Self-Contained Ration Heater

A simple, novel packaging configuration is described to activate the Flameless Ration Heater (FRH) without any addition or input by the soldier and without hydrogen generation. This design allows: i) minimal, if not negligible, changes in the existing FRH, and ii) water to be stored and released with ease to heat the standard ration of meals. The new catalyst heater chemistry proposed here is a thermodynamically sanctioned reaction based on magnesium, but will avoid the generation of hydrogen, while providing heat at the same rate as the presently used Mg + H2O system, without adding substantial burden on the total weight. Another major advantage of the concepts elaborated in this proposal is that the new FRH + water package can easily be manufactured employing the currently available technologies.