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The cremation of four to five corpses in one muffle within 20-25 minutes, or half an hour (or a little more than half an hour) is absurd on two counts: first of all because it took one hour to burn a single corpse and secondly because the time needed to burn multiple corpses at once would have extended the time necessary for each corpse well beyond one hour. In practice, however, such a procedure would have brought along insurmountable problems of thermal technology.

The necessary condition for carrying out a cremation is that the temperature of the muffle never drops below 600°C; otherwise there is no longer any incineration, but only carbonization of the corpse. A body of 70 kg contains some 45.5 kg of water. The heat of vaporization at 600°C of the water contained in three corpses is 3×45.5×[640+0.477× (500–20)] ≈ 118,500 kcal. It is known from experience that the process of evaporation took about half an hour. The loading rate of the grate of the triple-muffle furnace was about 70 kg/h of coke (two hearths with grate loadings of 35 kg/h each), hence the theoretical availability of heat over half an hour was (6,470×35=) 226,450 kcal. The effective availability was much lower because a large part of the heat generated in the gasifiers was lost. During evaporation, the major heat losses came from radiation and conduction, some 62,500 kcal/h at 800°C; at 600°C we may assume them to be 46,900 kcal/h or 23,450 kcal in half an hour, i.e. (23,450÷226,450×100=) 10.3%. To this we must add the heat loss through the smoke at 600°C: about 31.3% according to calculations; of uncombusted gases from the hearth: 4%; of uncombusted solids from the hearth: 3.1%. The efficiency of the furnace was thus (100–[10.3+31.3+4+3.1]=) 51.3%, the effective specific heat of combustion of the coke (6,470×0.513) ≈ 3,320 kcal/kg, which brings the effective heat supplied to the furnace over half an hour to (35×3,320) ≈ 116,200 kcal. To keep the furnace at 600°C, an additional heat contribution of (118,500–116,200=) 2,300 kcal was thus needed during that time: it could easily be supplied by the radiation from the muffle walls.

Let us now look at the case of the evaporation of the water contained in four corpses in each of the three muffles, 12 corpses altogether. The water content of the corpses is (45.5×12=) 546 kg: the heat of vaporization at 600°C is 546×[640+0.477×(500–20)] ≈ 474,500 kcal. The available heat input stays at 116,200 kcal in 30 minutes, hence the additional heat needed is (474,500–116,200=) 358,300 kcal or some 119,400 kcal per muffle.

We must now examine whether the radiation from the muffle walls could possibly supply this amount of heat. It is difficult to calculate the heat radiated by these walls and absorbed by the corpses, both for reasons of geometry and because of the continual cooling of the wall temperature. However, in a specific technical article, Professor Schläpfer, one of the major experts in cremation in Europe in the 1930s, does give us a reliable estimate of the heat radiated to a single corpse from the muffle walls at various temperatures. He published a chart, from which we may derive the data:

Kod:

Wall temp. [°C]              Heat flow, kcal/min
800                          1,400
700                          930
600                          600

The geometry changes somewhat when a hypothetical load of three corpses in one muffle is irradiated, but the surface-to-volume ratio of such a load is less favorable than that of a single corpse, because the corpses partly cover one another. Even if we leave this consideration aside, the amount of heat required for the evaporation of the water contained in three normal corpses, about 119,400 kcal, would require over three hours at a constant wall temperature of 600°C according to Schläpfer’s data. The wall temperature, however, would certainly not stay constant over such a long period of time, and conditions would quickly become very unfavorable, because, as shown by Schläpfer’s chart, the heat radiated by the walls drops sharply with a decrease in wall temperature.

In his discussion of a similar thermal problem, Kori writes:

"If the inner wall of the cremation chamber has a surface area of about 4 m², with a specific gravity of 2.1, a layer 5 cm thick would weigh about 420 kilograms. The specific heat of the fire clay is about 0.2. Hence, if this layer could supply its total heat content sufficiently fast, only 200×0.2×420 = 16,800 kcal would have become available for an internal temperature dropping from 1,000 to 800°C. Actually, not even this would have been possible, because the brickwork does not release its accumulated heat as quickly as the [muffle] temperature drops."

The weight of the refractory brickwork of one muffle was about (5×1.5×200=) 1,500 kilograms. To compensate for the heat lost due to the evaporation of the water content of the corpses, each muffle would have had to contribute 119,400 kcal, corresponding to a decrease in the average temperature of the refractory brickwork of the muffle of about (119,400 kcal ÷ [0.2 kcal/kg/°C × 1,500 kg] ≈ 400°C. The effective amount of heat supplied to each muffle is therefore:

(3‚320 kcal/kg × 70 kg/h)(/3 × 60 min/h) ≈ 1,290 kcal/min

This corresponds to the supply of 119,400 kcal in (119,400 kcal ÷ 1,290 kcal/min) ≈ 92 minutes. I have only sketched the evaporation process, which is actually more complex, depending on further factors. But these factors apply in the same way both to single cremations and to the hypothetical cremation of several bodies at the same time. The enormous difference between the two set out above still applies. It proves not only that the simultaneous cremation of four bodies in half an hour was impossible, but also that not even the evaporation of the water they contained could have been brought about during that span of time. If assuming an average weight of 60 kg per body, the figures of the above calculations drop by a mere 15%, and the conclusions are basically the same.

The cremation of four to five corpses in one muffle within 20-25 minutes, or half an hour (or a little more than half an hour) is absurd on two counts: first of all because it took one hour to burn a single corpse and secondly because the time needed to burn multiple corpses at once would have extended the time necessary for each corpse well beyond one hour. In practice, however, such a procedure would have brought along insurmountable problems of thermal technology.

The necessary condition for carrying out a cremation is that the temperature of the muffle never drops below 600°C; otherwise there is no longer any incineration, but only carbonization of the corpse. A body of 70 kg contains some 45.5 kg of water. The heat of vaporization at 600°C of the water contained in three corpses is 3×45.5×[640+0.477× (500–20)] ≈ 118,500 kcal. It is known from experience that the process of evaporation took about half an hour. The loading rate of the grate of the triple-muffle furnace was about 70 kg/h of coke (two hearths with grate loadings of 35 kg/h each), hence the theoretical availability of heat over half an hour was (6,470×35=) 226,450 kcal. The effective availability was much lower because a large part of the heat generated in the gasifiers was lost. During evaporation, the major heat losses came from radiation and conduction, some 62,500 kcal/h at 800°C; at 600°C we may assume them to be 46,900 kcal/h or 23,450 kcal in half an hour, i.e. (23,450÷226,450×100=) 10.3%. To this we must add the heat loss through the smoke at 600°C: about 31.3% according to calculations; of uncombusted gases from the hearth: 4%; of uncombusted solids from the hearth: 3.1%. The efficiency of the furnace was thus (100–[10.3+31.3+4+3.1]=) 51.3%, the effective specific heat of combustion of the coke (6,470×0.513) ≈ 3,320 kcal/kg, which brings the effective heat supplied to the furnace over half an hour to (35×3,320) ≈ 116,200 kcal. To keep the furnace at 600°C, an additional heat contribution of (118,500–116,200=) 2,300 kcal was thus needed during that time: it could easily be supplied by the radiation from the muffle walls.

Let us now look at the case of the evaporation of the water contained in four corpses in each of the three muffles, 12 corpses altogether. The water content of the corpses is (45.5×12=) 546 kg: the heat of vaporization at 600°C is 546×[640+0.477×(500–20)] ≈ 474,500 kcal. The available heat input stays at 116,200 kcal in 30 minutes, hence the additional heat needed is (474,500–116,200=) 358,300 kcal or some 119,400 kcal per muffle.

We must now examine whether the radiation from the muffle walls could possibly supply this amount of heat. It is difficult to calculate the heat radiated by these walls and absorbed by the corpses, both for reasons of geometry and because of the continual cooling of the wall temperature. However, in a specific technical article, Professor Schläpfer, one of the major experts in cremation in Europe in the 1930s, does give us a reliable estimate of the heat radiated to a single corpse from the muffle walls at various temperatures. He published a chart, from which we may derive the data:

Kod:

Wall temp. [°C]              Heat flow, kcal/min
800                          1,400
700                          930
600                          600

The geometry changes somewhat when a hypothetical load of three corpses in one muffle is irradiated, but the surface-to-volume ratio of such a load is less favorable than that of a single corpse, because the corpses partly cover one another. Even if we leave this consideration aside, the amount of heat required for the evaporation of the water contained in three normal corpses, about 119,400 kcal, would require over three hours at a constant wall temperature of 600°C according to Schläpfer’s data. The wall temperature, however, would certainly not stay constant over such a long period of time, and conditions would quickly become very unfavorable, because, as shown by Schläpfer’s chart, the heat radiated by the walls drops sharply with a decrease in wall temperature.

In his discussion of a similar thermal problem, Kori writes:

"If the inner wall of the cremation chamber has a surface area of about 4 m², with a specific gravity of 2.1, a layer 5 cm thick would weigh about 420 kilograms. The specific heat of the fire clay is about 0.2. Hence, if this layer could supply its total heat content sufficiently fast, only 200×0.2×420 = 16,800 kcal would have become available for an internal temperature dropping from 1,000 to 800°C. Actually, not even this would have been possible, because the brickwork does not release its accumulated heat as quickly as the [muffle] temperature drops."

The weight of the refractory brickwork of one muffle was about (5×1.5×200=) 1,500 kilograms. To compensate for the heat lost due to the evaporation of the water content of the corpses, each muffle would have had to contribute 119,400 kcal, corresponding to a decrease in the average temperature of the refractory brickwork of the muffle of about (119,400 kcal ÷ [0.2 kcal/kg/°C × 1,500 kg] ≈ 400°C. The effective amount of heat supplied to each muffle is therefore:

(3‚320 kcal/kg × 70 kg/h)(/3 × 60 min/h) ≈ 1,290 kcal/min

This corresponds to the supply of 119,400 kcal in (119,400 kcal ÷ 1,290 kcal/min) ≈ 92 minutes. I have only sketched the evaporation process, which is actually more complex, depending on further factors. But these factors apply in the same way both to single cremations and to the hypothetical cremation of several bodies at the same time. The enormous difference between the two set out above still applies. It proves not only that the simultaneous cremation of four bodies in half an hour was impossible, but also that not even the evaporation of the water they contained could have been brought about during that span of time. If assuming an average weight of 60 kg per body, the figures of the above calculations drop by a mere 15%, and the conclusions are basically the same.

The cremation of four to five corpses in one muffle within 20-25 minutes, or half an hour (or a little more than half an hour) is absurd on two counts: first of all because it took one hour to burn a single corpse and secondly because the time needed to burn multiple corpses at once would have extended the time necessary for each corpse well beyond one hour. In practice, however, such a procedure would have brought along insurmountable problems of thermal technology.

The necessary condition for carrying out a cremation is that the temperature of the muffle never drops below 600°C; otherwise there is no longer any incineration, but only carbonization of the corpse. A body of 70 kg contains some 45.5 kg of water. The heat of vaporization at 600°C of the water contained in three corpses is 3×45.5×[640+0.477× (500–20)] ≈ 118,500 kcal. It is known from experience that the process of evaporation took about half an hour. The loading rate of the grate of the triple-muffle furnace was about 70 kg/h of coke (two hearths with grate loadings of 35 kg/h each), hence the theoretical availability of heat over half an hour was (6,470×35=) 226,450 kcal. The effective availability was much lower because a large part of the heat generated in the gasifiers was lost. During evaporation, the major heat losses came from radiation and conduction, some 62,500 kcal/h at 800°C; at 600°C we may assume them to be 46,900 kcal/h or 23,450 kcal in half an hour, i.e. (23,450÷226,450×100=) 10.3%. To this we must add the heat loss through the smoke at 600°C: about 31.3% according to calculations; of uncombusted gases from the hearth: 4%; of uncombusted solids from the hearth: 3.1%. The efficiency of the furnace was thus (100–[10.3+31.3+4+3.1]=) 51.3%, the effective specific heat of combustion of the coke (6,470×0.513) ≈ 3,320 kcal/kg, which brings the effective heat supplied to the furnace over half an hour to (35×3,320) ≈ 116,200 kcal. To keep the furnace at 600°C, an additional heat contribution of (118,500–116,200=) 2,300 kcal was thus needed during that time: it could easily be supplied by the radiation from the muffle walls.

Let us now look at the case of the evaporation of the water contained in four corpses in each of the three muffles, 12 corpses altogether. The water content of the corpses is (45.5×12=) 546 kg: the heat of vaporization at 600°C is 546×[640+0.477×(500–20)] ≈ 474,500 kcal. The available heat input stays at 116,200 kcal in 30 minutes, hence the additional heat needed is (474,500–116,200=) 358,300 kcal or some 119,400 kcal per muffle.

We must now examine whether the radiation from the muffle walls could possibly supply this amount of heat. It is difficult to calculate the heat radiated by these walls and absorbed by the corpses, both for reasons of geometry and because of the continual cooling of the wall temperature. However, in a specific technical article, Professor Schläpfer, one of the major experts in cremation in Europe in the 1930s, does give us a reliable estimate of the heat radiated to a single corpse from the muffle walls at various temperatures. He published a chart, from which we may derive the data:

Kod:

Wall temp. [°C]              Heat flow, kcal/min
800                          1,400
700                          930
600                          600

The geometry changes somewhat when a hypothetical load of three corpses in one muffle is irradiated, but the surface-to-volume ratio of such a load is less favorable than that of a single corpse, because the corpses partly cover one another. Even if we leave this consideration aside, the amount of heat required for the evaporation of the water contained in three normal corpses, about 119,400 kcal, would require over three hours at a constant wall temperature of 600°C according to Schläpfer’s data. The wall temperature, however, would certainly not stay constant over such a long period of time, and conditions would quickly become very unfavorable, because, as shown by Schläpfer’s chart, the heat radiated by the walls drops sharply with a decrease in wall temperature.

In his discussion of a similar thermal problem, Kori writes:

"If the inner wall of the cremation chamber has a surface area of about 4 m², with a specific gravity of 2.1, a layer 5 cm thick would weigh about 420 kilograms. The specific heat of the fire clay is about 0.2. Hence, if this layer could supply its total heat content sufficiently fast, only 200×0.2×420 = 16,800 kcal would have become available for an internal temperature dropping from 1,000 to 800°C. Actually, not even this would have been possible, because the brickwork does not release its accumulated heat as quickly as the [muffle] temperature drops."

The weight of the refractory brickwork of one muffle was about (5×1.5×200=) 1,500 kilograms. To compensate for the heat lost due to the evaporation of the water content of the corpses, each muffle would have had to contribute 119,400 kcal, corresponding to a decrease in the average temperature of the refractory brickwork of the muffle of about (119,400 kcal ÷ [0.2 kcal/kg/°C × 1,500 kg] ≈ 400°C. The effective amount of heat supplied to each muffle is therefore:

(3‚320 kcal/kg × 70 kg/h)(/3 × 60 min/h) ≈ 1,290 kcal/min

This corresponds to the supply of 119,400 kcal in (119,400 kcal ÷ 1,290 kcal/min) ≈ 92 minutes. I have only sketched the evaporation process, which is actually more complex, depending on further factors. But these factors apply in the same way both to single cremations and to the hypothetical cremation of several bodies at the same time. The enormous difference between the two set out above still applies. It proves not only that the simultaneous cremation of four bodies in half an hour was impossible, but also that not even the evaporation of the water they contained could have been brought about during that span of time. If assuming an average weight of 60 kg per body, the figures of the above calculations drop by a mere 15%, and the conclusions are basically the same.