In this work, a bi dimensional CFD simulation investigates a fuel processor for hydrogen production from natural gas or biogas composed by a steam methane reformer coupled with a palladium based hydrogen permeable membrane the so called 'membrane reformer (MREF) The heat required for the endothermic reforming reaction taking place on the MREF is supplied by a stream of hot gas coming from an external source typically represented by a combustor burning the unconverted fuel and the unpermeated hydrogen The resulting fuel processor arrangement which has already been simulated by the point of view of energy and mass balances may achieve a very high efficiency and is particularly suited for integration with fuel cells The interest on this configuration relies on the possibility to implement this technology within a PEMFC based micro cogenerator (also micro Combined Heat and Power or m CHP) with a net electrical power output in a range of 1-2 kW In particular the work focuses on the temperature profiles along the membrane which should be kept as close as possible to 600 degrees C to favourite permeation and avoid any damages and examines the advantages of hot gas on co current direction vs counter current with respect to the reformer flux direction (C) 2010 Professor T Nejat Veziroglu Published by Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved