Abstract: A manifold is disposed in the inlet portion of a U-tube heat exchanger head to produce four passes, an outlet portion of the head forms a plenum chamber between the second and third pass to remove condensate from the steam and the manifold is vented to increase the effective scavenging of condensate from the tube side of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A feedwater heater has a condensate inlet, and a flow distributor cooperatively associated with the condensate inlet, a plurality of U-shaped tubes forming a tube bundle, a vent condenser portion enclosing a portion of the cold leg of the tube bundle and a trough centrally disposed within the tube bundle to provide deaeration of the condensate. The trough has its lengthwise opening in fluid communication with the cold leg portion of the tube bundle and one end thereof in fluid communication with the vent condenser for channeling the non-condensibles to the vent condenser where they are vented from the feedwater heater.