In a heat tracing system using heat from a radiant heater to heat a circulating fluid, thermoelectric generation modules are used to generate electricity for powering a circulating pump. Thermoelectric power generation modules are sandwiched between a heat-absorbing plate and a heat sink, and this assembly is positioned with the heat-absorbing plate adjacent to a radiant heater. A conduit loop passes through the heat sink, such that a fluid circulating through the conduit is heated from heat drawn from the heater into the heat sink. Due to the temperature differential between the hot and cold sides of the thermoelectric modules, the modules produce electricity to power the pump circulating the fluid through the conduit loop. Supplementary heat exchanger components may be provided for additional fluid-heating capacity, and thereby increasing the amount of heat available for the heat tracing loop.

A self-heating thermal interface material (TIM) may be formed using heating components dispersed within the TIM. The heating components may produce heat when the TIM is compressed. The heating components may be formed from microcapsules and the microcapsules may contain exothermic reactants. The reactants may be isolated from contact within the microcapsule until a compressive force is applied.

A disposable cup heat sleeve, adapted to fit around a cup, includes: an outer sleeve having an inner surface that faces the cup when the heat sleeve is fit around the cup; and an inner pouch attached to the inner surface of the outer sleeve and being activatable to causes an exothermic chemical reaction involving a reactant stored in the inner pouch, to thereby cause the inner pouch to generate heat to maintain heat of contents of the cup when the heat sleeve is fitted around the cup.

A heat engine that utilizes a controllable heat source that includes a body comprising a dopant that has an affinity for a fuel species, preferably a hydrogen isotope. The production of heat by the heat source can be modulated by the application of electric and/or magnetic fields to the body. The hear engine includes safety features that prevent excessive heat generation.

A portable exothermic welding ignition controller includes a housing configured to receive a first portion of a portable power tool battery with a second portion of the portable tool battery external to the housing. A circuit board is positioned within the housing and configured for electrical coupling to the portable power tool battery. An actuator is operatively engageable with the circuit board for selectively discharging power from the portable power tool battery to a connection terminal electrically coupled to the circuit board.

A smoke producing method and device of the present disclosure produces a non-incendiary, organic-polymerization based, smoke-producing reaction. The method of generating smoke comprises initiating a frontal polymerization reaction by heating a composition comprising a monomer compound that exothermically polymerizes upon initiation with an initiator compound and an initiator compound that initiates polymerization of the monomer compound present at a mass concentration that is at least five percent of the mass concentration of the monomer compound. The polymerization of the monomer compound is exothermic, and in one embodiment the concentration of initiator compound is at least five percent of the concentration of monomer compound. The smoke mainly comprises thermal decomposition products of the initiator compound.

A mouth protection system may include a formable mouth guard and a storage container. The mouth guard may include an elastic component and an inelastic component. The mouth guard may be heated, for instance, by allowing a working fluid to contact a reactant in a heating compartment. The elastic component may then become compressible in order to form to the anatomy of a wearer's mouth.

Self-heating systems for rapidly and effectively heating a comestible substance are disclosed. Self-heating systems generally include a reaction chamber and a heating chamber. The heating chamber contains a substance to be heated. The reaction chamber contains reactants that, when contacted, exothermically react. The containers and reactants can be configured to heat at least six fluid ounces of comestible substance in less than one minute. The solid chemical reactant mixture can comprise magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and/or calcium oxide. Methods for heating at least six fluid ounces of comestible substance in less than one minute are also provided.

A heat pack includes a housing, a first phase change material (PCM) that is contained in the housing, and a thermal storage buffer that is contained in the housing. The thermal storage buffer includes a second PCM. An initiator is in operative contact with the first PCM. Activation of the initiator causes crystallization of the first PCM, and the first PCM cooperates with the thermal storage buffer to provide heat at a predetermined temperature range upon crystallization of the first PCM.

Self-heating containers comprise a reaction chamber and a heating chamber. The heating chamber is sized to contain a substance to be heated. The reaction chamber contains reactants which, when contacted, exothermically react. The reaction chamber is divided into a first compartment and a second compartment with a barrier therebetween. The barrier comprises a first barrier portion and a second barrier portion. The first barrier portion is attached to a reaction chamber wall and has an opening sized to allow reactants to flow through from one compartment to the other. The second barrier portion is attached to the first barrier portion to close the opening. The barrier can be opened by moving an actuator into engagement with the second barrier portion to dislodge the second barrier portion from the first barrier portion and thereby open the barrier. In certain embodiments, the heating chamber can be a can with prepackaged comestible substance therein. Examples of components configured to facilitate such a can are disclosed.