HYDROGEN-GENERATING APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen-generating apparatus which can be made small in size, particularly, while assuring an appropriate output, for example, when it is used for a fuel cell. SOLUTION: A hydrogen-generating apparatus A comprises a cylinder for guiding a hydrogen-generating raw material, an optical/thermal element 6 arranged inside the cylinder, and a hydrogen-generating catalyst arranged inside the cylinder. The cylinder is a honeycomb structure 2 with a hollow part inside the same. The hydrogen-generating raw material which is guided through a first guide path 41in the honeycomb structure 2 and has reached the end of the guide path 41flows into an adjacent guide path 42located in the same-peripheral area. The hydrogen-generating raw material which is guided through the guide path 42in the direction opposite to that in the guide path 41and has reached the end of the guide path 42flows into a next adjacent guide path 43located in the same-peripheral area. The hydrogen-generating raw material in turn flows through the guide path 43located in the same-peripheral area in the same manner as described above and then flows into a guide path 5nlocated inside the guide path 43, followed by being guided through the guide path as described above. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI