NOVELTY - Hydrocarbon fuel is converted to produce an exit gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, as main reaction product, by providing a catalytic structure comprising an oxidation catalyst and a steam reforming catalyst both supported on an open-channel support, the steam reforming catalyst being different than the oxidation catalyst.    USE - The invention is for conversion of hydrocarbon fuel to produce an exit gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, as main reaction product. The hydrocarbon fuel is a heavy hydrocarbon fuel comprising hydrocarbon molecules, with all of the molecules, each containing at least 6C atoms. It is gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, or diesel fuel. The invention is useful for supplying a product gas mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a solid oxide fuel cell system, for producing electric power. (all claimed)    ADVANTAGE - The invention achieves short catalyst contact time, and long run periods without steam input. It converts hydrocarbon fuel, preferably heavy hydrocarbon fuel to hydrogen and carbon monoxide at increased yields, and with reduced carbon deposits and residual hydrocarbons. It produces syngas that is free of carbon deposition, thus reducing plugging in the fuel processing system. It provides for a lightweight, compact, heavy hydrocarbon fuel processing system.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Conversion of hydrocarbon fuel to produce an exit gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, as main reaction product, comprises providing a feed gas mixture comprising an oxygen containing gas (14) and a heavy hydrocarbon fuel (12); providing a catalytic structure comprising an oxidation catalyst and a steam reforming catalyst both supported on an open-channel support, the steam reforming catalyst being different than the oxidation catalyst; and passing the feed gas mixture through the catalytic structure, the catalytic structure being maintained at a temperature to produce the exit gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, as main reaction products.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for the following:    (1) a reactor for converting hydrocarbon fuel to an exit gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, as main reaction products, comprising a reactor shell having an inlet and an outlet and forming a reaction flow passage extending from the inlet to the outlet, the reactor shell forming a catalytic reaction zone between the inlet and outlet; a catalytic structure disposed in the catalytic reaction zone comprising an oxidation catalyst, and a steam reforming catalyst supported on an open-channel support; and a source of hydrocarbon fuel, so that when a feed gas mixture comprising an oxygen containing gas and hydrocarbon fuel is fed through the inlet, the feed gas mixture passes along the reaction flow passage and through the catalytic structure, the feed gas mixture converts in the catalytic structure to the exit gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, as main reaction products, and the exit gas stream discharges through the outlet; and    (2) a solid oxide fuel cell system for producing electric power, comprising a reactor for converting hydrocarbon fuel to produce an exit gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, as main reaction products; and a fuel cell disposed for receiving the exit gas stream and consuming the hydrogen to produce electric power.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a schematic diagram of a fuel system for a solid oxide fuel cell system.    Hydrocarbon (12)    Oxygen source (14)    Reactor (16)    SOFC system (18)