Patent ID: 8691452

Claim:
Apparatus for recirculation of a cathode gas in a fuel cell arrangement having a cathode gas supply for supplying the cathode gas to a cathode area in the fuel cell arrangement, and a cathode gas outlet for carrying partially consumed cathode gas out of the cathode area; said apparatus comprising: a recirculation guide for recirculating at least a portion of the partially consumed cathode gas from a junction point in the cathode gas outlet into a supply point in the cathode gas supply, wherein the junction and supply points are arranged within the recirculation guide; and first and second blocking elements arranged outside of the recirculation guide, wherein the first blocking element is arranged in a flow direction upstream of the supply point and is configured to block the cathode gas supply, and the second blocking element is arranged in a flow direction downstream from the junction point and is configured to block the cathode gas outlet, wherein the first and second blocking elements are configured such that a closed circuit for the partially consumed cathode gas is formed when the first and second blocking elements are closed; wherein, the first and second blocking elements each comprise at least one of a valve and a restrictor; the first and second blocking elements are self-latching; the first and second blocking elements are driven via a worm drive; and the first and second blocking elements are driven by a common mechanical actuator.