Patent ID: 8714908

Claim:
A system for directing leakage air, flowing from a high static pressure side to a lower static pressure side of a stator vane assembly located in a compressor of a turbine engine, back into a primary working fluid flow path of the compressor to avoid interfering with the working fluid flow at a leading edge of the stator vane, said system comprising: a stator vane; a shroud member connected to the radially inner extreme of said stator vane; a stationary seal assembly connected to the radially inner extreme of said shroud member; at least one seal sealing a rotating surface located radially inward from said stationary seal assembly, wherein a leakage flow path is formed at the interface between said at least one seal and said stationary seal assembly; and at least one cover directing the leakage airflow into a primary working fluid path of the compressor to avoid interfering with the working fluid flow at the leading edge of the stator vane, the at least one cover further comprising: an aftward disposed outlet section of the channel discharging leakage air with an aftward component of velocity back into the primary working fluid path and being disposed in the leakage airflow path between the flow diverter and the inner shroud member in circumferential proximity upstream to the leading edge of the stator vane.