AbstractA simple design of an adiabatic reactor for the production of hydrogen from methanol without external heating has been explored. Heat and steam are generated by oxidising part of the methanol and are removed in the process of reforming methanol to hydrogen. The reactor design emphasises the degree of control that can be achieved in a two‐bed system by controlling the air to methanol and water to methanol ratios in the feed. Predictions of the model are compared with experimental testing to allow optimisation of the process. Up to 75% of methanol can be converted to hydroge