The invention concerns a sealing arrangement for a reciprocating
piston rod of an
internal combustion engine, an
internal combustion engine and a method for operating an
internal combustion engine. The sealing arrangement (10) comprises a
stuffing box (11) having a first axial side (12u) which is disposed towards a cylinder (101) and a second axial side (121) which is disposed towards a
crankcase (104). The
stuffing box (11) comprises an annular rib (14) configured to form a
rib surface (15) opposing the surface (105) of the reciprocating rod (103), axially arranged between a first and a second compartment, each housing a fluid-tight ring. The annular rib (14) comprises at least one, preferably radially extending, fluid channel (16), each fluid channel (16) having a first end (17) in fluid communication with the
rib surface (15) and / or in fluid communication with the first compartment (36) and / or with the second compartment (37), and a second end (18) fluidly connected or connectable with a first source (19) of pressurized air. Additionally or alternatively the
stuffing box (11) comprises at least one
nozzle (20), preferably a plurality of circumferentially arranged nozzles (20), arranged at the first axial side (12u) of the stuffing box (11), fluidly connected or connectable with a
second source (21) of pressurized air. The
nozzle (20) is adapted to provide a, preferably annular, air curtain (32), preferably above the first axial side (12u) of the stuffing box (11).