a novel apparatus and method is disclosed for a plasmatron fuel converter that efficiently uses electrical energy to produce hydrogen rich gas . the plasmatron has multiple decoupled gas flow apertures or channels for performing multiple functions including fuel atomization , wall protection , plasma shaping , and downstream mixing . in one aspect , the invention is a plasmatron fuel converter comprising a first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by an electrical insulator and disposed to create a gap with respect to the first electrode so as to form a discharge region adapted to receive a reactive mixture . a power supply is connected to the first and second electrodes and adapted to provide voltage and current sufficient to generate a plasma discharge within the discharge region . fluid flows are established in the vicinity of the plasma discharge region by multiple decoupled flow establishing means .