A fuel nozzle assembly including a conduit defining a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet and being operable to convey a fuel stream comprising a solid particulate fuel entrained in a fluid. The conduit has a flow area defined by an interior surface of the conduit. A first flow deflector and a second flow deflector extend inwardly from the interior surface. The first flow deflector and the second flow deflector are positioned to disrupt a velocity profile of the flow stream established upstream of the conduit.