TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: The process further comprises withdrawing a portion of the purified hydrogen stream as hydrogen product, combusting in the absence of added fuel, subjecting the combustion gas to indirect heat exchange with a liquid water-containing stream to generate steam, which is cycled to the reformer, and exhausting the cooled combustion gas. The purification unit operation provides a purified hydrogen stream and a reject stream comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and the reject stream is combusted to provide combustion gas which is used to provide heat for reforming. The purification unit operation may comprise a membrane separation where the purified hydrogen stream is the permeate and the reject stream is the retentate. The purification unit operation may comprise a pressure swing adsorption and the reject stream is a purge stream. The combustion gas heats by indirect heat exchange at least the steam-containing stream from the indirect heat exchange to 500-750degreesC. A portion of the air for the feed is mixed with the steam-containing stream prior to the indirect heat exchange with the combustion gas. The combustion gas heats by indirect heat exchange a liquid water-containing stream to generate steam for supplying to the reforming zone, and at least 90 percent of the steam supplied to the reformer is produced by the indirect heat exchange with the reforming effluent and with the combustion gas. The step of reforming effluent is cooled to 250-400degreesC by a first indirect heat exchange with a stream comprising liquid water, where steam is generated and then further cooled in a second indirect heat exchange with a stream comprising liquid water where steam is generated. A portion of the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock for the feed is mixed with the steam-containing stream prior to the indirect heat exchange with the combustion gas. Preferred Parameters: The steam to carbon ratio is 4.5:1 to 6.5:1. The Net Hydrogen Efficiency is greater than 50 percent.