Seal assembly for reciprocating compressor

A seal assembly for a reciprocating rod of a reciprocating compressor, the seal assembly having a first end and a second end, the first end of the seal assembly disposed towards a cylinder end of the reciprocating rod, the second end of the seal assembly disposed towards a crankcase end of the reciprocating rod, the reciprocating rod having a longitudinal axis, the seal assembly comprising:

• one or more packing retainers, each of the one or more packing retainers containing a first packing configured to contact the reciprocating rod;
• an unsegmented seal configured to form a sealing interface with the reciprocating rod, wherein the unsegmented seal is arranged at an axial position closer to the second end of the seal assembly relative to the axial position of the one or more packing retainers, the axial position defined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating rod;
• a fluid passage having a first end and a second end, the first end located at an axial position between the unsegmented seal and the first packing of the one or more packing retainers, the axial position of the first end of the fluid passage defined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating rod, the fluid passage operatively configured to vent a fluid leaking past the first packing;
• and
• a valve in fluid communication with the second end of the fluid passage;
• a vent member, the fluid passage passing through the vent member, a second packing disposed in the vent member such that the vent member contains the second packing.