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 furnace space, onto a gas-permeable floor;
• b) providing heat and hydrogen gas into the furnace space, so that heated hydrogen gas heats the charged metal material to a temperature high enough so that metal oxides present in the charged metal material are reduced, in turn causing water vapour to be formed;
• and
• c) condensing and collecting the water vapour formed in step b in a condenser;
• wherein the method further comprises an initial step of either evacuating an existing atmosphere from a closed loop comprising the furnace space to achieve a lower pressure than atmospheric pressure in the closed loop, or ventilating the closed loop by an inert gas,
• wherein the only gaseous matter provided into the closed loop during a main reduction step is hydrogen gas or a mixture of hydrogen gas and an inert gas,
• wherein the hydrogen gas is circulated in the closed loop upwards through said floor, upwards through the charged metal material, and further via said condenser and a gas forced circulation device,
• wherein no hydrogen gas is evacuated from the closed loop during the main reduction step until a desired reduction has been completed of the metal material, and
• wherein the method further comprises the step:
• d) supplying additional hydrogen gas to achieve and/or maintain a predetermined pressure in said furnace space.