Plants
Hydroform M: Steam
Reforming of Methanol
Mahler AGS Hydroform-M plants generate high-purity hydrogen from methanol and water via compact steam reforming with downstream purification based on PSA technology—reliable, efficient and ideal for distributed supply or point-of-use applications.
COMPACT HYDROGEN GENERATION FROM METHANOL
Proven methanol steam reforming with integrated PSA
Hydroform-M converts a mixture of methanol and demineralized water into a hydrogen-rich synthesis gas at moderate reforming temperatures. After shift conversion, an integrated multibed PSA removes CO, CO₂, CH₄ and N₂ to deliver a continuous stream of ultra-pure hydrogen. The system is fully automatic, designed for unattended operation and quick start-up, and can be tuned to your required flow, purity and pressure.
Plant data:
| Feedstock: | natural gas, LPG, napththa |
| Hydrogen capacity: | 200 to 5.000 Nm³/h |
| Purity: | up to 99,9999 vol.-% |
| Pressure: | 10 – 30 bar(abs) |
Benefits
Why Hydroform M?
Frequently asked questions
Questions about our Hydroform M plants
How does Hydroform M differ from Hydroform C?
Both types of plants are used to produce high-purity hydrogen but differ mainly in their feedstocks. While the Hydroform C plant uses natural gas, the Hydroform M plant uses methanol as hydrogen source for the reforming process. These different feedstocks result in different process and operating parameters, which in turn leads to different requirements for all plant equipment.
What capacity range does the Hydroform M plant cover?
Hydroform M is designed for hydrogen production capacities from 200 to 5,000 Nm³/h per unit.
What hydrogen purity do Mahler AGS plants deliver and what is it used for?
Mahler AGS plants produce hydrogen with an ultra-high purity of up to 99.9999 vol.%. This quality is required worldwide in numerous industrial sectors where even the slightest impurities can disrupt processes or impair products. Examples include electronics manufacturing (e.g. semiconductors), the glass industry (preventing streaks and defects), the food and pharmaceutical industries (ensuring high product safety), as well as chemical synthesis processes where long catalyst life and high activity are essential.
Lower purity levels can also be supplied upon request to meet specific customer requirements.
How do Mahler plants manage to produce hydrogen with such high purity?
For hydrogen of 5.0 quality (99,999%) and higher, a precisely coordinated interplay of feed preparation, material conversion, and post-treatment is essential. The critical factor, however, lies in product purification. The downstream Hydroswing plants from Mahler AGS are fully automated pressure swing units, whose efficiency is based on the targeted selection and combination of different filling materials – the basis for high-quality product gas. It is only through Mahler AGS’s decades of operating experience that the process parameters and operating conditions can be optimally adjusted to reliably produce hydrogen of the highest purity.
Why is the reactor heated with thermal oil?
The HYDROFORM-M uses a thermal oil system to maintain highly stable process temperatures. This design enables quick restarts after unplanned shutdowns, such as power failures, and protects the sensitive catalyst from overheating - ensuring consistent performance and long service life.
How energy-efficient is the process design?
HYDROFORM-M maximizes energy efficiency through advanced heat integration. Hot process streams are used to preheat the feed gas, while off-gas from the hydrogen purification unit can be used as an energy source to maintain the thermal oil temperature. This reduces fuel consumption and improves overall plant efficiency.
Applications for our Hydroform M Plants
Typical applications for our Hydroform M plants
Plan your Hydroform-M Hydrogen Plant with MAHLER
Get expert support for sizing and configuring your methanol reforming and PSA system—matched to your feed, purity and pressure targets.
Information brochure
Our Process
End-to-end expertise for your gas system
With MAHLER, you don’t just get a gas plant – you get a full-service partnership. Our end-to-end approach includes professional project management, tailored engineering, high-quality in-house manufacturing, and long-term support. Each project follows a structured process – designed to deliver maximum reliability, efficiency, and value.
01
Planning & Engineering
We analyze your requirements and design the ideal system – tailored, efficient, and ready to scale.
02
Technology & Plants
We develop and produce your plant using advanced MAHLER gas technologies and in-house manufacturing expertise.
03
Delivery & Commissioning
From procurement to on-site installation – everything is coordinated and delivered from a single source.
04
Service & Optimization
We support you with maintenance, spare parts, and continuous optimization to keep your process efficient long-term.
Contact
Bring ultra-pure hydrogen on site with Hydroform-M
Our experts are ready to plan and configure your methanol reforming and PSA solution—aligned with your targets for capacity, purity and pressure and seamlessly integrated into your process.