Tube bundle

Apparatus for use in condensing steam or vapors containing non-condensibles such as air, comprising a tube bundle having only a single row of parallel, side-by-side an spaced-apart tubes, an inlet header for introducing steam into one end of the tubes of the row, an outlet header connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of the row, means for causing air to pass over the tubes in a direction generally transverse to the row, each tube having substantially parallel side walls which are generally parallel to the side walls of adjacent tubes, said side walls being considerably longer in the direction of air flow than the width of the tube, means for draining condensate and removing non-condensibles from said outlet header when the bundle is disposed in a position with the inlet header higher than the outlet header, some but not all of the tubes of the bundle being divided into a pair of separate, longitudinally extending channels both connecting with the outlet header, said inlet header and said means for draining condensate connecting with said channel which is the first to be contacted by air, and said means for removing non-condensibles connecting only with said second channel at its end near said inlet header.