Mixing device having a plurality of mixing channels

1. A mixing device, comprising:

a chamber including a main body, an inlet, and a flow axis, the main body configured for containing a fluid circulating generally along the flow axis, the inlet configured to receive at least one fluid stream, and the inlet being oriented in a flow plane generally perpendicular to the flow axis;

at least three mixing channels that each receive portions of the at least one fluid stream from the inlet, the at least three mixing channels each oriented along the flow plane and each having an unequal distinct length configured to release the portions of the at least one fluid stream into the chamber at discrete time intervals,

wherein the at least three mixing channels each include a generally linear portion and an arcuate portion, the arcuate portions of the at least three mixing channels are positioned to be concentric with one another; and

a plurality of exits wherein one exit corresponds to each of the at least three mixing channels, each exit being located at a different distance from the inlet.

2. The mixing device of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate portion of each of the at least three mixing channels share a common center that is a horizontal axis of the chamber.

3. The mixing device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of exits terminates at a different angle measured with respect to the inlet.

4. The mixing device of claim 3 , wherein six mixing channels are provided, and wherein the plurality of exits are positioned at about 0°, 90°, 120°, 150°, 180°, and 210° with respect to the inlet.

5. The mixing device of claim 1 , comprising a flow strainer that is positioned within the chamber, and wherein the flow strainer is in fluid communication with the at least three mixing channels to receive the portions of the at least one fluid stream.

6. The mixing device of claim 1 , comprising an exhaust gas treatment catalyst block that is positioned within the chamber upstream of an outlet.

7. The mixing device of claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes a main body configured to contain a slow-moving fluid that circulates within the main body at a chamber velocity.

8. The mixing device of claim 7 , wherein the portions of the at least one fluid stream exit the at least three mixing channels at a mixing channel velocity, wherein the chamber velocity is less than the mixing channel velocity.

9. The mixing device of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is configured to receive multiple fluid streams.

10. The mixing device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of exits terminates at an angle greater than 180 degrees with respect to the inlet.

11. An exhaust gas treatment system having a mixing device, comprising:

a chamber including a main body, an inlet, an outlet, and a flow axis, the main body configured for containing a fluid circulating generally along the flow axis, inlet configured to receive multiple fluid streams, and being oriented in a flow plane generally perpendicular to the flow axis;

at least three mixing channels that each receive portions of the multiple fluid streams from the inlet, the at least three mixing channels each oriented along the flow plane and each having an unequal distinct length such that the portions of the multiple fluid streams are released into the chamber at discrete time intervals,

wherein the at least three mixing channels each include a generally linear portion and an arcuate portion, the arcuate portions of the at least three mixing channels are positioned to be concentric with one another;

a plurality of exits wherein one exit corresponds to each of the at least three mixing channels, each exit being located at a different distance from the inlet; and

an exhaust gas treatment catalyst block positioned within the chamber upstream of the outlet to receive the portions of the multiple fluid streams.

12. The mixing device of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of exits terminates at a different angle measured with respect to the inlet.

13. The mixing device of claim 12 , wherein six mixing channels are provided, and wherein the plurality of exits are positioned at about 0°, 90°, 120°, 150°, 180°, and 210° with respect to the inlet.

14. The mixing device of claim 11 , comprising a flow strainer that is positioned within the chamber, and wherein the flow strainer is in fluid communication with the at least three mixing channels to receive the portions of the multiple fluid streams.

15. The mixing device of claim 11 , wherein the chamber includes a main body configured to contain a slow-moving fluid that circulates within the main body at a chamber velocity.

16. The mixing device of claim 15 , wherein the portions of the multiple fluid streams exit the at least three mixing channels at a mixing channel velocity, wherein the chamber velocity is less than the mixing channel velocity.

17. The mixing device of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of exits terminates at an angle greater than 180 degrees with respect to the inlet.

18. A mixing device, comprising:

a chamber including a main body, an inlet, and a flow axis, the main body configured for containing a fluid circulating generally along the flow axis, the inlet configured to receive at least one fluid stream and, being oriented in a flow plane generally perpendicular to the flow axis;

a plurality of mixing channels that each receive portions of the at least one fluid stream from the inlet, the plurality of mixing channels each oriented along the flow plane and having unequal distinct lengths configured to release the portions of the at least one fluid stream into the chamber at discrete time intervals; and

a plurality of exits, wherein each of the plurality of exits correspond to one of the plurality of mixing channels, and wherein each of the plurality of exits terminate at varying angles that are measured with respect to the inlet,

wherein six mixing channels are provided, and wherein the plurality of exits are positioned at about 0°, 90°, 120°, 150°, 180°, and 210°, respectively, with respect to the inlet.