Patent ID: 8167278

Claim:
An angled diffuser for use within a direct contact steam injection heater assembly, the assembly comprising a liquid chamber, the liquid chamber comprising a fluid inlet, a combined fluid and steam outlet, and a steam inlet aperture disposed between the fluid inlet and the combined fluid and steam outlet, the liquid chamber defining an axial linear liquid flow path through the liquid chamber, the diffuser comprising: a diffuser body, the diffuser body comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the diffuser body further comprising an axial linear position; a plurality of diffusion holes defined within the distal end of the diffuser body; a modulating plug that is movable within the diffuser body, the modulating plug comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a sealing ring disposed at the distal end of the modulating plug; an actuator for effecting axial linear movement of the modulating plug within the diffuser; a modulating stem, the modulating stem being disposed between and attached to the proximal end of the modulating plug and the actuator; and means for attaching the diffuser body to the steam inlet aperture of the liquid chamber; wherein the axial linear position of the diffuser body is presented at an angle relative to the axial linear liquid flow path of the liquid chamber and the angle ranges between 90° and 50°.