NOVELTY - A thermally integrated fuel processor including a reformer for the two stage conversion of methanol to hydrogen rich fuel comprises a housing, a fan, water and methanol inlets, a heater, two reactors and a shunt.    USE - The processor is used for producing hydrogen rich fuel gas for a fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - The processor is thermally integrated and the hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water and methanol mixture is an excellent heat transfer agent    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A thermally integrated fuel processor including a reformer for the two stage conversion of methanol to hydrogen rich fuel comprises:    (a) A housing    (b) a fan for recirculating a gaseous heat transfer medium (4) comprising water vapor, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methanol vapor through the housing;    (c) a water inlet (34) to the housing;    (d) a methanol inlet (32) to the housing;    (e) a heater (6) within the housing downstream of the fan in the direction of flow of the medium (4);    (f) a first reactor (20) downstream of the heater for substantially isothermally converting a portion of the medium (4) to a reformate gas having higher concentrations of hydrogen and carbon dioxide and including first and second channels separated by a thermally conductive partition, the first channels containing a first catalyst and the second channels being adapted to receive a heated medium (4) from the heater for heating the first catalyst;    (g) a second reactor (30) downstream of the heater containing a second catalyst adapted to convert some of the heated medium (4) to hydrogen and carbon dioxide; and    (h) a shunt for diverting a portion of the medium (4) through the channels of the first reactor.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) A method for steam reforming methanol in stages; and    (2) A method for starting up a multistage thermally integrated methanol reformer for fueling a fuel cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.    Fan (2)    Medium (4)    Heater (6)    Combustor (10)    First reactor (20)    Second reactor (30)    Methanol inlet (32)    Water inlet (34)