Abstract: Self-balancing face seals and gas turbine engine systems involving such seals are provided. In this regard, a representative self-balancing face seal assembly includes: a rotatable seal runner having a first seal runner face and an opposing second seal runner face; a first face seal operative to form a first seal with the first seal runner face, the first face seal being one of a hydrostatic seal and a hydrodynamic seal; and a second face seal operative to form a second seal with the second seal runner face, the first face seal being one of a hydrostatic seal and a hydrodynamic seal.

Abstract: A method of assembling a stator apparatus includes providing a first vane having an airfoil section located between a first platform section and a second platform section, positioning a first shroud ring adjacent to the first vane, welding the first platform section of the first vane to the first shroud ring relative to a first edge of the of the first platform section of the first vane, and welding the first platform section of the first vane to the first shroud ring relative to a second edge of the of the first platform section. The second edge is located opposite the first edge.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for protecting an identity of a user. The method includes conducting a transaction with a transaction medium issued from of an institution, which provides transaction information to the institution. A government-issued identification number (GIN) of the user and a personal identification number (PIN) of the user are provided to a database. The database returns verification information based on whether the GIN and the PIN provided to the database correspond to a recorded GIN of the user stored in the database and a recorded PIN of the user stored in the database. The institution is allowed to authorize the transaction based on the returned verification information.