A flow control apparatus for controlling fluid flow from a pulse jet nozzle into a filter cartridge, the flow control apparatus comprising: a flow control device formed as a hollow body comprising a fluid flow inlet and a fluid flow outlet ; wherein the flow control device is configured to split fluid flowing toward the filter cartridge into at least two distinct flow streams, a first distinct flow stream of the at least two distinct flow streams being a flow stream which flows into the hollow body through the fluid flow inlet and out of the hollow body through the fluid flow outlet, and a second distinct flow stream of the at least two distinct flow streams being a flow stream which does not flow into the hollow body through the fluid flow inlet and out of the hollow body through the fluid flow outlet, wherein the fluid flow outlet has a larger area than the fluid flow inlet, wherein the fluid inlet is disposed at an upstream end of the hollow body in the direction of fluid flow, the flow control apparatus further comprises a housing disposed around the flow control device and connected to the flow control device by internal first struts , wherein the housing is hollow with a narrower open upstream end and a wider open downstream end, and comprises at least one aspirator hole arranged to draw in fluid from the area surrounding the housing via an aspiration effect resulting from a flow of fluid through the housing, thereby to supply aspirated fluid to an interior of the housing, and wherein the flow control apparatus further comprises external second struts with gaps therebetween extending from the housing upstream of the fluid flow inlet for connecting the flow control apparatus to the pulse jet nozzle such that the fluid flow inlet of the flow control device is separated from, directed toward and arranged over an outlet of the pulse jet nozzle. a flow control device formed as a hollow body comprising a fluid flow inlet and a fluid flow outlet ; wherein the flow control device is configured to split fluid flowing toward the filter cartridge into at least two distinct flow streams, a first distinct flow stream of the at least two distinct flow streams being a flow stream which flows into the hollow body through the fluid flow inlet and out of the hollow body through the fluid flow outlet, and a second distinct flow stream of the at least two distinct flow streams being a flow stream which does not flow into the hollow body through the fluid flow inlet and out of the hollow body through the fluid flow outlet, wherein the fluid flow outlet has a larger area than the fluid flow inlet, wherein the fluid inlet is disposed at an upstream end of the hollow body in the direction of fluid flow, the flow control apparatus further comprises a housing disposed around the flow control device and connected to the flow control device by internal first struts , wherein the housing is hollow with a narrower open upstream end and a wider open downstream end, and comprises at least one aspirator hole arranged to draw in fluid from the area surrounding the housing via an aspiration effect resulting from a flow of fluid through the housing, thereby to supply aspirated fluid to an interior of the housing, and wherein the flow control apparatus further comprises external second struts with gaps therebetween extending from the housing upstream of the fluid flow inlet for connecting the flow control apparatus to the pulse jet nozzle such that the fluid flow inlet of the flow control device is separated from, directed toward and arranged over an outlet of the pulse jet nozzle. <EOS>