Method and device for producing direct reduced metal

A system for producing direct reduced metal material, comprising

• a furnace space, arranged to receive and accommodate metal material to be reduced;
• a heat and gas provision means arranged to provide heat, inert gas and reducing gas to the furnace space;
• a control device arranged to control the heat and gas provision means to provide heat and an inert gas into the furnace space, whereby heated inert gas fills the furnace space and heats the charged metal material to a first temperature;
• to provide a reducing gas to the furnace space;
• to provide heat to the furnace space so as to maintain a second temperature in the charged metal material high enough so that metal oxides present in the charged metal material are reduced, in turn causing water vapour to be formed;
• and to evacuate remaining reducing gas from the furnace space after the charged metal material has been reduced,
• wherein the system comprises a condenser arranged to condense and collect formed water vapour,
• wherein the reducing gas has a lower density than the inert gas at the same pressure, and wherein the control device is arranged to control the heat and gas provision means to provide the reducing gas while the inert gas is still present in the furnace space, whereby the provided reducing gas as a result pushes the inert gas downwards, until the charged metal material is entirely contained in reducing gas.