Reduction furnace operation method and reduced iron production method

Abstract

Provided is a reduced iron production method with which a further reduction in CO2 emission is rendered possible. A reducing gas is made to have an H2 concentration of 90 vol% or higher. Iron oxide in a reduction furnace is made to have such a particle diameter distribution along the furnace-radial direction that the average particle diameter of the iron oxide located at the center of the reduction furnace is larger than the average particle diameter of the iron oxide located by the wall part of the reduction furnace.