NON-CONTACTING FLOWPATH SEAL

摘要

NON-CONTACTING FLOWPATH SEAL A fluid seal arrangement for use in a turbomachine, having first and second adjacent sets of turbine blades arranged for relative rotation about a common machine axis. A main fluid flowpath is established across the blades. Parts of at least one set of blades form a clearance opening which communicates between the main fluid flowpath and an outside region. An annular arm projects over the clearance opening into the outside region to form with an outer periphery of the other set of blades an annular passage communicating with the clearance opening. An annular cavity on the other blades receives a buffer fluid. Jet openings form the cavity direct a pressurized supply of the buffer fluid into the annular passage, to induce a sealing fluid flow from the outside region through the clearance opening and into the main fluid flowpath to prevent leakage of fluid from the main fluid flowpath through the clearance opening.