DE102022125251B4 - Separating device for separating liquid water from an exhaust gas in an exhaust gas section of a fuel cell system - Google Patents

Abstract

Separating device (10) for separating liquid water (W) from an exhaust gas (A) in an exhaust gas section of a fuel cell system (100), comprising a base body (20) with a separating section (30) for separating liquid water (W) from the exhaust gas (A) and a collecting section (40) for collecting the separated liquid water (W), the base body (20) having at least one gas inlet (22) upstream of the separating section (30) for the inlet of exhaust gas (A) and a gas outlet (24) downstream of the separating section (30) for the outlet of exhaust gas (A), characterized in that the separating section (30) has a curved guide wall (32) for receiving and guiding the exhaust gas (A) from the gas inlet (22) and the curvature of this Guide wall (32) reduces from an initial curved section (33) away from the gas inlet (22) to an end curved section (34).

Description

The present invention relates to a separating device for separating liquid water from an exhaust gas in an exhaust gas section of a fuel cell system and a fuel cell system with such a separating device.

It is known that the operation of fuel cell systems produces exhaust gas which, among other things, also contains liquid water in drop form. It is also known that this drop-shaped water should be separated from the exhaust gas in order, on the one hand, to keep the exhaust gas as dry as possible and, on the other hand, to protect components from increased mechanical stress caused by the action of water droplets. This is usually ensured by separating devices being provided as water separators in the exhaust gas sections of a fuel cell system, which can separate and remove or at least collect the liquid water from the gaseous exhaust gas.

The disadvantage of the known solutions is that a high pressure loss is usually associated with the separation function for the water to be separated. This is based in particular on the fact that a cyclone is often used with a centrally located outlet pipe. In this concept, the exhaust gas is continuously accelerated and causes high flow velocities and losses at the deflection to the smallest diameter of the outlet. Systems are also used to guide the exhaust gas in a labyrinth-shaped manner so that the water is separated.

It is the object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is the object of the present invention to enable water to be separated from an exhaust gas in a fuel cell system in a cost-effective and simple manner with the lowest possible pressure loss.

The above object is achieved by a separating device with the features of claim 1 and a fuel cell system with the features of claim 15. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description and the drawings. Features and details that are described in connection with the separating device according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the fuel cell system according to the invention and vice versa, so that reference is or can always be made to each other with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention.

According to the invention, a separating device is used to separate liquid water from an exhaust gas in an exhaust gas section of a fuel cell system. For this purpose, such a separating device has a base body with a separating section for separating liquid water from the exhaust gas. In addition, a collecting section is provided for collecting the separated liquid water. The base body has at least one gas inlet upstream of the separation section for the inlet of exhaust gas and a gas outlet downstream of the separation section for the outlet of exhaust gas. According to the invention, the separating device is characterized in that the separating section has a curved guide wall for receiving and guiding the exhaust gas from the gas inlet, the curvature of this guide wall reducing from an initial curved section away from the gas inlet to an end curved section.

The at least one gas inlet is preferably designed with a narrow configuration in the radial direction, so that an elongated opening is formed. Consequently, in particular, all gas inlets are designed upright, i.e. they are narrow in a radial direction and long or large in a vertical direction.

The core idea according to the invention is based on a separation principle, which will also be described later as a reverse cyclone separation principle. This means that the exhaust gas is introduced from the gas inlet into the separation section together with the liquid water droplets still contained therein. The separating section is now designed with the guide wall in such a way that it receives the exhaust gas and guides it along the guide wall. This type of guidance results in the direction of flow of the introduced exhaust gas being redirected and the direction of flow of the exhaust gas being directed through the guide wall. The guide wall is now designed in such a way that the initial curved section is attached directly after the gas inlet or shortly after the gas inlet. This initial curvature section has a significantly greater curvature in relation to the end curvature section explained later, so that a strong deflection of the inflowing exhaust gas takes place here. A strong redirection of the exhaust gas flowing in here at a high flow speed results in the entrained water droplets being pressed outwards onto the guide wall by the centrifugal force. In other words, the centrifugal force as a separation force will separate the water drops from the exhaust gas to the outside. Because the exhaust gas and the separated water drops continue to flow along the guide wall As the curvature of this guide wall decreases, the influence on the change in flow direction will also decrease accordingly. By reducing the influence, the flow speed of the inflowing exhaust gas slows down, so that the entrainment of water droplets after separation at the initial curved section is reduced. The core idea of the present invention is therefore based on the fact that a strong separation function is provided by a strong deflection at the initial curvature section compared to the later course of the guide wall, with the separation of the water drops provided as they continue through the reduced curvature towards the End curve section is maintained. This means in particular that this separation functionality can be carried out without labyrinth-like elements or a siphon. Since the separation functionality here is essentially based exclusively on speed differences and the redirection of the flow of the exhaust gas, this means that a very low pressure loss can be achieved when using this separation method.

The water drops in liquid form are separated from the exhaust gas in the manner described by the centrifugal force and the deflection of the exhaust gas. The separated water drops are conveyed further in particular by gravity along the direction of gravity. The separating device is therefore preferably equipped with a defined installation position in the fuel cell system with a direction of gravity that correlates accordingly. With the help of gravity, the separated water can now be transported along this direction of gravity into the collecting section of the base body and collected there. Further transport, removal from the collecting section or intermediate storage in this collecting section for the separated water can also take place, and can preferably be promoted by arranging drainage aids.

In addition to the fundamental change in the curvature over the course of the guide wall, three-dimensional guidance of the exhaust gas is preferably desired. In this case, as will also be explained in more detail later, the exhaust gas is preferably guided from top to bottom along the direction of gravity, so that from the gas inlet, the exhaust gas moves in a spiral manner with increasing curvature from the initial curvature section to the end curvature section. The speed decreases and the separation function for the separated water is maintained.

In addition, there is preferably a separation between the gas inlet and the gas outlet through the separating section and in particular through the guide wall in order to effectively avoid a bypass of incoming exhaust gas past the separating section to the gas outlet.

It should also be noted that the separating section can be designed in different ways for this described functionality of the changing curvature. It is therefore conceivable that the separating section is tubular or at least partially tubular along a screw or spiral line and provides an enclosing guide functionality for the exhaust gas. However, it is also possible in principle if this guide wall is designed as a one-sided wall or partition, so that the guide functionality can be adjusted by the flow conditions in the separating section, particularly along the direction of gravity. Combinations of closed and open separating sections are also fundamentally conceivable within the scope of the present invention.

It can be advantageous if, in a separating device according to the invention, the initial curved section of the guide wall generates a deflection of the guided exhaust gas in the range between at least 30° and a maximum of 360°. Such a very strong curvature leads to a continuous change of direction or even to a complete redirection of the introduced exhaust gas by 360°. Particularly due to the high flow velocity directly at or after the gas inlet, this leads to high droplet velocities and very strong separation functionality. In addition, the exhaust gas is also pushed outwards and there is an expansion transversely to the flow direction on the guide wall, a strong reduction in the speed of the exhaust gas is accompanied by this expansion, so that the separation function of the already separated water is maintained with a high degree of security. In other words, after the initial curved section, the guide wall opens the flow cross section much more than would ever be possible in a straight tube diffuser without separation.

It can bring advantages if, in a separating device according to the invention, the guide wall extends downwards, from the initial curved section towards the end curved section, away from the gas inlet, in particular along a direction of gravity. This means that the exhaust gas is conveyed in a roller-like manner in the direction of gravity and the separated water is conveyed by the action of gravity tion force is conveyed out of this roller flow. The aim is to ensure that no unnecessary braking occurs due to opposing flow conditions between dry exhaust gas and separated water. This leads to a further improvement in the flow conditions in the interior of the separating device and in particular in the separating section.

It is further advantageous if, in a separating device according to the invention, the flow cross section of the separating section increases from the initial curved section to the end curved section. This means that not only is the curvature reduced and, as a result, a reduction in the speed of the exhaust gas, but also that this speed reduction can be further increased by expanding the flow cross section. The combination of widening the curvature and expanding flow cross section leads to a mutually reinforcing separating effect and securing effect for the separated water. The aim is for the gravitational effect to increasingly move the wall films and not the flow forces from the exhaust gas flow at high speed.

It is also advantageous if, in a separating device according to the invention, the separating section is designed to be free of a siphon section. Separating devices with a siphon have a high pressure loss, which is why the separation functionality according to the invention is provided in order to design the complete separating device free of such a siphon. This leads to the great advantage already mentioned at the beginning of a significantly lower pressure loss of a separating device according to the invention compared to one with a siphon. The separating effect is achieved here independently of a siphon by reducing the speed due to the variation in curvature.

It is also advantageous if, in a separating device according to the invention, the separating section is designed as an inverted cyclone separator. This means a conical or essentially conical design, which takes into account the curvature conditions described in each case and preferably also the described conditions of the flow cross section in order to design the speed curve with the direction of the flow of the exhaust gas with the separation functionality according to the invention for separating the liquid water.

It is also advantageous if, in a separating device according to the invention, the curvature of the guide wall is reduced from the initial curvature section to the end curvature section without kinks, in particular continuously or essentially continuously. This leads in particular to a continuous decrease in the flow velocity and also preferably to a continuous change in the direction of the exhaust gas. Both lead to a particularly uniform flow and, in particular, avoid the formation of eddies and shedding of eddies. This preferably results in the entire wall film flow within the separating section remaining largely or even completely in laminar flow conditions, so that turbulent flow areas are avoided or at least reduced. The flow that is as uniform and smooth as possible within the separating section in turn means that the separated water adheres to the guide wall of the separating section (adhesion) as a film of water with greater probability and greater security, remains and can be discharged into the collecting section separated from the dried exhaust gas in the manner described . For the purposes of the present invention, dried exhaust gas is understood to mean exhaust gas from which liquid water has been at least partially removed by the separation principle described and which is therefore at least essentially free of water droplets. In particular, according to this definition, dried exhaust gas still has residual moisture, so that the present invention relates to the separation of liquid, drop-shaped water free or essentially free from condensation drying.

It is also advantageous if, in a separating device according to the invention, the guide wall, in particular at least in the end curve section, has at least one guide receptacle for receiving and removing water films. While the basic quality according to the invention is already guaranteed by the fact that a speed reduction of the exhaust gas is achieved through the curvature variation and in particular a variation of the flow cross section, securing the separated water against being carried away by the dried exhaust gas can be further improved by such a guide mount . In the simplest case, these can be groove- or rib-shaped elements that convey the water along the direction of gravity, i.e. the direction of gravity due to gravitational force, and protect it against being carried away by the dried exhaust gas due to their geometric design. Lateral channel receptacles or pipe receptacles are also conceivable, which act as guide receptacles to hold the water, for example through a receiving slot, and accordingly keep it safe can be removed separately from the dried exhaust gas.

It is also advantageous if, in a separating device according to the preceding paragraph, a guide receptacle is aligned at least in sections along or essentially along the direction of gravity. As has already been explained, it is advantageous if, in order to remove the separated water from the then dried exhaust gas, this removed and separated water is moved into the collecting section using gravitational force. In order to avoid one siphon section as effectively and definitively as possible, this guide receptacle is aligned along or essentially along the direction of gravity, so that the maximum force of the gravitational force is achieved for discharging the separated water.

It is also advantageous in a separating device of the two preceding paragraphs if the at least one guide receptacle has a backstop, in particular in the form of at least one backstop lip, to prevent the water taken up from flowing back. As has already been explained, a strong separation function can be provided by a strong curvature variation in the initial curvature section of the guide wall, so that a large part of the liquid water can be separated from the introduced exhaust gas even over a very short distance along the guide wall. After a short distance after this separation, this water that has already been separated can also be taken up through a corresponding slot or an inlet opening in the guide receptacle. In order to prevent the unwanted entrainment of the separated water in the dried exhaust gas even more reliably for further conveying, a backstop can be provided, which, for example in the shape of a lip or groove, prevents such entrainment even more effectively due to the geometry and thus further strengthens the functionality according to the invention. The water can therefore be conveyed into the guide receptacle in a separated form, in particular pressed, but cannot or only in very unlikely cases partially escape against this backstop.

It has advantages if, in a separating device according to the invention, the collecting section has a return stop element to prevent a backflow of collected water into the separating section. This is also a backstop, which is already effective when the water is already in the collecting section. Appropriate labyrinth designs or walls can be provided here in order to prevent the separated water from flowing back or running back out of the collecting section.

It can also bring advantages if, in a separating device according to the invention, the base body has at least two gas inlets for admitting exhaust gas into the separating section, the two gas inlets being arranged at different heights relative to a base body axis of the base body. This can be, for example, different exhaust gas sections of a fuel cell stack. In larger fuel cell systems with several fuel cell stacks, several gas inlets from the same section of the other fuel cell stack can also be introduced into a common separating device. The gas inlets are preferably arranged at different heights, but at the same or essentially the same circumferential position and/or at the same or essentially the same radial position, so that identical or essentially identical separation functions for separating the water are provided for both gas inlets mutual influence due to the offset in the height direction is avoided.

There are further advantages if the base body of a separating device according to the invention is produced using a structural process. This can be, for example, a so-called 3D printing process or sintering process. In particular, this means that even very complex flow geometries can be produced in a cost-effective and simple manner, especially for the guide wall.

It is also advantageous if, in a separating device according to the invention, the gas inlet extends from a side wall of the separating section into the separating section. This ensures that an expansion of the flow cross sections after the gas inlet is avoided and that a clean transfer, especially in a laminar manner, sets uniform flow conditions after the gas inlet when transferring to the guide wall. This avoids in particular swirling when the exhaust gas is introduced and, moreover, preferably mixing with already dried exhaust gas after being guided through the guide wall.

The present invention also relates to a fuel cell system, comprising at least one fuel cell stack with an anode section and a cathode section. The anode section has an anode supply section for supplying anode supply gas and an anode discharge section for discharging Anode exhaust gas. The cathode section has a cathode supply section for supplying cathode supply gas and a cathode discharge section for discharging cathode exhaust gas. Furthermore, the fuel cell system is equipped with a separating device according to the present invention, the gas inlet of which is fluidly connected to the anode discharge section or the cathode discharge section. A fuel cell system according to the invention therefore brings with it the same advantages as have been explained in detail with reference to a separating device according to the invention. The separated exhaust gases from anode exhaust gas and cathode exhaust gas can, for example, be mixed into a recirculation gas section for recirculation into the anode supply section.

Several separating devices for different exhaust gas sections of the fuel cell system can also be operated separately from one another. During recirculation, the gas outlet of the separating device is preferably designed with an injector device or connected to it in fluid communication in order to provide an injector functionality for recirculation.

• 1 eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Separiervorrichtung in seitlichem Querschnitt,
• 2 die Ausführungsform der 1 in einem Querschnitt in Draufsicht,
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Trennabschnitts in Draufsicht,
• 4 die Ausführungsform der 3 in seitlicher Darstellung,
• 5 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Trennabschnitts mit einer Führungsaufnahme,
• 6 eine Detaildarstellung der Ausführungsform der 5,
• 7 eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Separiervorrichtung,
• 8 eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Brennstoffzellensystems.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. It shows schematically:

• 1 an embodiment of a separating device according to the invention in a lateral cross section,
• 2 the embodiment of the 1 in a cross section in top view,
• 3 a schematic representation of a separating section in plan view,
• 4 the embodiment of the 3 in a side view,
• 5 a further embodiment of a separating section with a guide receptacle,
• 6 a detailed representation of the embodiment of the 5 ,
• 7 a further embodiment of a separating device according to the invention,
• 8th an embodiment of a fuel cell system according to the invention.

The 1 and 2 show schematically how a separating device 10 can be constructed. This is essentially divided into two core sections, namely the separating section 30 and the collecting section 40. Exhaust gas A can reach the separation section 30 via a gas inlet 22 and the water W can be separated from the exhaust gas A there using the separation function. Along the gravity direction SR, in 1 downwards, this separated water can W (in 1 not shown in more detail) are discharged downwards into the collecting section 40. A corresponding reservoir, a collecting volume or the like can be provided there in order to receive and store or continue the separated water W. The exhaust gas A dried in this way now passes into the left area and thus leaves the separation section 30 in order to flow in a dried manner to the gas outlet 24 and to be made available again to the further system or to be released into the environment.

Based on 2 The functionality of this separation of the water W from the exhaust gas A is shown schematically. The exhaust gas A flows into the separating section 30 via the gas inlet 22. In order to avoid swirling of the exhaust gas A with high probability, the gas inlet 22 protrudes with its gas inlet wall 23 beyond the side wall 31 of the separating section 30. This ensures that the exhaust gas A is applied cleanly to the guide wall 32 when it exits the gas inlet 22. Here, shown partially elliptically, the guide wall 32 is designed in such a way that the curvature now slowly widens. A spiral-shaped design is also conceivable in order to avoid increased curvature after 90°. In this figure it can also be clearly seen that a roller-shaped flow is formed, which flows out of the separating section below and/or above the gas inlet 22 through a free space in the guide wall 32. The further separating function will be discussed in particular below with reference to 3 and 4 explained in more detail.

This is how these show 3 and 4 well, once in plan view according to the 3 and once in a side view according to the 4 , a schematic possibility of a separation functionality. This is shown here essentially in a tubular shape, but also functions identically to a pure wall design, such as the one shown here 1 and 2 show. In 3 is shown in plan view as the exhaust gas A flows into the gas inlet 22 and now rests on the guide wall 32. In the initial curve section 33 there is a strong deflection, here for example by approximately 120°. The centrifugal force causes the water W to be carried outwards in the form of drops and pressed against the wall. This shows what happens next 4 that the dried exhaust gas A is guided downwards, along the direction of gravity. The water W is also conveyed downwards, along the direction of gravity SR through the Gravitational force. Because the water W is now already on the side wall of the guide wall 32, a water film is formed, as shown schematically in the 4 is shown pushed downwards by the direction of gravity SR. This ensures that the separated water W can now be introduced into the collecting section 40. The 3 shows how the curvature increases from the initial curvature section 33 to the end curvature section 34, whereby the flow velocity of the inflowing exhaust gas A decreases accordingly. In addition, the flow cross section increases along the guide wall 32, which additionally reduces the flow velocity of the exhaust gas A in its dried form. Both result in a reduced velocity of the exhaust gas A avoiding entrainment of the separated water W or at least reducing this risk. The separated water W can now be received in the collecting section 40, which in the embodiment of 4 is equipped with a backstop element 42. This is a labyrinth-shaped wall which prevents water W, which has entered the collecting section 40, from running back into the separating section 30. In principle, any cross-sectional shape of the pipe is conceivable. Cross sections with a greater vertical extension than radial width, which are significantly greater than those in, are increasingly proving to be advantageous 3 and 4 indicated relations can be carried out.

Based on 5 and 6 it will be explained again how the separation functionality can be further increased and improved. Here, a guide receptacle 36 is designed in the shape of a slot just over half the circumference of the guide wall 32. Water, which has now been pressed onto the guide wall 32 by the centrifugal force after entering from the gas inlet 22, is now carried along this guide wall with the exhaust gas A and in the plane of the drawing 5 backwards, along the direction of gravity SR, i.e. downwards. As soon as the slot of the guide receptacle 36 is reached, the separated water W enters this guide receptacle 36 and is pushed downwards (in 5 into the plane of the drawing) to the collecting section 40. The 6 shows how this guide receptacle 36 can be further secured against the separated water W running back. Two backstops 37 are shown here in a lip-shaped manner, which are intended to keep the water W within the guide receptacle 36 with greater security after it has entered. As shown, a tapering or widening design of this gap can be advantageous as a compromise between hydraulic and manufacturing aspects.

The 7 shows a further development of the embodiment 1 . However, this is shown here with two gas inlets 22, which are arranged offset from one another in the same circumferential position and the same radial position in the direction of gravity SR. In addition, the separating section 30 is designed to open conically, so that an additional speed reduction can be guaranteed after the exhaust gas A flows in.

The 8th shows one possibility of a fuel cell system 100 according to the invention. This is equipped here with a fuel cell stack 110. This fuel cell stack 110 has an anode section 120 and a cathode section 130. Anode supply gas AZG is supplied to the anode section 120 via the anode supply section 122. Similarly, cathode supply gas KZG is supplied to the cathode section 130 via the cathode supply section 132. Anode exhaust gas AAG is discharged via the anode discharge section 124 and cathode exhaust gas KAG via the cathode discharge section 134. In the embodiment of the 8th A separating device 10 according to the present invention is now shown in the anode discharge section 124 and can ensure separation of water and thus drying of the anode exhaust gas AAG as exhaust gas A. Of course, a separating device 10 can also be arranged in the cathode removal section 134 in the same or similar manner. The dried anode exhaust gas AAG can now be supplied to the anode supply section 122 as recirculation gas or can be released into the environment as a common exhaust gas with cathode exhaust gas.

The above explanation describes the present invention solely in the context of examples.

Reference symbol list

10

Separating device

20

Basic body

22

Gas inlet

23

Gas inlet wall

24

Gas outlet

30

Separating section

31

side wall

32

guide wall

33

Initial curvature section

34

End curve section

36

Leadership recording

37

Backstop

40

Collection section

42

Backstop element

100

Fuel cell system

110

Fuel cell stack

120

anode section

122

Anode feeding section

124

Anode discharge section

130

cathode section

132

Cathode feeding section

134

Cathode removal section

W

Water

A

exhaust

AR

Gravity direction

GA

Body axis

AZG

Anode feed gas

AAG

anode exhaust

KZG

Cathode feed gas

CAG

cathode exhaust

Claims (15)

Separating device (10) for separating liquid water (W) from an exhaust gas (A) in an exhaust gas section of a fuel cell system (100), comprising a base body (20) with a separating section (30) for separating liquid water (W) from the exhaust gas (A) and a collecting section (40) for collecting the separated liquid water (W), the base body (20) having at least one gas inlet (22) upstream of the separating section (30) for the inlet of exhaust gas (A) and a gas outlet (24) downstream of the separating section (30) for the outlet of exhaust gas (A), characterized in that the separating section (30) has a curved guide wall (32) for receiving and guiding the exhaust gas (A) from the gas inlet (22) and the curvature of this Guide wall (32) reduces from an initial curved section (33) away from the gas inlet (22) to an end curved section (34). Separating device (10). Claim 1 , characterized in that the initial curved section (33) of the guide wall (32) generates a deflection of the guided exhaust gas (A) in the range between at least 30° and a maximum of 360°. Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide wall (32) moves away from the gas inlet (22) from the initial curved section (33) to the end curved section (34), in particular along a direction of gravity (SR). , extending downwards. Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow cross section of the separating section (30) increases from the initial curved section (33) to the end curved section (34). Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating section (30) is formed free of a siphon section. Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating section (30) is designed as a reverse cyclone separator. Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curvature of the guide wall (32) reduces from the initial curvature section (33) to the end curvature section (34) without kinks, in particular continuously or essentially continuously. Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide wall (32), in particular at least in the end curve section (34), has at least one guide receptacle (36) for receiving and discharging water (W). Separating device (10). Claim 8 , characterized in that the at least one guide receptacle (36) is aligned at least in sections along or substantially along a direction of gravity (SR). Separating device (10) according to one of the Claims 8 or 9 , characterized in that the at least one guide receptacle (36) has a backstop (37), in particular in the form of at least one backstop lip, to prevent the absorbed water (W) from running back. Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting section (40) has a return stop element (42) for preventing a backflow of collected water (W) into the separating section (30). Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the base body (20) has at least two gas inlets (22) for admitting exhaust gas (A) into the separating section (30), the two gas inlets (22) being on different positions relative to a base body axis (GA) of the base body (20). Heights are arranged. Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (20) is produced by a structural process. Separating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas inlet (22) extends from a side wall (31) of the separating section (30) into the separating section (30). Fuel cell system (100), comprising at least one fuel cell stack (110) with an anode section (120) and a cathode section (130), the anode section (120) having an anode supply section (122) for supplying anode supply gas (AZG) and an anode discharge section (124). Discharging anode exhaust gas (AAG), the cathode section (130) comprising a cathode supply section (132) for supplying cathode supply gas (KZG) and a cathode discharge section (134) for discharging cathode exhaust gas (KAG), further comprising a separating device (10) with the features of a the Claims 1 until 14 , the gas inlet (22) of which is fluidly connected to the anode discharge section (124) or the cathode discharge section (134).

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