Abstract: A reactor cools humidifies gases produced by combustion or the like. The reactor has a chamber with an inlet at a lower end to receive a flow of gas, and an outlet at a upper end. The gas flows in a generally upward direction through the reactor. The horizontal cross-section of the chamber increases with height and the flow velocity of the gas decreases as it flows upwardly. The reactor includes at least one device for injecting water droplets into the upper region of the chamber, counter to the gas flow. As the water droplets fall, they gradually evaporate and lose mass and encounter a counterflow of increasingly higher velocity and temperature until the force of the upwardly flowing gas is sufficient to reverse their flow and carry them in an upward direction.

Abstract: A reactor cools humidifies gases produced by combustion or the like. The reactor has a chamber with an inlet at a lower end to receive a flow of gas, and an outlet at a upper end. The gas flows in a generally upward direction through the reactor. The horizontal cross-section of the chamber increases with height and the flow velocity of the gas decreases as it flows upwardly. The reactor includes at least one device for injecting water droplets into the upper region of the chamber, counter to the gas flow. As the water droplets fall, they gradually evaporate and lose mass and encounter a counterflow of increasingly higher velocity and temperature until the force of the upwardly flowing gas is sufficient to reverse their flow and carry them in an upward direction.