A device for performing chemical and/or physical reactions between a solid material and a gas, especially for preheating, cooling and/or calcining fine-grained materials has at least three stages arranged one above the other, each stage comprising the following components: a. a gas-solids suspension duct for conducting a gas-solids suspension, b. means for separating the delivered solid material from the delivered gas, c. a solids duct for discharging the separated solid material, d. and a gas duct for discharging the separated gas, the gas duct of one stage merging into the gas-solids suspension duct of the next-higher stage and the solids duct of one stage joining the gas-solids suspension duct of the next lower stage. In addition, the junction of the solids duct and the gas-solids suspension duct of the third or a higher stage is provided below the highest point of the gas-solids suspension duct arranged two stages lower.