TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The patch material is applied to the membrane after formation of the membrane via a plating process. The hydrogen-producing region includes at least one reforming region containing a reforming catalyst bed. The membrane module includes a pair of the hydrogen-selective membranes positioned on opposed sides of the support so that the permeate surfaces of the membranes that face each other, with the support partially defining a harvesting conduit between the pair of membranes and through which the portion of the mixed gas stream that passes into the conduit through at least one of the pair of membranes may be withdrawn from the conduit. The support includes a screen structure (70, 72) having a membrane-contacting screen. Screen members (73) are adhesively bonded together during fabrication of the membrane module and subjected to oxidizing conditions after formation of the membrane module. The membrane module further includes end plates between which the membrane and the support are supported. The fuel processor includes a combustion region and at least one gas transport conduit adapted to deliver at least a portion of the byproduct stream to the combustion region. The fuel processor includes a polishing region adapted to receive the portion of the mixed gas stream that passes through the membrane and to further reduce the concentration of at least a selected component of the other gases. The polishing region includes at least one methanation catalyst bed.Preferred Parameter: The membrane has a thickness of less than approximately 20 (preferably at most 1.5) mum.Preferred Material: The support is partially formed from a porous medium.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Component: The patch material comprises copper, silver, gold, nickel, palladium, chromium, rhodium, platinum and/or their alloys. The patch material is free of phosphorus, carbon, silicon, nitrogen, zinc, mercury, lead, bismuth and cadmium.Preferred Material: The membrane-contacting screen is partially formed from an expanded metal