Method of catalyst reduction in a hydrogen plant

A method of starting up an integrated hydrogen or syngas plant including a reactor having a catalyst therein, comprising:

• a first step of providing a catalyst reduction fluid selected from methanol, ammonia, and urea, and introducing the catalyst reduction fluid into a steam stream through liquid spray quench nozzles;
• introducing the mixture of catalyst reduction fluid and steam stream and reducing a catalyst disposed within the reactor, until the catalyst is reduced;
• and
• thereafter in a separate second step of admitting a reactor feedstock and steam stream into the reactor where reforming is carried out and wherein liquid water is introduced through the liquid spray quench nozzles utilized for introducing the mixture of catalyst reduction fluid into the steam stream in the first step as a means of controlling the temperature of a combined reactant feedstock and steam stream.