Den stora tråden om kremering av flertalet lik samtidigt i Auschwitz

In what follows, the basis of the calculation is a human body of 70 kg. If we assume an average water content of 65%, we must evaporate a total amount of 0.65 ∙ 70 = 45.5 kg of water at atmospheric pressure, which requires a heat supply of 45.5 ∙ 600 = 27,300 kcal. As the body contains 35 % of solids and only 30% of combustible substances, 0.3 ∙ 70 = 21 kg of matter is available for the cremation process. According to Professor Zuntz, this matter consists of 52% carbon, 7% hydrogen, 23% oxygen, 1% sulfur and 17% nitrogen, which yields the following composition:

• 0.52 ∙ 21 = 10.92 kg carbon
• 0.07 ∙ 21 = 1.47 ″ hydrogen
• 0.23 ∙ 21 = 4.83 ″ oxygen
• 0.01 ∙ 21 = 0.21 ″ sulfur
• 0.17 ∙ 21 = 3.57 ″ nitrogen
• Total 21.00 kg substance

The air needed for the combustion of those elements can be calculated with the known equation:

((2.667 ∙ 10.92) + (8 ∙ 1.47) + 0.21 – 4.83)/(1.43 ∙ 0.21) = 121 m³ of air

... at 0°C and 760 mm Hg, hence, for an excess of air of 50% we have about 185 m³ of air at 0°C and 760 mm Hg. In direct cremation, this volume of air is heated by the combustion products to about 950°C, requiring (185 ∙ 1.293 ∙ 0.237 ∙ 950) = 54,000 kcal. The water vapor generated by the corpse is likewise superheated to 950°C, the corresponding consumption of heat is (45.5 ∙ 0.47) ∙ (950 – 100) = 18,000 kcal. The heat generated by the oxidation of the elements mentioned above can be arrived at by means of the well-known equation:

(8,100 ∙ 10.92) + 29,000 ∙ (1.47 – (4.83/8)) + (2,500 ∙ 0.21) – (600 ∙ 45.5) = 86,798 kcal

Here, 27,300 kcal have been deducted for the evaporation of the water. Let us now look at the two ways in which, by choice, the cremation of a human body proceeds. First case: The corpse is brought directly into contact with the products of the combustion of the gasifier together with the excess air. The temperature of the hearth of a cremation furnace is about 1,300°C, with the temperature of the refractory material of the hearth, of the collecting channels, of the grate, of the ash chamber, and of the cremation chamber being taken to be 1,100°C. The temperature of the air must not drop below 800°C, therefore one may assume an average temperature of:

(1,100 + 800) ÷ 2 = 950°C

The mass of the brickwork of refractory material may be taken to be 6,500 kg for one of the usual furnace designs. A heat amount of:

6,500 ∙ 0.21 ∙ 1,100 = 1,500,000 kcal

... is needed to bring it to 1,100°C. Now, for the fuel consumption the following computation applies, depending upon whether one, five, twelve or twenty corpses are cremated in succession:

• a) heating of refractory wall: 1,500,000 Cal.
• b) heating of combustion air: 54,000 Cal.
• c) superheating of steam: 18,000 Cal.
• Total: 1,572,000 Cal.

Subtracting the heat generated by the corpse: 86,907 Cal. Hence to be provided for the cremation of one corpse: 1,485,093 Cal, which is the heat to be supplied for one cremation; assuming 3,500 kg for each kg of coke (taking into account the large heat losses via the discharge gases) this corresponds to an amount of coke of 1,485,093 ÷ 3,500 = 420 kg.

As the heat generated by the body covers the heat required for the cremation, we can assume that, after the cremation of the first corpse, no heat is removed for this from the refractory wall, and only the heat needed to get the refractory brickwork to the operating temperature is considered in proportion, plus the additional heat needed to compensate for the natural losses due to cooling. On the basis of the operational results at Berlin and Dortmund, these losses can be taken to be 100% if more than five corpses are cremated in succession. Hence, for the cremation of five corpses we have a fuel consumption of 85 kg each, for 12 corpses a consumption of 71 kg (with an additional requirement of 100% for the heat losses due to cooling) and for 20 corpses, including a corresponding increase, a consumption of 43 kg each. These figures are in good agreement with practical results, as shown by a comparison between the results obtained at the Berlin and Dortmund Crematoria and the above computations:

• For one cremation: 420 kg per computation (480 kg per Dortmund data)
• For five corpses: 85 kg per computation (80 kg per Dortmund data)
• For twelve corpses: 71 kg per computation (75 kg per Berlin-Wilmersdorf data)
• For twenty corpses: 43 kg per computation (38 kg per Berlin-Wilmersdorf data)

Second case: The corpse is in contact with hot air only, all of the refractory brickwork is brought to 1,100°C by the combustion products of the hearth. A recuperator of 8,200 kg has been provided for heating the air. Considering the preheating of this device by means of discharge gases, the [heat] requirements to reach the operating temperature are:

• a) 8,200 ∙ 0.21 ∙ (1,100 – 500) 1,000,000 Cal.
• b) plus the heat necessary for the remainder of the re fractory brickwork as in the first case 1,500,000 Cal.
• c) same for heating of air 54,000 Cal.
• d) same for superheating the steam 18,000 Cal.
• Total: 2,572,000 Cal.
• Minus the heat produced by the corpse –86,907 Cal. Total: 2,485,093 Cal.

Therefore, the fuel consumption for the:

• cremation of one corpse = 710 kg
• cremation of five corpses = 142 kg
• cremation of twelve corpses (+ 100%) = 120 kg
• cremation of twenty corpses (+ 100%) = 70 kg

The case where the whole of the refractory brickwork is heated by means of hot air may be ignored, because the quantities of 4,600 kg, 875 kg, 440 kg of coke per corpse are never used in practice.

In what follows, the basis of the calculation is a human body of 70 kg. If we assume an average water content of 65%, we must evaporate a total amount of 0.65 ∙ 70 = 45.5 kg of water at atmospheric pressure, which requires a heat supply of 45.5 ∙ 600 = 27,300 kcal. As the body contains 35 % of solids and only 30% of combustible substances, 0.3 ∙ 70 = 21 kg of matter is available for the cremation process. According to Professor Zuntz, this matter consists of 52% carbon, 7% hydrogen, 23% oxygen, 1% sulfur and 17% nitrogen, which yields the following composition:

• 0.52 ∙ 21 = 10.92 kg carbon
• 0.07 ∙ 21 = 1.47 ″ hydrogen
• 0.23 ∙ 21 = 4.83 ″ oxygen
• 0.01 ∙ 21 = 0.21 ″ sulfur
• 0.17 ∙ 21 = 3.57 ″ nitrogen
• Total 21.00 kg substance

The air needed for the combustion of those elements can be calculated with the known equation:

((2.667 ∙ 10.92) + (8 ∙ 1.47) + 0.21 – 4.83)/(1.43 ∙ 0.21) = 121 m³ of air

... at 0°C and 760 mm Hg, hence, for an excess of air of 50% we have about 185 m³ of air at 0°C and 760 mm Hg. In direct cremation, this volume of air is heated by the combustion products to about 950°C, requiring (185 ∙ 1.293 ∙ 0.237 ∙ 950) = 54,000 kcal. The water vapor generated by the corpse is likewise superheated to 950°C, the corresponding consumption of heat is (45.5 ∙ 0.47) ∙ (950 – 100) = 18,000 kcal. The heat generated by the oxidation of the elements mentioned above can be arrived at by means of the well-known equation:

(8,100 ∙ 10.92) + 29,000 ∙ (1.47 – (4.83/8)) + (2,500 ∙ 0.21) – (600 ∙ 45.5) = 86,798 kcal

Here, 27,300 kcal have been deducted for the evaporation of the water. Let us now look at the two ways in which, by choice, the cremation of a human body proceeds. First case: The corpse is brought directly into contact with the products of the combustion of the gasifier together with the excess air. The temperature of the hearth of a cremation furnace is about 1,300°C, with the temperature of the refractory material of the hearth, of the collecting channels, of the grate, of the ash chamber, and of the cremation chamber being taken to be 1,100°C. The temperature of the air must not drop below 800°C, therefore one may assume an average temperature of:

(1,100 + 800) ÷ 2 = 950°C

The mass of the brickwork of refractory material may be taken to be 6,500 kg for one of the usual furnace designs. A heat amount of:

6,500 ∙ 0.21 ∙ 1,100 = 1,500,000 kcal

... is needed to bring it to 1,100°C. Now, for the fuel consumption the following computation applies, depending upon whether one, five, twelve or twenty corpses are cremated in succession:

• a) heating of refractory wall: 1,500,000 Cal.
• b) heating of combustion air: 54,000 Cal.
• c) superheating of steam: 18,000 Cal.
• Total: 1,572,000 Cal.

Subtracting the heat generated by the corpse: 86,907 Cal. Hence to be provided for the cremation of one corpse: 1,485,093 Cal, which is the heat to be supplied for one cremation; assuming 3,500 kg for each kg of coke (taking into account the large heat losses via the discharge gases) this corresponds to an amount of coke of 1,485,093 ÷ 3,500 = 420 kg.

As the heat generated by the body covers the heat required for the cremation, we can assume that, after the cremation of the first corpse, no heat is removed for this from the refractory wall, and only the heat needed to get the refractory brickwork to the operating temperature is considered in proportion, plus the additional heat needed to compensate for the natural losses due to cooling. On the basis of the operational results at Berlin and Dortmund, these losses can be taken to be 100% if more than five corpses are cremated in succession. Hence, for the cremation of five corpses we have a fuel consumption of 85 kg each, for 12 corpses a consumption of 71 kg (with an additional requirement of 100% for the heat losses due to cooling) and for 20 corpses, including a corresponding increase, a consumption of 43 kg each. These figures are in good agreement with practical results, as shown by a comparison between the results obtained at the Berlin and Dortmund Crematoria and the above computations:

• For one cremation: 420 kg per computation (480 kg per Dortmund data)
• For five corpses: 85 kg per computation (80 kg per Dortmund data)
• For twelve corpses: 71 kg per computation (75 kg per Berlin-Wilmersdorf data)
• For twenty corpses: 43 kg per computation (38 kg per Berlin-Wilmersdorf data)

Second case: The corpse is in contact with hot air only, all of the refractory brickwork is brought to 1,100°C by the combustion products of the hearth. A recuperator of 8,200 kg has been provided for heating the air. Considering the preheating of this device by means of discharge gases, the [heat] requirements to reach the operating temperature are:

• a) 8,200 ∙ 0.21 ∙ (1,100 – 500) 1,000,000 Cal.
• b) plus the heat necessary for the remainder of the re fractory brickwork as in the first case 1,500,000 Cal.
• c) same for heating of air 54,000 Cal.
• d) same for superheating the steam 18,000 Cal.
• Total: 2,572,000 Cal.
• Minus the heat produced by the corpse –86,907 Cal. Total: 2,485,093 Cal.

Therefore, the fuel consumption for the:

• cremation of one corpse = 710 kg
• cremation of five corpses = 142 kg
• cremation of twelve corpses (+ 100%) = 120 kg
• cremation of twenty corpses (+ 100%) = 70 kg

The case where the whole of the refractory brickwork is heated by means of hot air may be ignored, because the quantities of 4,600 kg, 875 kg, 440 kg of coke per corpse are never used in practice.