Apparatuses and methods for hydrogen production

An oxy-fuel heated, hydrogen production system comprising:

• a reforming reactor arranged to receive a stream comprising a hydrocarbon and water through a first inlet and separately receive a stream of a heating fluid through a second inlet, the reactor including a catalyst component effective for catalyzing a reaction between the hydrocarbon and the water to form a synthesis gas stream comprising at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and the reactor including a synthesis gas outlet arranged for exit of the synthesis gas stream from the reforming reactor;
• an oxy-fuel combustor arranged to receive a fuel, an oxidant, and a stream comprising predominately carbon dioxide and comprising a combustor outlet for exit of a combustion product stream from the oxy-fuel combustor, the oxy-fuel combustor being configured to combust at least a portion of the fuel with oxygen from the oxidant to form carbon dioxide and water, which is combined with the stream comprising predominately carbon dioxide to form the combustion product stream;
• a hydrogen isolation unit arranged to receive at least a portion of the synthesis gas stream, and provide at least part of the hydrogen from the synthesis gas stream as a substantially pure hydrogen product stream;
• and
• a purification unit arranged to receive at least a portion of the combustion product stream and output a stream of substantially pure carbon dioxide, the purification unit also being arranged to deliver at least a portion of the substantially pure carbon dioxide as the stream comprising predominately carbon dioxide;
• wherein the reforming reactor and the oxy-fuel combustor are functionally configured so that at least part of the combustion product stream is provided through the second inlet of the reforming reactor as the stream of the heating fluid.