Method and apparatus for simultaneous heat and mass transfer

Apparatus for changing at least one selected property of two wetting substances, said apparatus comprising:

• a first chamber containing a plurality of sectors;
• first wetting means for segmentedly wetting substantially all of said sectors with a first substance;
• a second chamber containing a second plurality of sectors;
• second wetting means for segmentedly wetting substantially all of said sectors of said second chamber with a second substance;
• gas means for controlling a flow of gas through said segmentedly wetted chamber, wherein said gas flow in said first chamber and said second chamber is counter-current;
• a heat exchanger thermally coupling a first substance and a second substance from each sector said heat exchanger including;
• a plurality of heat transferring regions for liquid to liquid heat transfer, and
• transport means for bringing a first substance from a first chamber sector into a selected heat transferring region and returning said first substance in said selected heat transferring region to said first chamber, said transport means for bringing a second substance from a second chamber section into said selected heat transferring region and returning said second substance in said selected heat transferring region to said second chamber;
• migration means for providing a migratory movement for said first substance between adjacent sectors in at least one of said first chamber and said heat exchanger;
• temperature means for changing a temperature of said gas during a flow between said first and second chambers, said changing of temperature resulting in transfer of heat between said first and second chambers through said heat exchanger between said first substance and said second substance wherein a temperature of said first substance and a temperature of said second substance are respectively below a boiling temperature for each substance during substance wetting, wherein interaction in said sectors between said substances and said gas causes a change in at least one selected property of said first and second substances, said gas approaching a vapor-liquid equilibrium with said substances for each of said wetted sectors, wherein interaction by said first substance and said migratory movement causes said selected property of said first substance of a sector to influence said selected property of said first substance in an adjacent sector.