Method and device for producing direct reduced metal

A method for producing direct reduced metal material, comprising the steps:

• a) charging metal material to be reduced into a first furnace space of a first furnace;
• b) evacuating an existing atmosphere from the first furnace space so as to achieve an underpressure inside the first furnace space;
• c) providing, in a main heating step, heat and first hydrogen gas to the first furnace space, so that heated first 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 first hydrogen gas in step c is provided without recirculation of the first hydrogen gas, and
• wherein the method further comprises a subsequently performed charged material cooling step, in which thermal energy from the charged material is absorbed by the first hydrogen gas, and in which thermal energy, by heat exchange, is transferred from the first hydrogen gas to second hydrogen gas to be used in a second furnace for producing direct reduced metal material.