The device according to the invention for carrying out chemical and/or physical reactions between a solid material and a gas, in particular for the preheating, cooling and/or calcining of fine-grain materials, essentially comprises at least one helical and/or spiral conduit, in which the gas-solid material suspension is separated by centrifugal forces into a solid material flow and a gas flow, and, connected to the end of the helical and/or spiral conduit, at least one separation region, to which a solid material conduit for discharging the solid material flow and a gas conduit for discharging the gas flow are connected. The separation region is here formed by a lower part of the gas conduit, the separation region in the region of the junction of the helical and/or spiral conduit and the part of the gas conduit above and adjoining it having the same diameter. To form a swirling flow, the helical and/or spiral conduit opens out tangentially and at an angle to the horizontal of at least 30° into the separation region.