a slightly greater diameter than that of sleeve 12 as will be hereinafter described in greater detail sleeve 12 and flow director 14 of nozzle 10 may be supported on a plenum or manifold see fig7 along with a plurality of other like nozzles to provide an array of nozzles for conditioning web 28 across its width as the web moves past the array of nozzles moistened gas 24 preferably air containing a fine water mist is directed along annular space 20 between sleeve 12 and rod 18 so that it exits the nozzle 10 through sleeve open end 22 moisture may be added to the gas by a variety of atomization techniques well known to those of ordinary skill at the prevailing gas velocities in the annular space 20 the shear rate provided by the flowing gas stream will be sufficient to break liquid contained in the air stream into fine droplets resulting in a turbulent mist emanating radially outwardly from the nozzle 10 as indicated by arrows 26 the shape of head 16 in conjunction with its spacing dimension and arrangement relative to open end 22 of sleeve 12 creates a turbulent flow regime which has the effect of causing flows of gas both toward the web surface 28 as indicated by flow arrows 31 and away from the surface of the adjacent web 28 as indicated by flow arrows 30 near the center of the nozzle 10 while providing a cushion of gas which limits contact between the web 28 and the head 16 with a minimum of fluttering or other undesired movement of the web 28 in a direction normal to its surface the relative positions of flow director.