TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Claimed Method of Controlling Hydrocarbon Reformer: Method (M1) of controlling a hydrocarbon reformer during dynamic load operation comprises:(i) supplying a hydrocarbon fuel to the first reactor which generates (1);(ii) generating steam under pressure in a loop which includes a steam generator and a water/steam separator;(iii) supplying the steam at a first rate to the reactor;(iv) maintaining a stable steam pressure in the loop at the first rate of supplying steam and the hydrocarbon fuel;(v) in response to a change in demand for (1) from the generator, changing the rate of supply of the hydrocarbon fuel and the steam to second supply rates respectively;(vi) permitting a change in the pressure of the loop within an acceptable range for a time in response to the second supply rate; and(vii) generating steam to return the loop pressure to the desired pressure.Claimed Method of Operating Hydrocarbon Reformer: Method of operating the hydrocarbon reformer comprises: providing a first mass of catalyst in the first reactor zone for promoting water gas shift reaction in (1); generating steam in an auxiliary reactor (2); and transferring heat from the steam to the first mass of a catalyst:Claimed System for Reforming Hydrocarbon Fuel: A high efficiency system (I) for reforming the hydrocarbon fuel to generate (1) for use in an associated fuel cells comprising a gas generator, at least one shift reaction zone, a preferential oxidation reactor (3), (2), and a heat exchange system. The gas generator has at least one endothermic reaction zone in thermal contact with at least one exothermic reaction zone. (2) oxidizes reformate components which are not consumed by the associated fuel cell, and minimizes exhaust but maximizes the extraction of thermal energy. The heat exchange system circulates at least one of fuel, air, water and/or steam through the heat exchanger in the gas generator, the shift reaction zone, (3) and (2) to utilize the thermal energy generated by the reforming reaction to volatilize the input components and the heat catalyst.Claimed Hydrocarbon Fuel Reformer: A hydrocarbon fuel reformer comprises a first reaction vessel, a shift reactor vessel and a first helical tube. The shift reactor vessel is annularly disposed about the first reaction vessel and includes a first shift reactor zone. The first helical tube is disposed within the first shift reactor zone and has an inlet end which communicates with a water supply source.Claimed Fuel Processor: A fuel processor comprising a vessel having a first end, a second end, and an outer wall; a partial oxidation zone disposed in the vessel; and a steam reforming zone. The partial oxidation zone extends between the first and the second ends and is bound by a first inner wall. The steam reforming zone is interposed between the first inner wall and the outer wall. The first inner wall has a port which is disposed near the first end to define a first transition between a first flow path of reactants through the partial oxidation zone and a second flow path of reactants through the steam reforming zone in a direction opposite the first flow path.Preferred Systems: (10) includes (2) which is configured to generate either heated water/steam or steam and is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger of the second reactor or the first reactor to supply the heated water/steam or steam to the heat exchanger or the first reactor respectively.(10) includes a steam separator which is interposed between (2) and the heat exchanger and in communication with both heat exchanger and (2). The steam separator has a second mass of water/steam.The ratio of the catalyst to the first and second mass of water is greater than 1.The ratio of the first mass of two-phase water to catalyst is greater than 3 (preferably greater than 5).The water/steam mixture in the high efficiency system is circulated as a two-phase mixture in a first section of circulation through the heat exchange system.The two-phase mixture absorbs heat and actively cools the temperature of at least one of (3) and a shift reaction zone and optionally of (2).(I) further comprises a water/steam separator for separating the water from the steam.The steam is passed into heat exchangers in at least one of a high temperature shift reaction zone and a gas generator comprising at least one of a partial oxidation (POx) reactor and a steam reformer or an autothermal reactor having a partial oxidation (POx) zone and a steam reforming zone. EXAMPLE - None given.