NOVELTY - A steam reforming fuel processor comprises a hydrogen-producing region, in which a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases is produced from water and a carbon-containing feedstock; and a separation region, in which the mixed gas stream is separated into a hydrogen-rich stream containing pure hydrogen gas and a byproduct stream containing a portion of the other gases.    USE - For producing hydrogen gas from a carbon-containing feedstock (e.g. alcohol or hydrocarbon) and water.    ADVANTAGE - The reformer has a compact design.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A steam reforming fuel processor (12) comprises:    (a) a heating assembly that includes an ignition region and that is adapted to introduce a heated exhaust stream into a combustion region, wherein the combustion region includes a first portion that is generally proximate the ignition region and a second portion that is distal the ignition region;    (b) a vaporization region adapted to receive a reforming feed stream (16) comprising water and carbon-containing feedstock(s) and to form a vaporized feed stream, wherein the vaporization region is positioned to extend within the combustion region and/or extend around the combustion region;    (c) a reforming region containing vertically oriented reforming catalyst beds, wherein each reforming catalyst bed includes an inlet region adapted to receive the vaporized feed stream and to produce a reformate stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases, and an outlet region adapted to exhaust the reformate stream, define an axis extending at least parallel to the reforming catalyst beds and extend radially outward from the vaporization region relative to the axis, wherein the reforming catalyst beds are symmetrically and radially spaced relative to the combustion region;    (d) a distribution manifold adapted to receive the reforming feed stream and to distribute the reforming feed stream to the inlet regions of the reforming catalyst beds;    (e) a collection manifold adapted to receive the reformate stream from the outlet regions of the reforming catalyst beds, wherein the collection manifold is in fluid communication with a separation region;    (f) a separation region (22) proximate the second portion of the combustion region and adapted to receive the reformate stream and to produce a hydrogen-rich stream (24) containing pure hydrogen gas and a byproduct stream (26) containing at least a portion of the other gases, wherein the separation region includes an enclosure containing hydrogen-selective membrane(s) and into which the reformate stream is introduced, with the hydrogen-rich stream being formed from a portion of the reformate stream that passes through the hydrogen-selective membrane and the byproduct stream being formed from a portion of the reformate stream that does not pass through the hydrogen-selective membrane, wherein the hydrogen-selective membrane extends transverse to the axis extending at least parallel to the reforming catalyst beds; and    (g) methanation catalyst bed(s) containing a methanation catalyst and adapted to receive the hydrogen-rich stream and to reduce the concentration of any carbon monoxide present in the hydrogen-rich stream.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a fuel processing system.    Fuel processor (12)    Product hydrogen stream (14)    Feed stream (16)    Hydrogen-producing region (18)    Mixed gas stream (20)    Separation region (22)    Hydrogen-rich stream (24)    Byproduct stream (26)