Heat exchanger having tube support plate.

A tube supporting device (32) is provided for supporting closely packed tubes (15) in a heat exchanger (10). The device has a support plate (32) transversely disposed with respect to the tubes (15). The support plate (32) has a plurality of holes (32A,35,36,37,38) formed therein which are penetrated by the tubes (15) and which support the tubes against lateral movement. The holes can be a variety of shapes to create one or more gaps between the peripheral surfaces of the holes and the outer surfaces of the tubes. The gaps enhance the flow of condensate which has formed on the tubes and causes the condensate to flow to a bottom portion of the heat exchanger without moving to and collecting on the support plate. The holes also inhibit lateral movement of the tubes.