TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The catalyst bed further comprises a water gas shift catalyst. It has a non-uniform distribution of the reforming catalyst and carbon dioxide fixing material. The temperature moderator is a fluid from steam, water, air, carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The reactor (200) further comprises an oxidant inlet for directing an oxidant into the oxidation zone. It also comprises catalyst bed support for supporting the catalyst bed within the reactor vessel (205). The reactor vessel comprises a side wall comprising a refractory material.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The catalyst bed further comprises a water gas shift catalyst. It has a non-uniform distribution of the reforming catalyst and carbon dioxide fixing material. The temperature moderator is a fluid from steam, water, air, carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The sulfur is removed from the hydrocarbon fuel before converting the hydrocarbon fuel to a reformate. The hydrocarbon fuel is converted with steam over the catalyst bed to a hydrogen-rich reformate at a steam reforming temperature of 400-800degreesC. The catalyst bed is purged with steam after removing the hydrogen-rich reformate from the catalyst bed. The carbon dioxide fixing material is heated to 500-900degreesC. The oxidation of the oxidant is interrupted. The oxidant and the hydrocarbon fuel are oxidized non-catalytically. The carbon dioxide-laden gas is removed from the reactor vessel. The catalyst bed is purged with steam after removing the carbon dioxide laden gas from the catalyst bed. The heated carbon dioxide fixing material is hydrated with steam having low temperature steam at below 500degreesC. The hydrogen-rich reformate is directed to a polishing unit from drying units, methanation reactors, selective oxidation reactors, pressure swing absorption units, temperature swing absorption units, and/or membrane separators.