Abstract: In one embodiment, thermite matches are provided. For instance, thermite matches as described herein may be constructed as a multi-staged formulation comprising an outer ignition tip, an optional inner transition tip, and a bulk fuel thermite stage. The outer ignition tip may comprise an ignition compound that can be struck/scraped against an abrasive counter-chemical surface (e.g., red phosphorous) to initiate the reaction. The outer ignition tip can reach a first burn temperature that can further ignite the inner transition tip stage, which can in turn burn at a temperature that reaches the ignition temperature of the bulk fuel thermite. The high burn temperature of the thermite match may then be used to ignite other materials, such as hard-to-ignite materials, such as a thermite rod for cutting or welding. Other embodiments provide for thermite match handles and a two-piece ignition thermite matches.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a portable thermite fire starter kit is provided. For instance, one or more small pieces or solid blocks of thermite may be contained within a portable kit container along with one or more ignition items. The ignition items may comprise thermite matches. In one embodiment, the ignition items are kept separate from the pieces of thermite. In one embodiment, one or both of the thermite pieces and/or thermite matches are constructed as multiple layers of progressively ignitable materials and/or compounds. In particular, the layers may start at a first layer and that can reach a first burn temperature that is at least a subsequent adjacent layer ignition temperature, where each subsequent intermediate layer leading to the thermite progressively increases in ignition temperature to not more than a previously adjacent layer burn temperature and also increases in burn temperature to at least a subsequent adjacent layer ignition temperature.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an environmental sensor array monitors pre-filter airflow to a fuel cell with an air filter, and senses amounts of filter exposure of air contaminants in the monitored pre-filter airflow. The environmental sensor array may then correlate the sensed amounts of filter exposure over time to a long-term adsorption limit of the air contaminants for the air filter, determining a lifetime usage level of the air filter. Accordingly, the environmental sensor array may provide an indication of the lifetime usage level of the air filter. In another embodiment, the environmental sensor array may also monitor post-filter airflow to the fuel cell, and senses instantaneous levels of post-filter air contaminants. In response to the instantaneous level of any particular air contaminant of the post-filter air contaminants being above a respective threshold level, the environmental sensor array may protect the operation of the fuel cell (e.g., de-rate, shut down, etc.).