NOVELTY - A hydrogen generating apparatus has: (i) closed outer vessel defining interior chamber and having insulated walls, top, and base; (ii) inner vessel within interior chamber; (iii) burner fixed to base and positioned within combustion zone; (iv) burner tube fixed to base and extending vertically above the base to surround the burner (32); (v) feed distributor (16) fixed to inner vessel; (vi) feed conduit; (vii) reforming effluent outlet; and (viii) fuel exhaust outlet.    USE - The method is used for generating hydrogen for producing electric power from fuel cell (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The method provides compact apparatus for generating hydrogen from available fuels such as natural gas, hydrocarbons, and alcohols. It provides an integrated fuel cell and hydrogen production system that is energy and hydrogen efficient. It mitigates methane slippage problem and achieves a more uniform temperature throughout steam reforming zone.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The hydrogen generating apparatus comprises:    (a) closed outer vessel defining interior chamber and having insulated walls, top, and base;    (b) inner vessel within interior chamber having dome shape and being vertically aligned having open-end base and closed-end top, the inner vessel being defined by hollow walls having middle space, in which a compartment for retaining catalyst is provided by the middle space and the vessel surrounds a combustion zone;    (c) burner fixed to the base and positioned within the combustion zone to provide flame zone and an anode waste gas conduit disposed in the combustion zone to provide injection of anode waste gas into the flame zone;    (d) burner tube fixed to the base and extending vertically above the base to surround the burner;    (e) feed distributor fixed to the inner vessel and defining ports distributed about the opened-end bottom in fluid communication with the compartment;    (f) feed conduit in fluid communication with the feed distributor;    (g) reforming effluent outlet about the closed-end top of the inner vessel and in fluid communication with the compartment; and    (h) fuel exhaust outlet about the top of the inner vessel.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a schematic block diagram illustrating the process.    Fuel stream in-line (10)    Feed distributor (16)    Inert zone (18)    steam reforming catalyst (20)    Combustion tube (22)    Exterior wall (28)    Insulated chamber (30)    Burner (32)    Combustion zone (3)    Fuel exhaust stream in-line (34)    Water stream in-line (40)