The hydrodynamics and recirculating flow characteristics of a reactor geometry consisting of a sudden expansion followed by a tapered contraction have been studied using the computational fluid dynamics package CFX-F3D. The results provide important information for the design and optimization of such reactor configurations. The pressure difference across the reactor can be well predicted based on a simple theory derived from first principles. The value of Delta P-R is strongly dependent on both the Reynolds number and inlet expansion ratio, and reaches a maximum at a chamber exit angle of beta(E) = 60 degrees. The corresponding values of the energy dissipation rate indicate that this parameter is between 1.5 and 2 times higher for the reactor inlet compared to the exit. Specific energy dissipation rates of up to 1000-kW kg(-1) are typical in the entrance region. The length of the recirculation zone (L-RE/H similar to 7), maximum backflow velocity (U-B(MAX)/U-N similar to 0.12), position of the recirculation centre [L(P-B(MAX))/L-RE similar to 0.533 and position of the wall pressure minimum [L(P-W(MIN))/L-RE similar to 0.35] all remain approximately constant over a wide range of reactor geometries and operating conditions. For chamber lengths less than the reattachment length in an infinite chamber, the size of the recirculation zone adjusts to fill the entire chamber volume available. As the inlet expansion ratio is increased, the reattachment length (L-RE/H) passes through a slight maximum at a ratio value of D-N/D-C = 0.4, corresponding to the point at which the potential core extends the entire length of the recirculation zone. An increase in the maximum back flow velocity, a decrease in the minimum wall pressure and an upstream movement of the recirculation centre with increasing expansion ratio are also observed. The centreline velocity profiles and jet radii results in the recirculation zone at the reactor entrance show that the confined jet can be modelled as a free jet over an initial section of the recirculation where there appears to be little direct interaction between the downstream wall and the shear layer.