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Total Categories: 5
Before the FRH, service members often heated their meals by placing pouches directly on a hot vehicle's engine block or exhaust manifold.
Answer: True
Prior to the introduction of the FRH, service members commonly utilized improvised methods such as placing meal pouches on hot vehicle components for heating.
A significant disadvantage of traditional meal heating methods was the production of a visible flame, which was undesirable during nighttime operations.
Answer: True
Traditional heating techniques were problematic due to their visible flame, which compromised operational security, particularly during nocturnal activities.
The initial chemical heating product investigated for the flameless ration heater was a water-activated aluminum-carbon compound.
Answer: False
The initial chemical heating product explored for the flameless ration heater was a water-activated magnesium-carbon compound, not aluminum-carbon.
The U.S. Navy's discovery of a cost-efficient magnesium-iron alloy in 1980 shifted the focus of MRE heater development.
Answer: True
The development trajectory for MRE heaters was significantly altered by the U.S. Navy's identification of a cost-effective magnesium-iron alloy in 1980.
The Dismounted Ration Heating Device (DRHD) was a prototype MRE heater developed by Zesto-Therm Inc.
Answer: False
The Dismounted Ration Heating Device (DRHD) was developed by the University of Cincinnati, while Zesto-Therm Inc. was a commercial venture by the DRHD inventors.
Soldiers in a focus group preferred the traditional canteen cup method over the Zesto-Therm pad due to its reliability.
Answer: False
A focus group of soldiers unanimously preferred the flameless ration heater (Zesto-Therm pad) over the traditional canteen cup method, citing its compactness and disposability.
The Mounted Ration Heating Device (MRHD) was a chemical heating device designed to heat up to eight MRE pouches simultaneously.
Answer: False
The Mounted Ration Heating Device (MRHD) was an electrical prototype, not chemical, designed to heat up to four MRE pouches simultaneously, powered by a vehicle's supply.
For the Gulf War, 51 million FRHs were purchased for $25 million, and approximately 4.5 million were shipped to Southwest Asia.
Answer: True
During the Gulf War, a substantial procurement of 51 million FRHs occurred, with 4.5 million units deployed to Southwest Asia.
The Mounted Ration Heating Device (MRHD) prototype was designed to be powered by a vehicle's power supply and could heat up to four MRE pouches.
Answer: True
The MRHD was an electrical prototype engineered to draw power from a vehicle's supply, capable of simultaneously heating up to four MRE pouches.
When did the U.S. Army initiate its research into chemical methods for heating meals?
Answer: 1973
The U.S. Army commenced its research into chemical methods for heating meals in 1973.
What year did the Flameless Ration Heater become a standard component of every MRE?
Answer: 1993
The Flameless Ration Heater was integrated as a standard component of every MRE ration starting in 1993.
Before the FRH, which of these was a common method service members used to heat their meals?
Answer: Placing pouches on a hot vehicle's engine block
Prior to the FRH, a prevalent method for service members to heat meals involved placing food pouches on a hot vehicle's engine block or exhaust manifold.
Which U.S. Army center was responsible for the initial research and development of the flameless ration heater?
Answer: U.S. Army Natick Research, Development, and Engineering Center
The U.S. Army Natick Research, Development, and Engineering Center was the institution that initiated the research and development efforts for the flameless ration heater.
What was the initial chemical heating product investigated during the early stages of FRH development?
Answer: Water-activated magnesium-carbon
During the nascent phases of FRH development, the initial chemical heating product under investigation was a water-activated magnesium-carbon compound.
Which university was contracted to develop a prototype MRE heater using the magnesium-iron alloy?
Answer: University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati was awarded the contract to develop a prototype MRE heater based on the magnesium-iron alloy.
What were the key findings from the U.S. Army's 1986 evaluation of the ZT Energy Pad?
Answer: It did not consistently heat food adequately and left a messy residue.
The U.S. Army's 1986 assessment of the ZT Energy Pad concluded that it failed to consistently provide adequate heating and left an undesirable residue on food pouches.
How did soldiers in a focus group respond to the Zesto-Therm pad compared to the traditional canteen cup heating method?
Answer: They unanimously preferred the flameless ration heater.
A soldier focus group expressed a unanimous preference for the flameless ration heater (Zesto-Therm pad) over the traditional canteen cup method, citing its practical advantages.
What was a key characteristic of the Mounted Ration Heating Device (MRHD) prototype?
Answer: It was an electrical device powered from a vehicle's supply.
The MRHD prototype was distinguished by its electrical operation, drawing power from a vehicle's supply to heat multiple MRE pouches.
How long did the acquisition process for the FRH take for Operation Desert Storm, compared to the typical timeframe?
Answer: One year, instead of the typical four to six years.
The acquisition process for the FRH during Operation Desert Storm was significantly accelerated, completing in one year compared to the usual four to six years.
An exothermic reaction, which releases energy, is responsible for heating food within a Flameless Ration Heater.
Answer: True
The heating mechanism of a Flameless Ration Heater is explicitly described as an exothermic reaction, which releases energy to warm the food.
Ration heaters generate heat through an electron-transfer process known as an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction.
Answer: True
The fundamental principle behind ration heater operation is an electron-transfer process, specifically an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction, which releases thermal energy.
The simple reaction between magnesium and water is sufficient for practical heating in an FRH because it generates heat quickly.
Answer: False
The simple reaction between magnesium and water is too slow for practical heating, proceeding at a rate comparable to iron rusting, thus requiring additional components for acceleration.
To accelerate the heating reaction in an FRH, metallic iron particles and sugar are mixed with magnesium.
Answer: False
To accelerate the heating reaction in an FRH, metallic iron particles and table salt (sodium chloride) are mixed with magnesium, not sugar.
The rapid heating effect in an FRH is created by the formation of thousands of tiny galvanic cells between magnesium and iron particles in a salt-water electrolyte.
Answer: True
The rapid thermal output of an FRH results from the creation of numerous galvanic cells between magnesium and iron particles, facilitated by a salt-water electrolyte, leading to a rapid 'burn out' process.
What type of chemical reaction is responsible for generating heat in flameless ration heaters?
Answer: Oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction
Heat generation in flameless ration heaters is driven by an electron-transfer process, specifically an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction.
Why is the simple reaction between magnesium and water alone not sufficient for practical heating in an FRH?
Answer: It proceeds at a very slow rate, similar to iron rusting.
The isolated reaction between magnesium and water is impractical for FRH heating due to its exceedingly slow reaction rate, akin to the oxidation of iron.
What additional substances are combined with magnesium particles to accelerate the heating reaction in an FRH?
Answer: Metallic iron particles and table salt
To enhance the reaction kinetics in an FRH, metallic iron particles and table salt are incorporated with the magnesium particles.
How do the combined components of iron, magnesium, and salt create a rapid heating effect in an FRH?
Answer: They create thousands of tiny galvanic cells that quickly 'burn out'.
The synergistic interaction of iron, magnesium, and salt, when exposed to water, establishes numerous galvanic cells that rapidly discharge, generating substantial heat.
The Flameless Ration Heater was found to be more cost-effective than trioxane fuel bars in cold climates, despite its higher initial price.
Answer: True
Despite a higher initial cost, the FRH proved more economical in cold environments where multiple trioxane fuel bars would be required to achieve adequate heating.
To use an FRH, one should add approximately 3 US fluid ounces (90 mL) of water to the bag.
Answer: False
The recommended amount of water to add to an FRH bag for heating is approximately 1 US fluid ounce (30 mL), not 3 US fluid ounces.
A typical FRH mixture can raise the temperature of an 8-ounce meal packet by 100 °F (38 °C) in approximately 10 minutes.
Answer: True
A standard FRH formulation is capable of increasing the temperature of an 8-ounce meal packet by 100 °F (38 °C) within approximately 10 minutes.
What economic factor made the Flameless Ration Heater more appealing than trioxane fuel bars in certain conditions?
Answer: It was cheaper overall in cold climates where multiple trioxane bars were needed.
The FRH offered a more cost-effective solution in cold environments, as it negated the need for multiple trioxane fuel bars to achieve sufficient heating.
Approximately how much water (US fluid ounces) is recommended to be added to an FRH bag for heating?
Answer: 1 US fluid ounce
The recommended volume of water to be added to an FRH bag for optimal heating is approximately 1 US fluid ounce (30 mL).
How long does it typically take for an FRH to heat a food pouch to approximately 60 °C (140 °F)?
Answer: 12 to 15 minutes
An FRH typically requires 12 to 15 minutes to elevate the temperature of a food pouch to approximately 60 °C (140 °F).
The primary chemical components inside a flameless ration heater are magnesium, iron, and potassium chloride.
Answer: False
The source material specifies that the primary chemical components are magnesium, iron, and table salt (sodium chloride), not potassium chloride.
The packaging for the FRH needed to be transparent with a printed line for water measurement and withstand high temperatures.
Answer: True
The FRH packaging was specifically designed to be transparent with a water measurement line and to endure the high temperatures generated during the heating process.
Which of the following is NOT a primary chemical component found inside a flameless ration heater?
Answer: Potassium iodide
The primary chemical components of a flameless ration heater are magnesium, iron, and table salt (sodium chloride); potassium iodide is not listed as an ingredient.
Which material was ultimately chosen for the FRH's cooking bag due to its suitability for food safety, chemical protection, and temperature resistance?
Answer: High-density polyethylene
High-density polyethylene was selected for the FRH's cooking bag due to its optimal properties, including food safety, chemical inertness, and thermal resistance.
The primary safety concern with magnesium-based flameless heaters is the production of carbon dioxide gas.
Answer: False
The primary safety concern associated with magnesium-based flameless heaters is the generation of hydrogen gas, which poses a fire hazard, particularly in enclosed environments, rather than carbon dioxide.
Alternative chemical formulations like AlCl₃/CaO have been developed to eliminate hydrogen gas production in flameless heaters.
Answer: True
To mitigate the risk of hydrogen gas production, alternative chemical compositions, such as aluminum chloride with calcium oxide (AlCl₃/CaO), have been engineered for flameless heaters.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concluded that hydrogen gas release from FRHs poses no significant fire hazard on passenger aircraft.
Answer: False
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concluded that the hydrogen gas released from flameless ration heaters presents a potential fire hazard on passenger aircraft.
In the United States, un-activated MRE heaters can be safely disposed of in regular solid waste containers.
Answer: False
Un-activated MRE heaters are classified as hazardous waste in the United States and cannot be disposed of in regular solid waste containers due to the risk of accidental activation.
Un-activated MRE heaters pose a fire hazard in landfills if they become wet, as this can trigger the exothermic reaction.
Answer: True
The accidental wetting of un-activated MRE heaters in a landfill can initiate their exothermic reaction, thereby creating a fire hazard.
After MRE heaters have been used and cooled, they should still be treated as hazardous waste for disposal.
Answer: False
Once MRE heaters have been activated and subsequently cooled, they can be safely disposed of in approved solid waste containers or as regular household waste.
What is the primary safety concern associated with magnesium-based flameless heaters, especially in confined spaces?
Answer: Production of hydrogen gas, posing a fire hazard
The principal safety concern with magnesium-based flameless heaters is the evolution of hydrogen gas, which presents a significant fire hazard, particularly in restricted or unventilated areas.
Which of the following is an alternative chemical formulation developed to eliminate hydrogen gas production in flameless heaters?
Answer: Aluminum chloride with calcium oxide (AlCl₃/CaO)
To circumvent hydrogen gas generation, alternative chemical systems such as aluminum chloride with calcium oxide (AlCl₃/CaO) have been devised for flameless heating applications.
What conclusion did the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reach regarding flameless ration heaters on passenger aircraft?
Answer: They pose a potential fire hazard due to hydrogen gas release.
The FAA determined that the release of hydrogen gas from flameless ration heaters constitutes a potential fire hazard aboard passenger aircraft.
How must un-activated MRE heaters be disposed of in the United States according to law?
Answer: As hazardous waste
In the United States, un-activated MRE heaters are legally mandated to be disposed of as hazardous waste.
What is the recommended disposal method for MRE heaters after they have been used and cooled?
Answer: They can be disposed of in approved solid waste containers or as regular household waste.
Following activation and cooling, MRE heaters are safe for disposal in approved solid waste containers or as general household waste.