NOVELTY - Fuel reformation involves using a fuel reformer (101) consisting of a reaction zone configured for exothermic partial oxidation to generate reformates, and a heat exchanger configured to expel the reformates through a reformate path and receive fuel-rich reactants through a fuel path. Reformates are generated by exothermic partial oxidation of the fuel-rich reactants within the reaction zone. The fuel-rich reactants are heated with the heat exchanger by heat from the reformates. The process is energetically self-sustained and operates without a catalyst.    USE - Fuel reformation in fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - The method permits higher energy density, easier transportation, and intermittent or continuous operation utilizing existing supply infrastructures, increases yields of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in syngas without catalysts, reduces or eliminates coking and/or catalyst degradation, has longer operational life, operates without noble-metal-based catalysts, such as rhodium, is less complicated, operates without sub-systems (for e.g., pre-desulfurization, water management, and complicated control sub-systems), is portable and energetically self-sufficient, operates without pure oxygen streams, operates with fuel-rich combustion products, and permits lower pressure drops.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Fuel reformation involves using a fuel reformer consisting of a reaction zone configured for exothermic partial oxidation to generate reformates, and a heat exchanger extending from the reaction zone, and configured to expel the reformates through a reformate path and receive fuel-rich reactants through a fuel path. Reformates are generated by exothermic partial oxidation of the fuel-rich reactants within the reaction zone. The fuel-rich reactants are heated with the heat exchanger by heat from the reformates in the reformate path. The process is energetically self-sustained and operates without a catalyst. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for fuel reforming system.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic view of the fuel reformer with a toroidal arrangement.    Fuel reformer (101)