Recirculation module and fuel prefilter unit

A recirculation module for a fuel prefilter unit for filtering fuel to be supplied to an internal combustion engine, the recirculation module comprising:

• a module housing;
• a check valve accommodated in the module housing;
• a temperature-controlled actuating element accommodated in the module housing and configured to transfer the recirculation module, as a function of a filter raw side feed temperature of the fuel, from a cold start state into a normal operating state and from the normal operating state into the cold start state;
• wherein, in the cold start state, the recirculation module is configured to enable fluid communication of an engine return line, extending from the internal combustion engine to the recirculation module, with a raw side of a filter element of the fuel prefilter unit and is configured to separate the engine return line in regard to fluid communication from a tank return line of a tank of the internal combustion engine;
• wherein, in the normal operating state, the recirculation module is configured to separate the engine return line in regard to fluid communication from the raw side of the filter element of the fuel prefilter unit and configured to enable fluid communication of the engine return line with the tank return line;
• wherein the check valve prevents a return flow of fuel from the tank return line into the engine return line;
• wherein the temperature-controlled actuating element is configured to transfer the recirculation module into an intermediate state, wherein the intermediate state is provided between the cold start state and the normal operating state, wherein, in the intermediate state, the recirculation module is configured to enable fluid communication of the engine return line with the raw side of the filter element and enable fluid communication of the engine return line with the tank return line.