Leaf seal

An assembly, comprising:

• a rotating component and a stationary component, wherein the rotating component is spaced apart from the stationary component defining a gap therebetween, and wherein fluid flows through the gap in an operative state;
• and
• a leaf seal assembly located within the gap, the leaf seal assembly comprising:
• a first leaf seal having a generally planar surface;
• a second leaf seal having a generally planar surface, and spaced apart along an axial direction of the gap from the first leaf seal, such that the first leaf seal is located axially upstream of the second leaf seal with respect to a direction of fluid flowing through the gap in the operative state;
• a support coupled to proximal ends of the first and second leaf seals configured to be located proximal to the stationary component, whereby the support fixedly connects the leaf seal assembly to the stationary component;
• a runner coupled to distal ends of the first and second leaf seals configured to be located proximal to the rotating component, the runner comprising a Rayleigh step at an axially upstream side of the runner such that the first and second leaf seals maintain the runner in a first position away from the rotating component in an unpressurised inoperative state and moves the runner to a second position, close to, but not contacting, the rotating component in the operative state, whereby the operative state is pressurised;
• wherein a cavity is defined by the first leaf seal, second leaf seal and runner and wherein the first leaf seal is vented such that the cavity is pressurised when the rotating component is in the pressurised operative state;
• and
• wherein the first and second leaf seals are angled in the direction of fluid flow through the gap in the operative state, such that the distal ends of the first and second leaf seals are arranged axially downstream from the proximal ends of the first and second leaf seals with respect to the direction of fluid flow through the gap in the operative state.