Coal-based H

2

generation has abruptly increased in recent years. The PSA-VPSA-SC process is the matured and standard framework for H

2

purification and CO

2

capture in many existing plants

including normal and vacuum pressure swing adsorption units in series (PSA-VPSA)

and shallow condensation unit (SC). However

this standard process is frequently subjected to low H

2

recovery ratio and high purification cost. In this work

H

2

-selective and CO

2

-selective membrane units

i.e.

HM and CO

2

M

are attempted to support the standard process and ameliorate constraints. In the beginning

HM unit is arranged after VPSA to enhance H

2

recovery from the decarbonized stream

i.e.

the PSA-VPSA-SC/HM process. As a result

H

2

recovery ratio can be enhanced significantly from 83% to 98%. In the following

VPSA is replaced with CO

2

M unit to reduce investment and operation cost

i.e.

the PSA-CO

2

M-SC/HM process. Accordingly

the specific purification cost is diminished from 33.46 to 32.02 USD·(10

3

m

3

H

2

)

-1

saved by 4.3

%

meanwhile the construction cost is falling back and just a little higher than that for the standard process. In the end

another CO

2

M unit is launched before PSA

i.e.

the CO

2

M-PSA-CO

2

M-SC/HM process

which could unbundle CO

2

enrichment partially from H

2

purification

and then save more investment and operation cost. In comparison with the standard process

this ultimate retrofitted process can be superior in all the three crucial indices

i.e.

recovery ratio

investment

and specific purification cost. On the whole

coal-based H

2

generation can be ameliorated significantly through high efficient H

2

-selective and CO

2

-selective membrane units.