NOVELTY - A method of forming synthesis gas involves receiving pre-heated mixture of reactants, comprising a feedstock fuel and an oxidant, into a plasma zone; ionizing the reactants by applying an electrical potential; transferring heat to the ionized reactants through a first thermally conductive surface surrounding the plasma zone; receiving the ionized reactants into a reaction zone; chemically transforming the ionized reactants into synthesis gas; and transferring heat to the reaction zone through a second thermally conductive surface surrounding the reaction zone.    USE - For forming synthesis gas (claimed) for reforming liquid fuels for use in fuel cell systems.    ADVANTAGE - The method provides an improved system for generating reformate from various fuels that improves the Faradaic efficiency of fuel cells, such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), molten-carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs), or phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs). The method is capable of reforming fuels with high sulfur content (e.g. 10000 ppm) without requiring sulfur pre-removal, while avoiding problems such as 'poisoning' the catalyst or carbon buildup. The method utilizes the heat generated by fuel cells such as SOFCs and MCFCs to improve the overall efficiency of fuel reformation and electricity production.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A method of forming synthesis gas involves receiving a pre-heated mixture of reactants, comprising a feedstock fuel and an oxidant, into a plasma zone; ionizing the reactants in the plasma zone by applying an electrical potential; transferring heat to the ionized reactants through a first thermally conductive surface surrounding the plasma zone; receiving the ionized reactants into a reaction zone; chemically transforming the ionized reactants in the reaction zone into synthesis gas comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and transferring heat to the reaction zone through a second thermally conductive surface surrounding the reaction zone, where the second thermally conductive surface and the first thermally conductive surface are both directly exposed to a heat source.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows high-level block diagram for synthesis gas production.