A fuel processing system for heavier sulfur-laden hydrocarbon fuels, such as JP-8 and diesel fuels, having a fuel processor in which the sulfur-laden hydrocarbon fuels are reformed using steam reforming, an integrated desulfurization/methanation unit, and a solid oxide fuel cell. The heart of the system is the desulfurization/methanation unit which has a first reactor vessel and a second reactor vessel disposed within the first reactor vessel, forming an enclosed reaction space between the first reactor vessel and the second reactor vessel. A methanation catalyst is provided in the enclosed reaction space or the second reactor vessel. A desulfurization material is provided in the other of the enclosed reaction space and the second reactor vessel. During the normal course of operation, the desulfurization material will reach a saturation point at which it is no longer able to adsorb the sulfur-containing compounds. Contrary to conventional systems in which a fuel containing sulfur is desulfurized prior to methanation in two separate desulfurizer and methanation vessels and the spent desulfurization material is regenerated, the first and second reactor vessels of this invention are separable such that the reactor vessel containing the spent desulfurization material simply can be removed and replaced with a reactor vessel containing fresh desulfurization material.
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