Patent ID: 8821115

Claim:
A seal assembly arranged adjacent to a primary flow region, the seal assembly comprising: first and second components; and a seal arranged between the first and second components to seal a secondary flow region from the primary flow region; wherein: a first recess portion is provided in the first component and arranged adjacent to the seal and the primary flow region; the first component comprises a protruding portion which is disposed adjacent the primary flow region and at leas partially defines the first recess portion; the first recess portion is arranged to receive flow from at least one of the primary flow region and the secondary flow region and shed flow to the primary flow region; the first recess portion is curved in order to promote a first flow vortex within the first recess portion so that a portion of the first flow vortex will flow to the primary flow region and will be shed to the primary flow region in substantially a same direction as a flow in the primary flow region; a second recess portion is provided in the first component and arranged between the first recess portion and the seal, the second recess portion being arranged to receive at least a portion of the flow from the secondary flow region and shed flow to the first flow vortex, the second recess portion being curved in order to promote a second flow vortex within the second recess portion; and the protruding portion is arranged to hold the first flow vortex captive within the first recess portion and direct the portion of the first flow vortex into the primary flow region in substantially the same direction as the flow in the primary flow region.