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A comment on Antikythera Mechanism: An ancient 'computer' that 'shouldn't exist' [video]. Parent comment

Re:Antikythera Mechanism: An ancient 'computer' that 'should... by m4rtink on Friday December 10, 2021 @12:12PM (#29512410)
Stone coal could be, at least partially, substituted by charcoal - and often was in the past, where reachable underground coal reserves were not available.
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Re:Antikythera Mechanism: An ancient 'computer' that 'should... by mcguire on Friday December 10, 2021 @02:25PM (#29514324)
"So by weight charcoal and anthracite coal have an energy density of about 30 MJ/kg, while poorer kinds of coal range down to half of that." (https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/udjl5/charcoal_...) However, the density of charcoal is much less than that of coal: 200 kg/m^3 vs 1500 kg/m^3 (for solid anthracite).

Producing 1kg of charcoal requires 3-4kg of wood. (Producing the 900°C for the process is an exercise for the reader.) (https://www.fao.org/3/y4450e/y4450e11.htm)

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