Abstract: A turbine blade includes an airfoil having an internal cooling circuit with a first flow passage disposed directly behind the leading edge followed by a second flow passage separated therefrom by a corresponding bridge. The bridge includes a row of impingement apertures for cooling the leading edge. The suction sidewall of the airfoil includes a row of diffusion film cooling first holes extending in flow communication with the first passage. The first holes have a compound inclination angle, with a quadrilateral cross section forming a generally teardrop shaped outlet in the convex contour of the suction sidewall.

Abstract: A support arrangement for a brush seal positioned between a stationary and a rotatable component of a turbomachine. The brush seal has a downstream backing plate that includes an axially-extending lip adjacent its radially outermost end to minimize axial deflection of the seal as a result of a gas pressure differential acting across the seal.