NOVELTY - A combustor for oxidizing a combustion fuel and pre-heating reactants for fuel reforming, comprises an elongated housing having an inlet for receiving the fuel, and an outlet for exhausting combustion gases; optionally a mixer at the inlet; inert particles within the housing adjacent the inlet; optionally a heater for heating the fuel; a combustion catalyst bed within the housing above the inert particles; and a heat exchanging element having an inlet for receiving a reformer reactant and an outlet for directing a heated reformer reactant out of the housing for use in fuel reforming.    USE - The inventive combustor is used for oxidizing a combustion fuel and pre-heating one or more reactants for fuel reforming.    ADVANTAGE - The inventive combustor is capable of rapid start-up and maintaining a more stable temperature profile during the operation of the combustor. It is capable of operating on low pressure fuel feeds.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A combustor (20) for oxidizing a combustion fuel and pre-heating one or more reactants for fuel reforming, comprises:    (1) an elongated housing having an inlet for receiving the combustion fuel, and an outlet for exhausting combustion gases;    (2) optionally, a mixer located at the inlet;    (3) inert particles disposed within the housing adjacent the inlet;    (4) optionally, a heater for heating the combustion fuel;    (5) a combustion catalyst bed disposed within the housing above the inert particles; and    (6) a heat exchanging element having an inlet for receiving a reformer reactant and an outlet for directing a heated reformer reactant out of the elongated housing for use in fuel reforming, where a portion of the heat exchanging element is disposed within the combustion catalyst bed.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) a method of manufacturing the combustor, comprising providing a cylindrical housing having an inlet in a lower portion of the housing and a combustion products exhaust outlet in an upper portion of the housing; disposing the heat exchanging element(s) within the housing; loading the inert particles into the housing adjacent the inlet; and loading a mixture of a combustion catalyst and inert particles into the housing above the inert particles, where the mixture has a volumetric ratio of inert particles to combustion catalyst of 2:1-4:1; and    (2) a power-generating apparatus (10), comprising the combustor; a fuel processor for converting the heated reformer reactants to a hydrogen-rich reformate; and a fuel cell for consuming the hydrogen-rich reformate in an electrochemical reaction to generate electrical power.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a schematic diagram of a power-generating apparatus.    Power-generating apparatus (10)    Combustor (20)    Fuel cell exhaust (45)