NOVELTY - A vaporizer (102) outlet stream is produced catalytically in a reformer (104) to produce reformate stream. The fuel stream is separated in a hydrogen separator (112) into pure hydrogen which is supplied to fuel cell stack and an oxidant stream. The heat transfer fluid uses a catalytic burner (107) to promote combustion of burner with the operating temperature of burner monitored and adjusted by temperature sensors.    USE - For submarines.    ADVANTAGE - Efficient conversion without catalyst damage is achieved using the process. A catalytic burner is used to heat a heat transfer fluid which provides a thermal buffer between the catalytic burner gases and the vaporizer and reformer, and may be used to deliver large amounts of heat over a narrow temperature range, reducing the risk of catalyst damage. The catalytic burner is safer and results in more complete combustion of the reactants. The temperature is more readily controlled because they operate at a lower reactant gas concentration.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Operation of a fuel cell electric power plant comprising a solid polymer fuel cell stack for producing electrical power, comprises vaporizing a process fluid stream to produce a vaporizer outlet stream. The process fluid stream comprises methanol and water. The vaporizer outlet stream is catalytically reformed to produce a reformate stream comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The reformate and raffinate streams are separated and the fuel and oxidant streams are supplied to the fuel cell stack. The oxidant stream comprises oxygen and a liquid oxygen supply. A heat transfer fluid is then circulated to heat the vaporizer and reformer, and heated using a catalytic burner having a catalyst. The operating temperature of the burner is monitored using a sensor and the portion of the burner outlet stream is adjusted which is then recirculated through the catalytic burner.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic diagram of a fuel processing system for an integrated fuel cell electric power generation system.    Vaporizer (102)    Reformer (104)    Catalytic Burner (107)    Hydrogen Separator (112)