A plate-type catalytic membrane reactor (PCMR) was prepared for the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. The nickel metal catalyst with a disk-shape was placed on a disk-type membrane without a metal cage or mesh to hold the catalyst in the reactor. The WGS reaction in a PCMR was experimentally investigated using a simulated feed from coal gasification as a function of feed pressure (up to 1.1 MPa) and GHSV (up to 20 000 h(-1)). The stronger adsorption of CO on the Pd membrane seems to be responsible for the greater reduction in the hydrogen permeating flux, which was a more power inhibitor than steam. When S/C=2.0 and GHSV=5000 h(-1), 81% of the hydrogen had permeated through the membrane at del-P=1.0 MPa and 400 degrees C and the CO conversion increased by 26%, when compared with no hydrogen separation (del-P=0.0 MPa). The CO conversion decreased by 8.1% when GHSV was increased from 5000 h(-1) to 17 000 h(-1). (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.