Abstract: A tube nest of a compact condenser has flow passages, tube bundles and a noncondensable gas extracting opening. The tube nest is installed in a vessel having a bottom surface. The tube nest is spaced from the bottom surface and the side walls of the vessel so that stream is able to flow from every direction into the tube nest at a reduced steam velocity. The extracting opening is disposed below the center of gravity of the outer circumference, and the plurality of flow passages extend from the outer circumference toward the extracting opening. Each flow passage has open outer end on the outer circumference and the width of each flow passage increases toward the open outer end. The area ratio and the length of the flow passage increase toward the center axis of the tube nest. The result is a compact condenser capable of reducing pressure loss and of efficiently removing noncondensable gas.