Patent ID: 8317390

Claim:
An apparatus for mixing two gas streams of different temperatures or different compositions or both, with each other, wherein at least one of the streams contains particles, the apparatus comprising: a main duct ( 12 ) for carrying a first gas stream in a first direction ( 14 ); a plurality of duct assemblies ( 16 ) extending in the main duct ( 12 ), generally transversely to the first direction ( 14 ), each duct assembly ( 16 ) have a plurality of inlets ( 18 ) for each receiving part of a second gas stream moving in a second direction ( 20 ) that is generally transverse to the first direction ( 14 ), each duct assembly ( 16 ) also have a plurality of outlets ( 22 ) for discharging a part of the second gas stream in a direction that is generally parallel to the first direction ( 14 ), each duct assembly ( 16 ) comprising a plurality of secondary ducts ( 24 , 26 , 28 ) that have mutually different lengths from one inlet ( 18 ) to one outlet ( 22 ) for each respective secondary duct ( 24 , 26 , 28 ), the outlets ( 22 ) of the secondary ducts ( 24 , 26 , 28 ) being spaced from each other across the main duct ( 12 ) for distributing the parts of the second gas stream into the first gas stream; and a gas flow deflector ( 30 ) connected to each duct assembly ( 16 ) for temporarily deflecting the first gas stream from the first direction ( 14 ) before it is combined with each part of the second gas stream ( 20 ) downstream of each outlet ( 22 ) for mixing the first and second gas streams with each other as the first gas stream ( 14 ) passes the plurality of duct assemblies ( 16 ) in the main duct ( 12 ).