Application of water to particulate matter in a gas stream to facilitate separation of the same

An apparatus for applying water to particulate matter in a gas stream, said apparatus having a vertically extending conduit and water distribution means for introducing water into said conduit in which the improvement comprises:

• the inlet to said conduit being located above the outlet from said conduit,
• said conduit including a section located between said inlet and said outlet within which water is introduced into said gas stream by said water distribution means,
• said section of said conduit has an elongated shape having ends and includes an internal divider having an inverted V-shaped cross-sectional configuration extending between the ends of said section and dividing said section into two spaced parallel portions having an elongated narrow, slot-like configuration, each of said portions having opposed sides,
• said water distribution means including horizontally extending tray means for holding water located adjacent to said section and opening means leading from said tray means into the interior of said section through which water can flow,
• the portions of said section adjacent to said opening means are of a narrow, slot-like configuration and have opposed sides, and
• said opening means comprise a series of openings located adjacent to one another and extending in a horizontal path along the length of said portions, said opening means and said section being shaped so that substantially all of a gas stream flowing through said conduit is contacted by water from within said tray means,
• said conduit is shaped so as to create turbulent flow within said gas stream generally within said section, such turbulent flow serving to promote the wetting of particulate matter flowing through said conduit.