NOVELTY - The process comprises mixing air stream/water stream with an effluent to reduce the temperature of the effluent that is obtained from a burner to 600-700 degrees C, where the temperature of the stream is 200 degrees C less than the combustion temperature inside the burner, supplying the mixture into a first heat exchanger to superheat the water vapor stream and/or hydrocarbon feedstock stream in gaseous form, where the superheated stream is injected directly into a reforming reactor as a fuel, where the mixture exits from the exchanger, and supplying the mixture into a second heat exchanger.    USE - The process is useful for producing thermally-integrated hydrogen by auto-thermal reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock e.g. ethanol (claimed), where the hydrogen is used as a raw material in chemical applications and as fuel in fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE - The process is capable of easily, effectively and economically producing the thermally-integrated hydrogen with high yield and high purity by auto-thermal reforming of the hydrocarbon feedstock.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The process comprises mixing air stream/water stream with an effluent to reduce the temperature of the effluent that is obtained from a burner to 600-700 degrees C, where the temperature of the stream is 200 degrees C less than the combustion temperature inside the burner, supplying the mixture into a first heat exchanger to superheat the water vapor stream and/or hydrocarbon feedstock stream in gaseous form, where the superheated stream is injected directly into a reforming reactor as a fuel, where the mixture exits from the exchanger, and supplying the mixture into a second heat exchanger to totally evaporate a stream of liquid water and/or hydrocarbon feedstock when the latter is liquid. The stream is mixed at the outlet of the burner with the effluent at ambient temperature. The evaporated air stream in the second heat exchanger is further superheated in the first exchanger. The air stream is mixed with the water stream between its evaporation in the second exchanger and between its superheating in the first exchanger. The reformate that is obtained from the reforming reactor is treated in a purification section to generate a pure hydrogen gas. The water contained in the hydrogen-rich gas that is obtained from the reforming reactor is eliminated using a condenser that is located in the purification section. The water collected in the condenser is recycled in the process, and is sent into the reforming reactor to be used as a reagent of the vapor-reforming reaction. A reactor is configured for converting carbon monoxide into water. A system is configured for the purification of hydrogen by adsorption. The residual gases that are discharged by the purification section are used as a fuel in the burner.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a schematic view of a process for producing hydrogen.    Auto-thermal reformer (40)    Water (45)    Heat exchangers (43, 48)    Water cooler (50)    Condenser (52)    Catalytic burner. (69)