Abstract: A fuel reforming system includes an inlet device for a reactor having a housing defining a frustoconical interior region having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A tube mixer having a helical divider may be optionally employed to transfer fluid into the inlet opening. A retention member is placed at each of the openings and a plurality of particles is contained within the frustoconical interior region between the retention members. An insulator placed between the outlet opening and the catalyst reaction surface minimizes temperature non-uniformities over the catalyst surface area, which preserves the catalyst contained within the reaction surface and prevents premature onset of the reaction prior to contact of a reactant mixture with the reaction surface. As a reactant fluid material passes through the inlet device it forms a homogenous reactant fluid material which then flows onto a catalytic reaction surface to form a reformate.