Gas flow passage forming member, method of manufacturing the gas flow passage forming member, and device for forming the gas flow passage forming member

A gas flow passage forming member of a power generation cell of a fuel battery, the power generation cell including:

• a gas diffusion layer formed in an electrode layer of an electrode structure;
• and
• a separator for isolating adjacent power generation cells from each other;
• wherein
• the gas flow passage forming member is arranged between the gas diffusion layer and the separator and includes a gas flow passage,
• the power generation cell is configured to generate power through an electrode reaction caused in the electrode layer by supplying fuel gas or oxidant gas to the electrode layer through the gas flow passage,
• the gas flow passage forming member is configured by a metal lath formed by a metal plate,
• a plurality of through holes is formed in the metal lath,
• the gas flow passage forming member has a plurality of annular portions forming the through holes, and
• the annular portions each include:
• a first flat surface portion in a first contact portion;
• an L-shaped or arcuate portion connected to the first flat surface portion and bent toward a center of a corresponding through hole, the L-shaped or arcuate portion forming at least one side of a cross-sectional shape of the annular portion;
• and
• a second flat surface portion in a second contact portion, wherein
• at least one of the plurality of through holes is located either between the first contact portion and the separator along an axis that is perpendicular to the first flat surface portion and that passes through the separator, or between the second contact portion and the gas diffusion layer along an axis that is perpendicular to the second flat surface portion and that passes through the gas diffusion layer;
• the first flat surface portion is configured to be held in surface contact with a corresponding surface of the gas diffusion layer;
• and
• the first flat surface portion is formed by plastically deforming the first contact portion,
• wherein the cross-sectional shape of the annular portion includes an inner border formed by surfaces that face the center of the corresponding through hole, the inner border being formed in part by the first flat surface portion and the L-shaped or arcuate portion
• wherein the inner border includes a first surface formed by the first flat surface portion, a second surface formed by the L-shaped or arcuate portion, and a third surface formed by the L-shape or arcuate portion, and
• wherein the first surface and the second surface are connected to each other and form a first angle of less than 180° facing toward the corresponding through hole, and the second surface and the third surface are connected to each other and form a second angle of less than 180° facing away from the corresponding through hole.