NOVELTY - The improved fuel reformer (14) such as a chemical cell comprises a unit for creating Taylor-vortex flows in fuel, a unit for creating circular Couette flows in the fuel, a catalyst surface layer, a unit for extracting carbon build-up from the catalyst surface layer for capture and disposal by Taylor-vortex flows, a unit for introducing oxidizing gas into a make-up gas to oxidize any carbon adhering to the catalyst surface layer, a vibrating transducer that is mechanically coupled to the catalytic surface layer, and a unit for extracting unwanted contaminants from the fuel.    USE - The improved fuel reformer useful in a chemical cell is useful to produce hydrogen (all claimed), and in lighting systems, chemical manufacturing reactors or electrochemical cells such as fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE - The improved fuel reformer such as a chemical cell has higher reaction rates, eliminates contaminants without need of external purifiers, reduces capital and operating costs in connection with catalyst maintenance, and is compact and robust.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The improved fuel reformer (14) such as a chemical cell comprises a unit for creating Taylor-vortex flows in fuel, a unit for creating circular Couette flows in the fuel, a catalyst surface layer, a unit for extracting carbon build-up from the catalyst surface layer for capture and disposal by Taylor-vortex flows, a unit for introducing oxidizing gas into a make-up gas to oxidize any carbon adhering to the catalyst surface layer, a vibrating transducer that is mechanically coupled to the catalytic surface layer, and a unit for extracting unwanted contaminants from the fuel. The unit for creating Taylor-vortex flows includes a first cylindrical surface layer (34') enclosing or adjacent to a second cylindrical surface layer (36') separated from the first cylindrical surface layer by a fuel chamber with a gap distance (d) and a gap length (L), and a unit for rotating one surface with respect to the other at Omega radians per second. The improved fuel reformer includes a unit for pumping fuel into and out of the chamber at a total volumetric exchange rate of U(1)/U, where U is the volume of electrolyte in the chamber and U(1) is the volumetric rate of flow into and out of the chamber, and a unit for regulating the volumetric exchange rate of axial flow and Taylor number Tc of vortex flow in the electrolyte. In the fuel reformer, revolutions per minute (RPM) is Omega / pi and coordinates of d and RPM are within a zone of operable parameters. The first surface layer is reactive with the fuel to create hydrogen. The unit for extracting unwanted contaminants from the fuel includes the unit for creating Taylor-vortex flows in fuel. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a chemical cell; and    (2) a process for operating a chemical cell to produce hydrogen.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a Taylor-vortex flows-electrochemical fuel cell incorporating a direct internal reformer for production of hydrogen for use by the fuel cell.    Electrochemical cell (10)    Fuel cell (12)    Fuel reformer (14)    First surface layer (34')    Second surface layer. (36')