim 1 further comprising a second reaction channel and a second separator, said second separator positioned between the second reaction channel and said hydrogen channel. 19. The reactor of claim 1 further comprising a second reaction channel, said heat transfer wall also separating the heating stream channel and the second reaction channel. 20. The reactor of claim 1 further comprising a second reaction channel, said separator also positioned between the second reaction channel and the hydrogen channel. 21. The reactor of claim 8 wherein the membrane is selected from the group consisting of palladium, vanadium, copper and alloys thereof. 22. The reactor of claim 8 wherein the separator includes a porous plate upon which the membrane is mounted. 23. The reactor of claim 1, further comprising a separator device for separating sulfur from the reaction stream. 24. The reactor of claim 23, wherein the separator device comprises a molecular sieve.