Controlled contact surface for a secondary seal in a non-contact seal assembly

An assembly for rotational equipment, comprising:

• a plurality of seal shoes arranged circumferentially around an axial centerline in an annular array, the plurality of seal shoes comprising a first seal shoe;
• a stationary support structure extending circumferentially around the axial centerline, the stationary support structure comprising a base and a rib that projects axially out from the base to an axial distal end of the rib;
• a plurality of spring elements comprising a first spring element, the first spring element connecting and extending between the first seal shoe and the stationary support structure;
• and
• a free floating seal plate configured to seal a gap between the stationary support structure and the plurality of seal shoes, the free floating seal plate axially contacting and configured to slide radially along the rib.

An assembly for rotational equipment, comprising:

• a plurality of seal shoes arranged circumferentially around an axial centerline in an annular array, the plurality of seal shoes comprising a first seal shoe;
• a stationary support structure extending circumferentially around the plurality of seal shoes;
• a plurality of spring elements comprising a first spring element, the first spring element connecting and extending between the first seal shoe and the stationary support structure;
• and
• a seal plate configured to seal a gap between the stationary support structure and the plurality of seal shoes, the seal plate configured with an annular seal plate rib configured to axially contact and slide radially along one of the first seal shoe and the stationary support structure.