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Apparatus and methods for the production of hydrogen using a reformer including a housing, a first plate having a first plurality of fin structures and a second plate having a second plurality of fin structures assembled such that the first plurality of fin structures is interleaved with the second

Apparatus and methods for the production of hydrogen using a reformer including a housing, a first plate having a first plurality of fin structures and a second plate having a second plurality of fin structures assembled such that the first plurality of fin structures is interleaved with the second plurality of fin structures. At least one inlet port is formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate, and at least one outlet port is formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate. The fin structures may be coated with a catalytic material to enhance or stimulate reactions taking place within the apparatus. A heat exchange device may also be integrated into one or both plates of the reformer.

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1. An apparatus for producing hydrogen comprising: a first plate including a first fin structure comprising a first plurality of fins located thereon;a second fin structure comprising a second plurality of fins located thereon, the first plate and the second plate being assembled having a portion of

1. An apparatus for producing hydrogen comprising: a first plate including a first fin structure comprising a first plurality of fins located thereon;a second fin structure comprising a second plurality of fins located thereon, the first plate and the second plate being assembled having a portion of at least one fin of the first plurality of fins of the first plate interleaved with at least a portion of at least one fin of the second plurality of fins of the second plate;at least one inlet port formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate; andat least one outlet port formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate;wherein at least one fin of the first plurality of fins of the first plate includes: at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins toward a second portion within the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins; andat least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin of the first plurality of fin structures in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a housing for at least portions of the first plate and the second plate. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: insulation contacting at least a portion of the housing. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the insulation comprises one of alumina silicate material, hydrated calcium carbonate material, magnesium carbonate material, and combinations thereof. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a filter located in a portion of an area between the first plate and the second plate. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the filter comprises a cartridge type filter. 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the filter comprises a replaceable desulfurization cartridge. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins further includes at least one aperture in fluid communication with the at least one cross channel and an exterior of the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one fin of the second plurality of fins of the second plate includes: at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins toward a second portion within the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins;at least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins; andat least one aperture in fluid communication with the at least one cross channel and an exterior of the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins includes a catalytic material. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the catalytic material comprises platinum, palladium, and alloys thereof. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the catalytic material exhibits a thickness of approximately 0.006 inch. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate comprise a ferritic alloy material. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ferritic alloy material comprises FeCrAl. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing between a fin of the first plurality of fins of the first plate and an adjacent fin of the second plurality of fins of the second plate comprises approximately 0.04 inch. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one heat exchange device formed within at least one of the first plate and the second plate. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second plate further includes a third fin structure comprising a third plurality of fins. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a fin structure comprising a fourth plurality of fins assembled with the second plate, the third plate having the fourth plurality of fins interleaved with the third plurality of fins of the second plate. 19. A method of forming a reformer apparatus, the method comprising: forming a first plate having a first fin structure comprising a plurality of fins, including;forming at least one fin of the first plurality of fins of the first plate to include: at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the least one fin of the first plurality of fins toward a second portion within the first fin structure; andat least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel and an exterior of the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins;forming a second plate having a second fin structure comprising a second plurality of fins; andassembling the first plate and the second plate having the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins interleaved with respect to each other to form flow paths between adjacent fins of the first and second pluralities of fins;forming a second flow path between adjacent fin structures of the first and second pluralities of fin structures. 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: depositing a coating of catalytic material on at least a portion of the fins of the first fin structure of the first plate and the second fin structure. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein depositing a coating of catalytic material further comprises depositing platinum, palladium, and alloys thereof. 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein depositing a coating of catalytic material includes depositing the catalytic material having a thickness of approximately 0.006 inch. 23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: forming a space of approximately 0.004 inch between portions of the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins. 24. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: connecting at least a portion of a heat exchange device with at least one of the first plate and the second plate. 25. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: forming a third fin structure comprising a third plurality of fins on the second plate;forming a third plate including a fourth fin structure comprising a fourth plurality of fins; andassembling the second plate and the third plate with the third plurality of fins on the second plate and the fourth plurality of fins on the third plate interleaved with respect to each other. 26. A system comprising: at least one water-gas shift reactor;at least one preferential oxidation reactor; andat least one autothermal reformer, wherein the autothermal reformer comprises:a first plate including a first fin structure comprising a first plurality of fins,wherein at least a portion of at least one fin of the first plurality of fins of the first plate includes:at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins toward a second portion within the at least one fin; andat least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins;a second plate including a second fin structure comprising a second plurality of fins, the first plate and the second plate being assembled having a portion of at least one fin of the first plurality of fins interleaved with a portion of at least one fin of the second plurality of fins;at least one inlet port formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate; andat least one outlet port formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate;wherein a fluid flow path through the at least one autothermal reformer is configured to connect the autothermal reformer to the at least one water-gas shift reactor and another flow path configured to connect the water-gas shift reactor to the at least one preferential oxidation reactor. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of one of the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins includes a catalytic material. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the catalytic material comprises platinum, palladium, and alloys thereof. 29. The system of claim 26, further comprising: a heat exchange device connected to at least one of the first plate and the second plate. 30. The system of claim 26, wherein the second plate further includes a third fin structure comprising a third plurality of fins. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the autothermal reformer comprises a third plate including a fourth fin structure comprising a fourth plurality of fins, a portion of at least one fin of the third plurality of fins of the second plate interleaved with a portion of at least one fin of the fourth plurality of fins of the third plate. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein at least one fin of the third plurality of fins of the third plate includes: at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the at least one fin of the third plurality of fins toward a second portion within the at least one fin of the third plurality of fins;at least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin of the third plurality of fins in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the at least one fin of the third plurality of fins; andat least one aperture in fluid communication with the at least one cross channel and an exterior of the at least one fin of the third plurality of fins. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one fin of the fourth plurality of fins of the third plate includes: at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the at least one fin of the fourth plurality of fins toward a second portion within the at least one fin of the fourth plurality of fins;at least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin of the fourth plurality of fins in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the at least one fin of the fourth plurality of fins; andat least one aperture in fluid communication with the at least one cross channel and an exterior of the at least one fin of the fourth plurality of fins. 34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins further includes at least one aperture in fluid communication with the at least one cross channel and an exterior of the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein at least a portion of at least one fin of the second plurality of fins of the second plate comprises: at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins toward a second portion within the at least one fin structure of the second plurality of fins;at least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin structure of the second plurality of fins in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins; andat least one aperture in fluid communication with the at least one cross channel and an exterior of the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins. 36. The system of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of at least one fin of the second plurality of fins of the second plate comprises: at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the at least one fin of the second plurality of fin structures toward a second portion within the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins; andat least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin structure in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins further includes at least one aperture in fluid communication with the at least one cross channel and an exterior of the at least one fin of the second plurality of fins.