Patent ID: 8505497

Claim:
A heat transfer system comprising: a steam chamber configured to communicate in an open-loop arrangement with a first steam source for supplying steam to the steam chamber, the steam chamber including a steam exit for supplying steam to air at atmospheric pressure; and a heat transfer tube configured to communicate in a closed-loop arrangement with a second steam source for supplying steam to an interior surface of the heat transfer tube, the heat transfer tube configured to vaporize condensate forming within the heat transfer system back to steam that is supplied to the air via the steam exit, wherein an outer surface of the heat transfer tube is configured to contact the condensate and vaporize the condensate back into steam, the heat transfer tube including a plurality of pockets formed on the outer surface of the tube, each pocket including a pocket exit/entry portion having a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the pocket at a root portion thereof adjacent the outer surface of the tube, wherein the first steam source and the second steam source are the same source.