Reduction gas extraction from saturated top gas

A process for reducing metal oxides to metallized material by contact with hot reduction gas, thereby producing a top gas, comprising:

• dry dedusting the top gas;
• guiding a first portion of the dry-dedusted top gas intended for preparation of a crude gas mixture in a bypass past a saturator;
• adjusting a temperature of saturation water, by mixing cold water with hot water having a higher temperature than the cold water, to a target value;
• adjusting a water vapor content of a second portion of the dry-dedusted top gas intended for preparation of the crude gas mixture in the saturator in countercurrent with the saturation water;
• combining subsequently the first portion of the dry-dedusted top gas and the second portion of the dry-dedusted top gas to form a third portion of the dry-dedusted top gas;
• and
• catalytic reforming of the crude gas mixture to obtain the reduction gas, the crude gas mixture being formed at least based on gaseous hydrocarbons and at least the third portion of the dry-dedusted top gas;
• wherein a second target value for the water vapor content of the second portion of the dry-dedusted top gas is 10-20% by volume.