| abstract |
A hydrogen fuel element ( 10, 110, 210 ) includes a heat-generating pyrotechnic charge ( 12 ) which comprises any suitable pyrotechnic material and an ammonia borane encasement ( 16, 116 ). The encasement partly (encasement 16 ) or wholly (encasement 116 ) encases the pyrotechnic charge ( 12 ). An ignition train ( 14 ) is powered by electrical leads ( 28 a , 28 b ) to ignite pyrotechnic charge ( 12 ) to heat both the ammonia borane binder it contains and the encasement ( 16, 116 ), which itself includes or is made entirely of ammonia borane. Hydrogen is evolved from the heated ammonia borane binder and encasement. The hydrogen fuel element ( 10, 110 ) may be encased within a suitable housing ( 30 ) which may be made of a carbon open-cell foam. |