Abstract: The steam eyelet(s), mounted on steam dispersion tube(s), part of a steam dispersion system, has an interior cavity fed with steam, a through passage, a steam entry port and a steam exit port. The exit port is partly closed by a sloped throat which captures steam condensate and the steam entry port has a drain slot which drains condensate into the dispersion tube cavity. The eyelet's through passage progressively narrows at the exit with a shallow and then steep slope. A protruding lip reduces facial formation of condensate. A method reduces condensate spitting by accumulating condensate in the interior of the eyelet which, when it reaches a certain volume, drains the condensate bubble-droplet with an inboard interior eyelet surface disruption near the steam entry. Surface tension of the condensate bubble-droplet is used to drain the bubble-droplet at the disruption, causing an out-flow of the bubble-droplet in a direction contrary to steam flow.

Abstract: A steam distribution apparatus having a heat exchanger header defining a chamber; steam distribution apparatus communicating with the heat exchanger chamber; a source of steam at a pressure higher than atmospheric; a heat exchanger having one end communicating with the source of steam and another end for communicating with the chamber and steam dispersion apparatus; and a valve. The valve operates the heat exchanger in an open-loop configuration which supplies humidification steam to the steam distribution apparatus at atmospheric pressure and operates the heat exchanger in a closed-loop at the steam pressure higher than atmospheric for heating the heat exchanger chamber wherein condensate within the chamber or steam distribution apparatus can be converted back to humidification steam.