The present invention comprises a novel heat exchanger configuration which preferably uses the axial flow direction for the shell-side fluid and in which dead zones and areas of stagnation are significantly minimized or eliminated and in which inlet region tube erosion is addressed by providing a sacrificial portion of tube length so as to make repair and replacement of the eroded portion of tubes significantly cheaper, easier and with minimal process interruption. Because axial flow is employed with respect to the shell-side fluid according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, tube vibration problems are generally eliminated.