Thermodynamic studies were carried out to show that the heat of the autothermal reaction obtained by coupling the endothermic steam reforming process with the exothermic partial oxidation of methane is sufficient to bring the membrane to the temperature required for hydrogen permeation. From the thermodynamic calculation, the autothermal reaction can be optimized for maximizing the hydrogen production by decreasing the O/M (oxygen to methane) ratio and increasing the S/ M (steam to methane) ratio.

Keywords: autothermal reaction, hydrogen separation.