Method and device for producing direct reduced metal

A method for batchwise production of direct reduced metal material in a furnace that is part of a closed system, the furnace including a heated furnace space, the method comprising the steps:

• a) charging metal material to be reduced into the furnace space;
• b) evacuating an existing atmosphere from the furnace space so as to achieve an underpressure inside the furnace space;
• c) providing, in a main heating step, heat and hydrogen gas to the furnace space, so that heated hydrogen gas heats the charged metal material and reduces metal oxides present in the metal material, in turn causing water vapor to be formed;
• and
• d) condensing and collecting the water vapor formed in step c in a condenser below the charged metal material;
• wherein the hydrogen gas in step c is provided without recirculation of the hydrogen gas and without removing the hydrogen gas from the furnace during the reduction of the charged metal material, and
• wherein the method further comprises a subsequently performed step of removing the reduced metal material from the furnace space, and at least one of storing or transporting the reduced metal material under an inert atmosphere.