Reformer for fuel cell system

A reformer for reforming fuel for a fuel cell comprising a reformer housing defining an internal cavity, an elongated catalyst bed contained within said reformer housing cavity and extending from a first position therein to a second position therein spaced from said first position, a fuel inlet in said reformer housing at one end of said catalyst bed and at said first position for admitting fuel to be reformed thereto into contact with said catalyst bed and the fuel then passing along the length of said catalyst bed to a reformed fuel outlet in said reformer housing at the other end of said catalyst bed and at said second position for discharging reformed fuel therefrom, said fuel inlet, said reformed fuel outlet, said catalyst bed and said reformer housing being configured and arranged so that fuel to be reformed must flow completely along said catalyst bed from said fuel inlet before discharge from said reformed fuel outlet, and means for heating said catalyst bed to a higher level adjacent said fuel inlet than adjacent said reformed fuel outlet so that said one end of said catalyst bed will be at a higher temperature than said other end of said catalyst bed to limit the reaction temperature within said bed wherein the catalyst bed has a spiral configuration and the reformer housing cavity is cylindrical, the fuel inlet being at the end of the catalyst bed closest to the center of the cavity and the reformed fuel outlet being at the end of the catalyst bed closest to the periphery of said cavity.