The thermo dynamical properties of A-type microreactor of hydrogen production are important factors for optimization of it, therefore the Contourlet finite element model is established through introducing Contourlet transform into traditional finite element method, which is used for thermo dynamical analysis of A-type microreactor. Firstly, the existing research results about heat and mass analysis for microreactor and wavelet finite element method are summarized, and the feasibility analysis on thermo dynamical analysis of A-type microreactor based on Contourlet finite element method is discussed. Secondly, the mathematical model and characteristics of Contourlet transform are studied. Thirdly, the thermo dynamical Contourlet finite element model is constructed, the Contourlet finite element model and boundary conditions are confirmed. Finally, the thermo dynamical characteristics of A-type microreactor is analyzed based on traditional finite element method, Curvelet finite element method, Contourlet finite element method and test respectively, and results show that the Contourlet finite element method has highest computing precision and efficiency, and the influence rules of main parameters and geometric sizes on thermo dynamical characteristics of A-type microreactor are obtained. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.