NOVELTY - A mixing station comprises a tangential opening interconnecting a first manifold with the mixing tube bore and providing a swirling oxygen and fuel reactant mixture in the mixing tube bore of the reactants from manifolds.    USE - The mixing station is used for mixing a source of oxygen with a hydrocarbon fuel (e.g. propane, butane, gasoline and diesel fuel) stream to form an intimate mixture of oxygen and fuel reactants for admission into a catalytic steam reformer catalyst bed. It can be used in fuel cell power plants e.g. in mobile applications.    ADVANTAGE - The station provides a fast and thorough mixing of the fuel-steam and air constituents, thus ensuring a homogeneous mixture of air, steam and fuel at the entrance of the catalyst bed with minimal swirling. It enhances mixing as well as negating the swirl, thus providing a uniform gas flow stream entering the catalyst bed. It minimizes disruption of the catalyst bed particles by the gas mixture as the latter flows into the catalyst bed.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A mixing station comprises:    a first manifold for receiving a stream of oxygen or fuel reactants;    a second manifold for receiving a stream of the other of the oxygen or fuel reactants;    reactant mixing tube(s) (26) having an interior bore extending from the second manifold through the first manifold, the mixing tube opening into the catalyst bed (8, 18); and    tangential opening(s) interconnecting the first manifold with the mixing tube bore.    The tangential opening (28, 28') provides a swirling oxygen and fuel reactant mixture in the mixing tube bore of the reactants from manifolds (22, 24).    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method for mixing a source of oxygen with a hydrocarbon fuel stream to form an intimate mixture of oxygen and fuel reactants.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a fragmented cross-sectional view of an air/steam/fuel mixing assembly.    Catalyst bed (8, 18)    Manifolds (22, 24)    Mixing tube (26)    Tangential opening (28, 28')