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 (28a, 28b) 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.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas generation arrangement. The arrangement includes an initiating element in operable communication with a heat generating material. The heat generating material is positioned so that thermal energy causes the gas evolution material to decompose to evolve a target gas. Further disclosed herein is a portable power source having a gas evolution arrangement and a fuel cell in operable communication therewith. A control having at least one sensor is in operable communication with both the gas evolution arrangement and the fuel cell.