It was difficult to acquire a good CO cleanup efficiency in a hydrogen
refining apparatus, for instance, when the start-up and stop operations
are frequently repeated.A hydrogen refining apparatus, including a
shifter having a shifting catalyst body containing noble metals and metal
oxides, and a reforming section for supplying hydrogen gas containing
carbon monoxide to the shifter, (1) the temperature of an upstream side
of the shifting catalyst body relative to the hydrogen gas flow being
substantially between 300.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. and (2) the
temperature of a downstream side of the shifting catalyst body relative
to the hydrogen gas flow being substantially at 300.degree. C. or less.