NOVELTY - Plasma fuel conversion comprises positioning two electrodes (20, 24) to have a gap between them and for a plasma discharge volume; injecting a reactive mixture in the plasma discharge volume; supplying power to provide voltage and current to generate a plasma discharge in the plasma discharge volume and produce an ignited reactive mixture; introducing a fluid flow into the plasma discharge volume to stretch and deform the plasma discharge.    USE - For plasma fuel conversion for producing a hydrogen-rich gas.    ADVANTAGE - The invention produces discharges in the non-arcing regime in a continuous manner with enlarged effective discharge volume. It efficiently uses electrical energy to produce hydrogen rich gas. It produces a large effective plasma discharge volume allowing for substantially greater volumetric efficiency in the initiation of chemical reactions within a volume of bulk fluid reactant flowing through the plasmatron.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a plasmatron fuel converter for producing a hydrogen rich gas, comprising a first electrode; a second electrode disposed with respect to the first electrode to form a plasma discharge volume (26); a power supply (18) connected to the first and second electrodes to provide voltage and current sufficient to generate a plasma discharge within the plasma discharge volume to initiate a reaction of an injected reactive mixture; and at least one fluid flow channel (28) having an outlet into the plasma discharge volume. The outlet of the fluid flow channel is positioned to deliver a fluid flow having at least one tangential flow component to shape and stretch the plasma discharge generated within the plasma discharge volume. The plasma discharge is established, extinguished and reestablished according to a cycle frequency that enables quasi-uniform plasma discharge throughout the plasma discharge volume.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a cross-sectional view of a plasmatron fuel converter.    Fuel (12)    Oxidant (14)    Reactive mixture (16)    Power supply (18)    Electrodes (20, 24)    Plasma discharge volume (26)    Channel (28)