Can stuffing boxes (shaft seals) be added to a counterbalance or pressure relief damper?
No. Stuffing boxes add a great amount of friction torque to a damper. The high torque requires high pressure to open the damper. Once the damper is open, it will not shut again unless counterweights are added to close the damper. The added weights increase the amount of pressure required to open the damper, which further decreases the performance. It’s best to use a motorized damper when stuffing boxes are required.
