FUEL CELL SYSTEM

A fuel cell system (10) comprises at least one fuel cell stack (20), and a recirculation network (25, 32, 40, 46, 54) for circulating a liquid electrolyte (12) through each fuel cell stack (20). The recirculation network includes a fluid supply duct (40) and a decoupling module (44) in the recirculation network; the decoupling module (44) comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a perforated plate (60), and the fluid supply duct (40) being arranged to supply the liquid electrolyte to the upper chamber (57). The perforated plate (60) has a surface area several times larger than the cross-sectional area of the inlet duct (40), and defines multiple perforations, each of which is a countersunk hole (64) for through flow of the liquid electrolyte into the lower chamber (58), where the liquid electrolyte falls into a collection tray (66). The collection tray (66) communicates with a fluid flow duct (46) of the recirculation network, and is sufficiently far below the plate (60) that the liquid electrolyte that has fallen through each countersunk hole (64) breaks up into droplets before it reaches the collection tray (66). The collection tray (66) may be provided with an overflow (70) so excess electrolyte may overflow into a secondary decoupling unit (75).